In this blog post, we’ll cover the latest WordCamps we’ve attended and those we’re going to, as well as a new site launch, a podcast featuring our CEO, and articles highlighting our work. Keep reading because there’s a lot of thrilling news to share.

JewelStaite.net Launch

We are very proud to announce the launch of the WordPress website for actor and foodie Jewel Staite! JewelStaite.net was built with the WordPress Block Editor, using Block Patterns and our very own block theme—WDS BT.

Jewel announced the launch on her social media and released a sizzle reel to highlight her new branding, website redesign, and all of the lovely elements that make her website unique, bespoke, warm, and inviting. Watch the reel below, and go to JewelStaite.net to see the website for yourself.

Full Site Editing in the Real World

Is no one truly using Full Site Editing and block themes? Fränk Klein, engineer and the person behind WP Development Courses, answered this question by presenting seven websites built using block themes. One of the examples included was Felicia.day, which WebDevStudios (WDS) built for the actor, activist, and streamer.

See all seven websites Fränk presented in his article and better understand the importance of learning block theme development. Read “Full-Site Editing in The Real World: 7 Websites Built Using Block Themes” now.

The Inside Track

Another podcast episode of “Scaling Enterprise, WordPress and Open Source Software” has dropped. Hosted by WDS CEO Brad Williams and Human Made CEO Tom Willmot, this latest installment is part of “The Inside Track,” which explores the world of enterprise WordPress and how the platform scales to meet the needs of large organizations.

In this episode, Brad and Tom teamed up to interview Mario Peshev, CEO of DevriX. The group shared their extensive experiences running their own agencies and the importance of contributing to open-source technology. Listen to the entire podcast episode at Do the Woo.

WP Weekly Inclusion

Thanks to WP Weekly for highlighting one of our recent blog posts, “Making the Switch from Webflow to WordPress,” in its weekly newsletter. A project by Davinder Singh Kainth, a creative professional who loves creating online spaces powered by WordPress, the WP Weekly brings the best bits from the WordPress ecosystem in a short and concise newsletter that should not take more than 10 minutes of reading time. Learn more about WP Weekly at thewpweekly.com.

WordCamps

The WordCamp fun continues! We recently attended one in Minnesota and have another coming up this weekend in the Philippines. Plus, we can’t forget about WordCamp US happening next month. Keep reading for all the details.

WordCamp Minneapolis / St. Paul

WordCamp Minneapolis / St. Paul (WCMSP) was a blast! Two WDS teammates—Engineering Manager John Heimkes and Marketing Manager Laura Coronado—got to meet for the first time ever while also connecting with former staff members, including WCMSP speaker Gary Kovar, who presented a talk on how NASA’s website was built on WordPress.

WordCamp Cebu

WordCamp Cebu, happening this weekend (August 24th) in Cebu City, Philippines, offers opportunities to learn, connect, and grow. Engineering Manager JC Palmes is speaking at this WordPress event.

JC’s talk is titled “Embrace the Blocks: Why Block Themes Are a Developer’s Friend.” It will cover the world of Block Themes, explore the tools and concepts, and demonstrate why Block Themes are not just user-friendly but a powerful new addition to a developer’s toolkit.

Next Month: WordCamp US

WordCamp US is the premiere WordCamp event in North America. It will take place in Portland, Oregon, from September 17-20. The event features a Contributor Day and a Showcase Day.

Five members of the WDS team will be in attendance: CEO Brad Williams, Director of Accounts Jen Miller, Account Manager Laura Byrne, Senior Frontend Engineer Marty O’Connor, and Senior Frontend Engineer Alfredo Navas.

Interested in meeting with our team in person at WordCamp US to discuss your next big WordPress project? Use this link to book an appointment. Our team would love to chat about your website needs.

The post Company News – August appeared first on WebDevStudios.

In this edition of our company news blog post, we’re focusing on the freshest updates from WordPress. Discover how two of our team members contributed to the latest major release.

We’ll also preview upcoming WordCamps, where you can catch up with us and learn more about our initiatives. Plus, we have news of tutorials featuring our own plugins. So, grab an ice-cold drink, soak in the summer vibes, and let’s explore all the latest news from WebDevStudios and beyond.

