March saw the arrival of the first major release of 2023, WordPress 6.2 “Dolphy.” Planning for the project’s 20th anniversary continues with new celebratory updates and commemorative swag. Read on for the latest happenings in the WordPress space.
Meet WordPress 6.2 “Dolphy”
WordPress 6.2 “Dolphy” was released on March 29, 2023. Named after the acclaimed jazz multi-instrumentalist and composer Eric Allan Dolphy Jr., the latest version of WordPress further enhances the site editing experience with significant updates.
Highlights include a reimagined Site Editor interface, a more intuitive way to manage menus, and a distraction-free writing mode. A new Block Inserter design adds integration with Openverse, allowing you to easily browse and insert free, openly-licensed images and audio files into your content.
Whether you’re a content creator, designer, or developer, WordPress 6.2 has something for you. Check out the full announcement post for an overview of what’s new and the Field Guide for detailed developer notes.
WordPress 6.2 is one of the last major releases planned for Phase 2 of the project’s development roadmap and was made possible thanks to more than 600 contributors.
WP20 swag is here
Show your WordPress excitement with limited edition 20th anniversary merchandise—now available at the official WordPress Mercantile store. If you prefer to create your own swag, you can use these WP20 downloadable assets.
The 20th anniversary website lists celebrations as organizers announce and schedule them. Check back regularly to see if there’s an event in your area to join or help organize one to celebrate this milestone with your local community.
New in the Gutenberg plugin
Two new versions of the Gutenberg plugin have shipped in the last month:
- Gutenberg 15.3 was released on March 13, 2023. This version polishes the Site Editor experience, includes a new “Time to Read” block for displaying estimated read time to posts, and enhances the Duotone design tool.
- Gutenberg 15.4 is available for download as of March 22, 2023, and focuses primarily on bug fixes and testing improvements. Other additions include color and layout support for the Cover block, improved descriptions to help you understand the purpose of each template in the Site Editor, and the ability to turn paragraph blocks into columns.
Team updates: Phase 3 planning, WordPress Developer Blog launch, and more
Feedback & testing requests
- A new Full Site Editing (FSE) Program exploration looks into the Site Editor as a design tool in light of the recent WordPress 6.2 release. Participants are asked to create a block theme without coding using the current editor tools. Share your experience by April 26, 2023.
- A group of Core contributors is working on a new Interactivity API proposal to provide a better developer experience for building interactive blocks.
- Version 22.0 of the WordPress mobile app for iOS and Android is ready for testing.
WordPress events updates
- WordCamp Asia 2024 is calling for organizers. Apply by April 15, 2023.
- Registration for the WordCamp Europe 2023 Contributor Day is now open.
- Want to create diverse and inclusive WordPress events? Mark your calendars for the upcoming #WPDiversity workshops.
- Four WordCamps are taking place this month:
- 🇮🇹 WordCamp Torino, Italy, on April 14-15, 2023
- 🇦🇹 Wordcamp Vienna, Austria, on April 15-16, 2023
- 🇫🇷 WordCamp Paris, France, on April 21, 2023
- 🇧🇬 WordCamp Sofia, Bulgaria, on April 22-23, 2023
Have a story we should include in the next issue of The Month in WordPress? Fill out this quick form to let us know.
The following folks contributed to this Month in WordPress: @bsanevans, @cbringmann, @eidolonnight, @rmartinezduque, @sereedmedia.