As the dev notes for the upcoming WordPress 6.3 release are rolling out, there are so many exciting features that have not yet been highlighted. The new development mode, initiated by declaring the WP_DEVELOPMENT_MODE constant, is one that will be particularly useful for theme developers initially. “The development mode configured on a …
WordPress Plans Ambitious Admin UI Revamp with Design System, Galvanizing Broad Support from the Developer Community

WordPress’ admin is on deck for a long-awaited makeover after Gutenberg lead architect Matías Ventura published plans for a revamped admin design as part of the Phase 3: Collaboration road map. “As WordPress turns twenty years old, the overall aim of this work is to improve upon this experience at a foundational …
WordPress 6.3 to Drop Support for PHP 5

WordPress is officially dropping support for PHP 5 in the upcoming 6.3 release, which is expected on August 8. WordPress’ minimum supported version has sat at PHP 5.6.20 since 2019, but will be updated to 7.0.0 in the next release. The recommended PHP version will stay the same at 7.4+. “The minimum …
Hey: An Elegantly Simple WordPress Block Theme for Blogging

Hey is a block theme designed by Automattic for users on WordPress.com and also released for free in the WordPress.org Themes Directory. It’s the kind of simple theme that enables you to quickly get started writing online, without having to configure a bunch of design elements. The homepage features a profile image …
WordPress Unveils Plans for Real-Time Collaboration with Major Improvements to Revisions and the Media Library

In a series of four posts, Gutenberg lead architect Matías Ventura has outlined the project’s phase 3 plans for Real-Time Collaboration, Workflows, Revisions, and the Media Library. WordPress 6.3 is set to be the final major release of Phase 2, which focused on Customization. Phase 3 will shift focus …