WordPress 6.6 Released

On July 16, 2024, the WordPress community celebrated the release of WordPress 6.6, affectionately named “Dorsey” in honor of the legendary big band leader Tommy Dorsey. This release brings a host of new features and improvements designed to enhance the user experience and expand the creative possibilities for site builders. Among the standout features are:

• Expanded design options for block themes, allowing for greater customization and creativity
• A streamlined Site Editor workflow, making it easier and faster to design and manage your site
• Plugin auto-updates, complete with a safety net that includes rollbacks to ensure stability if any issues arise
• Synced patterns for consistent styling across multiple instances
• A whopping 58 accessibility fixes and enhancements to make WordPress more inclusive and user-friendly
• And so much more!

Contributor Credits

The release of WordPress 6.6 exemplifies the power of open-source collaboration. A remarkable 630 contributors from at least 51 countries united to make this update possible. We are especially proud of our own team members, Frontend Engineer Aslam Doctor and Principal Engineer Sal Ferrarello, whose efforts were instrumental in this release.

Sal discovered a bug that prevented global JavaScript code from loading on the login page using the `wp_localize_script` method. He promptly submitted a ticket to address the issue. Aslam took the lead in developing a fix, pushing the patch to the WordPress repository for review.

After rigorous testing and updates, the patch was approved. Sal and Aslam also created PHP test cases to ensure the fix’s robustness. Their collaboration exemplifies the spirit of teamwork and innovation that drives WordPress forward. Congratulations to Aslam, Sal, and all the contributors to WordPress 6.6!

Reap the Rewards of WordPress 6.6

WordPress 6.6 truly delivers on the promise of a better web, offering style, finesse, and a suite of creative possibilities for your site-building experience. This version empowers users to do more with ease, providing enhanced tools and unprecedented power behind the scenes.

Additionally, “Dorsey” continues to deliver the performance and accessibility improvements that users have come to expect from every WordPress release. These enhancements make it easier than ever to create beautiful, functional, and accessible websites.

Following the major release, WordPress 6.6.1, a maintenance release, has also been made available. This update includes important bug fixes and improvements, ensuring that your WordPress site remains in top shape. Be sure to update your WordPress to the latest version today and take full advantage of all the new features and enhancements!

Explore what WordPress 6.6 offers and elevate your site-building experience with this powerful new release. Happy updating!

WordCamps

“I hate WordCamps,” said no one ever! With 23 WordCamp events planned around the world for the remainder of the year, WordPress users, developers, and community members will have the opportunity to network, learn, expand their skills, and make memories. Here are the upcoming WordCamps, where you’ll find team members from WebDevStudios (WDS).

WordCamp Minneapolis / St. Paul (WCMSP)

Taking place at the world-famous Mall of America on August 16th, WordCamp MSP is a one-day event of learning and connecting. This conference unites WordPress enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds to discuss, share, and explore the endless possibilities of the beloved content management system.

WCMSP’s schedule features multiple talks on accessibility and AI, but one talk our team is particularly excited about is titled “WordPress at a Galactic Scale.” Former WDS team member Gary Kovar, a Principal Software Engineer who has worked on projects for NASA and Disney, is the presenter. Additionally, WordCamp organizer and agency owner E Daniel Swain will deliver the keynote speech, discussing the importance of community.

WDS Co-Founder and COO Lisa Sabin-Wilson, Engineering Manager John Heimkes, and Marketing Manager Laura Coronado will attend WCMSP.

WordCamp US (WCUS)

While WCUS is still a couple of months out, we want to let people know well in advance that WebDevStudios will be there. WordCamp US is probably the most popular WordCamp in the United States, but people from all over the world attend. In fact, Senior Frontend Engineer Alfredo Navas is flying in from Costa Rica to attend WCUS.

Other WDS teammates attending WCUS are Co-Founder and CEO Brad Williams, Director of Accounts Jen Miller, Accounts Manager Laura Byrne, and Senior Frontend Engineer Marty O’Connor. At every WordCamp they attend, Brad, Jen, and Laura always make themselves available to meet with and talk to company representatives in need of WordPress design and development. If you want to connect with WebDevStudios while at WCUS, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Plugins News

It all started with creating our most popular WordPress plugin, Custom Post Type UI, launched in February 2010. Since then, the WebDevStudios team has developed a diverse array of plugins that have been downloaded and utilized by millions of WordPress users. Explore them all at our plugin shop, Pluginize. Here’s the latest news about our plugins.

Best Practices for WP Search with Algolia Index Management

More and more people are replacing WordPress native search with the power of Algolia search by installing our WP Search with Algolia plugin. Backend Engineer Michael Beckwith published a blog post that walks users through WP Search with Algolia index management and site launch. Read it on the Pluginize blog.

