• WordPress Themes Directory Adds Block Themes to Filter Menu

    WordPress Themes Directory Adds Block Themes to Filter Menu

    This week has been heavy with theme news, as the discussion around improving block themes’ visibility in the directory became heated before the Themes Team landed on a course of action. Meta contributors added a new “Block Themes” menu item to the filter menu on the directory homepage, a solution that some classic theme developers…

  • WordPress Seeks User Input on Homepage and Download Page Redesign Project

    WordPress Seeks User Input on Homepage and Download Page Redesign Project

    WordPress.org hasn’t seen a redesign since 2016, when it went from sketches to prototype to live in a matter of a couple weeks. In six years, the software has undergone a metamorphosis by adopting a new block paradigm that should be reflected in its website. Contributors are now looking at giving the homepage and download page a…

  • Axton: A Free Block-based Portfolio Theme with Full-Site Editing Support

    Axton: A Free Block-based Portfolio Theme with Full-Site Editing Support

    Axton is a beautiful new addition to the WordPress Themes Directory from the team at Catch Themes. Those who have been waiting for more full-site editing-enabled themes that go beyond a simple blogging layout should have a look at Axton, as it is suitable for a portfolio, photography showcase, or even a business website. The…

  • WordPress Themes Team Contributors Get Pushback on Proposal to Improve Block Themes’ Visibility in the Directory

    WordPress Themes Team Contributors Get Pushback on Proposal to Improve Block Themes’ Visibility in the Directory

    Seven weeks ago, WordPress Theme Team contributors proposed several ideas for improving block themes’ visibility on WordPress.org. These included the possibility of changing the popular themes algorithm to more prominently feature block themes, and/or adding a new “Block” menu item next to Popular and Latest on the themes directory home page. The directory is going…

  • WordPress Executive Director Says 5% in Five for the Future Program Is Aspirational and Not Required

    WordPress Executive Director Says 5% in Five for the Future Program Is Aspirational and Not Required

    In the latest episode of the WP Briefing, titled “Five for the Future’s True Intentions,” WordPress Executive Director Josepha Haden Chomphosy responded to recent public criticism the program has attracted. She referenced a conversation she began in May where she sought to make a clear distinction between ecosystem contributions and core project contributions. More recently,…

  • New Free Plugin Offers Beautiful Block Patterns for Food Bloggers

    New Free Plugin Offers Beautiful Block Patterns for Food Bloggers

    Last month WPZOOM released a free plugin called Block Patterns for Food Bloggers that I finally got the chance to test. Food blogs commonly have a strong focus on category and tag-driven grid layouts with big featured images and multiple sections showcasing different types of recipes. Prior to the block editor, customizing these types of…

  • Anders Norén Remakes Davis Theme as Davis Blocks with Full-Site Editing Support

    Anders Norén Remakes Davis Theme as Davis Blocks with Full-Site Editing Support

    WordPress theme author Anders Norén has remade his popular Davis theme to support full-site editing. The new theme, Davis Blocks, is sporting the same clean design as its predecessor, and can be used as a starter theme or a lightweight blog theme. Norén said he built Davis Blocks to be as small as possible, while…

  • Envato to Shut Down Envato Studio on Short Notice, Jilting Longtime Service Providers 

    Envato to Shut Down Envato Studio on Short Notice, Jilting Longtime Service Providers 

    Envato, the Australia-based digital assets company, announced it is shutting down Envato Studio, its community freelance platform, and Twenty20, a stock photo website. The company continues to tighten its belt and focus on newer products after it laid off 100 of its 700 employees, citing global conflicts and inflation. “We were spread too thin across…

  • WordPress Performance Team Proposes Developing a New Plugin Checker Tool

    WordPress Performance Team Proposes Developing a New Plugin Checker Tool

    WordPress’ Performance team is kickstarting a proposal for developing a plugin checker tool similar to the theme check plugin, which ensures themes are meeting the latest standards and best practices. In 2021, WordPress’ Meta team built a code scanner that detects potential security risks, such as unescaped SQL queries in plugin code, with the goal of reducing…

  • Software Freedom Conservancy Calls for GitHub Boycott

    Software Freedom Conservancy Calls for GitHub Boycott

    The Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC),  a non-profit that provides infrastructure support for free and open source software projects, is urging developers to stop using GitHub and move their projects to other platforms. The organization has historically had a number of public grievances with GitHub, which it outlines on its Give Up On GitHub site. GitHub’s public launch of Copilot…

  • WordPress Performance Team Revises Proposal for WebP by Default

    WordPress Performance Team Revises Proposal for WebP by Default

    One year ago, WordPress 5.8 introduced support for WebP, allowing users to upload and use WebP images in their content. In March 2022, the Performance Team moved to expand core support for the image format by proposing WordPress enable WebP by default. This would include generating WebP images for new JPEG uploads and using WebP images…

  • WordPress Themes Team Releases New Plugin for Creating Block Themes

    WordPress Themes Team Releases New Plugin for Creating Block Themes

    Two weeks ago, WordPress theme author Rich Tabor tweeted, “Even with my theme developer hat on, I’m finding it easier and easier to create block themes ~ within ~ WordPress. I’m positive one day (soon) this will be the norm.” It looks like that day has arrived sooner than expected, as Automattic has had a…