2018-12-09 00:00:00

Publishing|Technology5.0|architecture|Automattic|block|Gutenberg|Mullenweg|security|Wordpress|Yoast

The future of WordPress after release 5.0

A major release of WordPress (version 5.0) open source publishing software and a major gathering of WordPress experts (Wordcamp) coincided in early December 2018. It wasn't a coincidence. People who had contributed to the new software could explain what was new, and why it was important. The lead developer and co-founder of WordPress Matt Mullenweg could open up the reasoning for Gutenberg and talk about the future.

I followed as many talks as I could during the two days of the Wordcamp 2018 Nashville event. Since I wasn't among the  excited audience where many other important things like networking, finding food, locating the best place for a strong Wi-Fi signal, and trading t-shirts was happening, I could completely concentrate on the messages delivered by the speakers and by audience via their questions and comments. Here is what I learned.

Three key items that have short and long term effects on the WordPress community were:

  • Gutenberg blocks really will change the way we build and publish WordPress sites.
  • The complete absence of privacy and security during the conference and in WordPress 5.0 release info was worrying.
  • Friction between Automattic and other enterprisess contributing to WordPress and making business with it is heating up.
Wordpress conference, Wordcamp Paris. Photo by Christophe Perrin.
Wordcamp Paris. Photo by Christophe Perrin.

There will be a block for that

WordPress 5.0 introduced a new writing and publishing tool known as Gutenberg. It completely changes the way posts are written and edited. The tool is based on block architecture: a paragraph is a block, an image is a block, and so on. Developers can, and already have created blocks that extend the editor's built-in functionality.

In his speech, Mullenweg explained that the block editor was only Gutenberg's first phase. Phase two is planned to change the way themes, widgets and menus are built. Yes, blocks will take over them, too. In 2019, we can anticipate some results from this development. Phase three focuses on collaboration, multi-user and workflow tools.

This has far-reaching, long-term consequences for everyone who builds and modifies themes and plugins. Although I expect current themes to remain upward compatible, the new way of building themes and plugins will have to be adopted sooner or later.

High-risk attitude towards privacy and security

Total lack of talks (perhaps there were some, but I didn't manage to catch any) about privacy and security is extremely worrying. The day probably will come when a bug in the WordPress software exposes 32% of web sites on the internet to misuse.

WordPress sites are constantly under attack, spam is wild, but developers are creating  plugins for securing sites. WordPress should have built-in tools and functions for security. Matt Mullenweg didn't even say the word security or privacy during his speech.

Business and decision-making friction is building up

WordPress is open source software that a community of unselfish coders are developing to make the world a better place - that is the idealist side of an open source project. The reality, of course, is something else.

Automattic and Matt Mullenweg have established a perfect position for the business side of things by keeping WordPress close to their chest.

A couple of speakers, for instance from Yoast, addressed a serious issue about decision-making. Yoast had lost six months worth of work because they didn't know that Gutenberg was coming with a new architecture. Another business leader proposed establishing a governance model for WordPress because decision-making is not transparent (even though WordPress as an open source product is).

This is a big, serious and hot issue. It must be solved during 2019.

Any change to the original WordPress architecture is good news

WordPress 5.0 is the first step to a direction that looks very promising for everyone who is developing, or just modifying themes and plugins. The original system architecture (or lack of it) is very original. Changing it will cause huge outcry from businesses who have invested in products that rely on it. Yet, now we know that the change is coming.

Header photo by Andrew Mager.

of Innsbruck in Austria

2025-09-02 17:49:48

of Innsbruck in Austria


News

2025-08-31 15:29:00

But these so-called “bad” photographs that break all the rules aren’t just trending; these “terrible” photographs are what’s going to save photography from AI. #photography #AI--- hmm, I don't think AI can be dismissed so easily; new skills can be taughthttps://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tech/artificial-intelligence/terrible-images-are-going-to-save-photography-from-ai-and-this-is-why


City center.

2025-08-27 16:57:04

arihak

City center.


News

2025-08-25 15:56:00

Looks like #train #travel is trending in #Europe. Here is the roundup of latest news on the development of railways, routes, and ticketing systems.https://klaava.com/european-railway-news-summary-unified-train-systems-off-the-beaten-rail-tips-mr-bean-restaurant/


Wine, women, and song. #dance #festival

2025-08-14 17:47:25

arihak

Wine, women, and song.#dance#festival


Secure parking in shade

2025-08-09 14:12:42

Secure parking in shade


News

2025-08-08 15:52:00

Other key findings in the study were that professional criminal groups are taking over business from independent amateurs, and scammers are making extra revenue by grabbing tourists’ personal data as well. #travel #scamhttps://klaava.com/vacation-apartment-scammers-grab-your-money-and-as-a-bonus-may-steal-your-identity-as-well/


News

2025-08-06 09:05:00

A new bucket list #travel destination?Chongqing’s architecture style is unique. The concrete and mountain terrain, with lots of industrial design, make it seem like a futuristic movie set, but at night, lights elevate the city into a true #cyberpunk dream.https://edition.cnn.com/travel/chongqing-china-tourism-cyberpunk-city-intl-hnk


News

2025-07-31 14:20:00

Perhaps not a bicycle for the Tour de France, but takes the rider up a steep hill to home.#streetphotographyflic.kr/p/2rjRBQvhttps://flic.kr/p/2rjRBQv


The nicest tourist information office I have seen so far.

2025-07-30 17:20:05

arihak

The nicest tourist information office I have seen so far.


News

2025-07-27 14:02:00

My first impression during a recent visit was that Innsbruck felt like a large and busy city, but pretty soon I realized that it is really quite compact. #Europe #travelhttps://klaava.com/innsbruck-may-be-renowned-for-winter-sports-but-it-really-is-a-pretty-historical-city/


News

2025-07-19 20:27:00

Star trek? No, feet on the ground in Valencia#streetphotographyhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/arihak/54479762808/in/photostream/lightbox/


News

2025-07-10 13:26:00

Behavior rules are being documented as town-specific or national-level regulation in European countries, especially in the south where sun seeking tourists may forget that the town belongs to local people who simply want to live in their home town. #travel #Europehttps://klaava.com/nitpickers-travel-journal-behave-or-else-unwritten-cultural-rules-in-europe/


But there are three fortresses on the other side of border.

2025-07-08 16:06:04

But there are three fortresses on the other side of border.


Border town safety net.

2025-07-07 18:24:59

arihak

Border town safety net.


News

2025-07-07 16:16:00

Instead of fumbling with plastic chips, you download a mobile profile directly onto the secure micro-chip already soldered inside most recent phones (think iPhone XR and newer, Google Pixel 3+, Samsung Galaxy S20 series and up). #phone #travelhttps://klaava.com/esim-the-tiny-tech-that-makes-big-adventures-stress-free/


News

2025-07-01 16:15:00

Canyon road is a magnet for cyclists and motorists.#photography #travelphotography #europeflic.kr/p/2rdW4Mfhttps://flic.kr/p/2rdW4Mf


The historic center of Krakow in Poland features castles, churches, palaces ... and tourists.

2025-06-23 13:31:04

The historic center of Krakow in Poland features castles, churches, palaces ... and tourists.


A man with his donkey.

2025-06-19 15:54:21

arihak

A man with his donkey.


News

2025-06-19 15:11:00

An eye-catching place for a painting.#streetphotographyhttps://wordpress.org/photos/photo/9536554ee4/