Learn How to Import Your YouTube Channel as Posts

Get ready to have your mind blown when you watch this video tutorial from The Cre8tive Diva. Using our plugin, Automatic Featured Images from Videos, and WP All Import, The Cre8tive Diva shows viewers how to import a YouTube channel to WordPress as blog posts. Watch her video below or on YouTube.

The post Company News – July appeared first on WebDevStudios.

Let’s face it. WordPress wouldn’t be what it is today without the support of its community. This makes 5FTF imperative. After all, its primary purpose is to bolster the success and growth of WordPress by increasing the number of community contributors actively involved in its development.

This is why WebDevStudios dedicates every last Friday of the month to giving back to WordPress by sponsoring our team’s contributions to 5FTF. More contributors mean a stronger, more resilient platform where issues such as bugs and security vulnerabilities can be addressed more efficiently. This benefits everyone—WordPress users, designers, developers, and companies selling WordPress services. The Five for the Future initiative also fosters a community where innovation thrives as diverse groups of individuals collaborate to enhance the platform. That’s the best part!

5FTF Benefits

Participation in Five for the Future offers numerous benefits. For example, it ensures regular updates and improvements, keeping the platform competitive and relevant in the fast-evolving web landscape. That’s because contributors’ collective effort leads to new features, enhanced security, and overall better performance of the WordPress core, plugins, and themes.

In fact, more than 630 contributors (150 first-timers) in at least 51 countries are responsible for WordPress 6.6, aka “Dorsey.” This includes two of our very own team members: Frontend Engineer Aslam Doctor and Principal Engineer Sal Ferrarello.

Sal discovered a bug that prevented the global Javascript code from loading on the login page using the (wp_localize_script) method. He submitted a ticket for it. Aslam then created a fix and pushed the patch to the WordPress repository for review, which was approved after a few tests and updates. Sal and Aslam collaborated to create PHP test cases for the fix.

Voila! That’s the power of 5FTF—discovery, investigation, collaboration, and contribution. How can you not participate in such an amazing opportunity?

5FTF Requires Support from WordPress Companies

For organizations, the initiative presents a unique opportunity to give back to the community that supports their business. By contributing to WordPress, companies can gain recognition, build stronger relationships within the community, and stay ahead of industry trends. Additionally, it provides a platform for employees to develop their skills, share knowledge, and gain recognition for their individual contributions.

Getting involved in 5FTF is straightforward. Organizations and individuals can pledge 5% of their resources—whether time, personnel, or financial support—to various areas of WordPress development. This can include core development, plugin and theme development, documentation, security, support forums, translation, and organizing or volunteering at WordCamps. Interested parties can visit the Five for the Future website to sign up and start contributing.

At WebDevStudios, our commitment to Five for the Future is a testament to our dedication to the WordPress community. Since the initiative’s inception, we have proudly dedicated 5% of our resources to contributing to WordPress. Our team members engage in numerous activities to support the growth and sustainability of open-source software.

We encourage all WordPress companies to sponsor their employees’ involvement in Five for the Future. It’s an easy and rewarding way to contribute to the platform’s longevity and success. Your contributions, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in the continuous improvement and innovation of WordPress.

Tomorrow, July 26, 2024, is Five for the Future Friday at WebDevStudios. Below, take a look at some of the ways our team participated in 5FTF last month. We appreciate everything they do to contribute.

From Our Internal 5FTF Slack Channel

I spent some time on client work, and I am now going to spend some time on my plugin. I will also spend 1-2 hours of time researching auto-repeater fields and form structure. –Awais Altaf, Backend Engineer

To start, I want to submit https://github.com/salcode/require-auth-users-rest-endpoint to the WordPress.org plugin repository. -Sal Ferrarello, Principal Engineer

I’m browsing Core Trac for the oldest tickets alive. –Michael Beckwith, Backend Engineer

When I was working with the BT theme, I noticed a funny issue when using non-native blocks (aka ACF). That’s my task for today. –Alfredo Navas, Senior Frontend Engineer

I’m going to ride along with Sal while he submits his plugin to the WordPress plugin repo. Helping to create some of the assets and whatever I can do to help. –Marty O’Connor, Senior Frontend Engineer

I’m going to finish my WP_HTML_Tag_Processor article. I added some performance sections, comparing it with other tools. –Ramsés Del Rosario, Backend Engineer

I’ll be working on a migration tool to hopefully make migrations easier in the future. –Keith Frey, Technical Strategist

Gonna do some experimenting with the Interactivity API. –Garrett Baldwin, Backend Engineer

I will be contributing to the Polyglots Team with more Spanish translations for some plugins. Then I will try to start some new article for the WDS blog. –Jairo Perez, Senior Backend Engineer

From X (Formerly Twitter)

Seeing everyone working behind-the-scenes on #5FTF makes me super happy. It would be so easy to ‘check out’ given that next week is a holiday week for our US team. But nope – everyone’s giving back as hard as they can.

