Jetpack 5.5 was released yesterday with several important changes that ensure the plugin is compatible with the upcoming WordPress 4.9 release scheduled for November 14. The plugin will be able to shed some weight, as core improvements will make Jetpack’s syntax highlighting and gallery widget obsolete.
WordPress 4.9 incorporates CodeMirror, which brings syntax highlighting, linting, and auto-completion to the built-in code editors. Jetpack 5.5+ will rely on WordPress to handle syntax highlighting and the Custom CSS module has been updated to be fully compatible with core’s new code editing improvements.
Jetpack 5.5 also adds compatibility for WordPress 4.9’s new core gallery widget. When users update to 4.9, Jetpack will automatically migrate its own gallery widgets to use the widget included in core.
The release also includes several other changes for compatibility with WordPress 4.9:
- Press This sharing button removed, since the feature is being removed from core in favor of a plugin
- Changes to ensure compatibility with role and capability updates in WordPress 4.9
- Remove code for processing Contact Form shortcodes in widgets, as WordPress adds support for shortcodes in widgets in 4.9
Jetpack 5.5 also improves the connection process between the plugin and WordPress.com, which should reduce recent issue users have experienced when migrating their sites from HTTP to HTTPS. A full list of the changes in this release is available in the plugin’s changelog.
Jetpack… *shudder*