Keep it up friends!

— CMDR Mitchcraft (@thatmitchcanter) June 28, 2024

It’s #5FTF @webdevstudios today and I can’t wait to play with #BlockThemes, wrangle some stuff for #WCAsia, take care of #WordPress #ProgramSupporter tasks, and teach PMs how to do their first PR for @LisaSabinWilson #ErasPlugin tagging #ErasTour @taylorswift13 just in case pic.twitter.com/OE8KZFxUsh

— JC Palmes #WCAsia2025 (@jpalmes) June 28, 2024

#5ftf June 2024 highlight! Contributed to a core ticket for some a feature enhancement at @webdevstudios!
Check it out: https://t.co/nir3qMzFnd #WordPress #OpenSource #WebDev

— Aslam Doctor (@aslammdoctor) June 28, 2024

It’s #5FTF at @webdevstudios again today!! Today I’m working on some updates to the build processes for our open source #WordPress block theme starter wds-bt!

— Amor (@itsAmorEh) June 28, 2024

It is #5FTF day thanks to @webdevstudios. Today I’m learning more about Block Bindings API improvements on WP 6.6 and trying to include my passion for in a Demo about it. pic.twitter.com/oOoBOYi71y

— Jennifer Farhat (@jenniFarhat) June 28, 2024

#5FTF here at @webdevstudios and I’m working my way through the onboarding process on the training team. Shout out to to @courtneyr_dev https://t.co/y3jj0zhy9u pic.twitter.com/AGLj7MqTAP

— Laura Byrne (@NewYorkerLaura) June 28, 2024

It’s #5FTF at @webdevstudios! Today I created a little #WordPress block that can be used to display post meta in a query loop block.

— Lindsey Bell (@lindseywb) June 28, 2024

The post Summer Is Sizzling with Five for the Future Contributions appeared first on WebDevStudios.

In his initial announcement, Matt highlighted the importance of this effort by emphasizing that it would help grow the WordPress community and ecosystem sustainably. He noted that web hosts, consultancies, and agencies had already stepped up their contributions, but there’s still room for more organizations and individuals to participate.

The purpose of Five for the Future is multifaceted.

Five for the Future aims to increase the number of contributors to WordPress, thereby making the platform more robust and resilient. A larger pool of contributors means more individuals are familiar with the codebase and can promptly address bugs, security vulnerabilities, and other issues.

Additionally, the initiative fosters a more inclusive and welcoming community by encouraging organizations of all sizes and resources to contribute. This inclusivity helps ensure that WordPress remains accessible to a diverse range of users and developers.

The importance of Five for the Future cannot be overstated.

By investing in developing new features and technologies, the initiative helps keep WordPress relevant and competitive in the ever-evolving web landscape. For example, the development of WordPress 6.5 involved around 700 contributors from 57 countries, showcasing the global effort needed to maintain and enhance this open-source project. Such contributions lead to regular updates and improvements in WordPress core, plugins, and themes, benefiting end-users by providing a more secure and feature-rich experience.

Participating in Five for the Future offers numerous benefits.

It helps create a collaborative environment where developers, designers, and other contributors can collaborate, share knowledge, and gain recognition for their efforts. This collaborative spirit accelerates innovation and enhances the sense of community among WordPress users and contributors. Active participation in the initiative strengthens the bonds between stakeholders in the WordPress ecosystem and encourages exchanging ideas and best practices.

To participate in Five for the Future, organizations and individuals can dedicate 5% of their resources—whether in terms of time, personnel, or financial support—to WordPress development and the greater WordPress community. Contributions can be made in various areas, including core and plugin development, documentation, security, support forums, theme reviews, training, testing, translation, and WordCamp organizing, volunteering, and presenting. Interested individuals and organizations can start by visiting the 5FTF website and signing up to contribute.

Five for the Future is a vital initiative for the continuous improvement and innovation of the WordPress platform. By contributing five percent of their resources, organizations can help ensure that WordPress remains a robust, secure, and versatile platform for years. We encourage everyone in the WordPress community to consider participating in this initiative to help build a stronger, more resilient, and inclusive future for WordPress.

Your contributions, no matter how small, can significantly contribute to the long-term success of this open-source project. Here is a sample of how our team contributed to 5FTF last month.

#5FTF @webdevstudios today and I’m heads down working on #WDSBT a #WordPress #BlockTheme pic.twitter.com/vMuLggkEvX

— JC Palmes #WCAsia2025 (@jpalmes) May 31, 2024

Today’s problem to solve: how to version control WordPress patterns for our clients’ websites so we can keep them in our repo. The solution’s done – I just need to code it #5FTF @webdevstudios #WordPress

— CMDR Mitchcraft (@thatmitchcanter) May 31, 2024

Happy #5ftf WordPressors! This time I am working on implementing new features for my plugin “Rearrange WooCommerce Products” at @webdevstudios. Fulfilling requests from plugin users. #WordPress #WooCommerce pic.twitter.com/LLFai8BAzU

— Aslam Doctor (@aslammdoctor) May 31, 2024

Today for #5ftf I am exploring the Block Bindings API and useful ways to implement it. @webdevstudios pic.twitter.com/TkfkwngV9z

— Jennifer Farhat (@jenniFarhat) May 31, 2024

Grateful @webdevstudios supports #5ftf and allows me time to contribute on the #MediaCorps #WordPress experiment! Excited to see our efforts develop. pic.twitter.com/o4KeEo7o7h

— Jen Miller (@JenMillerMBA) May 31, 2024

Just spent my #5FTF @webdevstudios playing with the WordPress Interactivity API! Built a basic testimonial carousel with bullet controls that uses the cover block. Big thanks to @ryanwelcher for his awesome gallery slider recipe that helped me get started. pic.twitter.com/0PZ3mQvkvJ

— Alfredo Navas (@3LPU4S) May 31, 2024

I capped off today’s @webdevstudios #5FTF with a ticket patch refresh from 14 years ago and the WordPress 2.8.1 days. Adding a “current-tag” class to the Tag Cloud markup when viewing a specific tag archive.

— Captain Macho Pirate Mick Rackham.yarr (@tw2113) May 31, 2024

More 5FTF Contributions

The 5FTF contributions listed below were reported in our internal Slack channel:

I found a website that has some interesting elements that I want to convert to patterns. I also had an idea for a simple progress bar block related to what we’re doing on GCR, so I may work on that. –Lindsey Bell, Lead Engineer

I will look into core Trac or GitHub issues. I’m particularly interested in checking unit tests and how to add them to tickets/PRs. –Mauricio Andrade, Lead Engineer

BT/FSE for me. –Lauren Levin, Lead Engineer

Jumping into some BT theme and WP support threads today. –David Walz, Lead Engineer

Finalizing a PR I was working on for the documentation plugin but then jumping to BT/FSE. –Ashley Stanley, Frontend Engineer

I will retake my WP_HTML_Tag_Processor article to add some more examples and performance tests. –Ramsés Del Rosario, Backend Engineer

For now I will continue contributing to the Polyglots Team with more Spanish translations for some plugins. –Jairo Perez, Senior Backend Engineer

This is still in progress, as I’m rebuilding parts of the spotify.design website in WDS-BT, but I managed to add the Interactivity API to Core Blocks. In this case, I’m adding it to buttons. I’m doing some logic to check if the button has the class .shuffle on it, if it does, I fire off a function to randomly change the header color. –Marty O’Connor, Senior Frontend Engineer

The post Summertime Support: WebDevStudios Sponsors Five for the Future Tomorrow appeared first on WebDevStudios.

In this company news blog post, you’ll get the scoop on the exciting events happening in the WordPress world, the latest updates to our plugins, and the inspiring content collaborations we’ve been part of. Plus, we’ll fill you in on our newest podcasts and all the generally thrilling happenings here at WebDevStudios (WDS). So, grab a cool drink, find a shady spot, and let’s dive into the news.

WordCamps, WordCamps, WordCamps

WordCamp Montclair

First, there was WordCamp Montclair on June 1, 2024. Two WDS team members, Principal Engineer Sal Ferrarello and Account Manager Laura Byrne, participated as speakers.

Sal’s talk introduced unit tests, which are extra lines of code that check whether or not the rest of the code behaves the way the developer wants it to. In his talk, Sal discussed how writing unit tests has made him a better developer, catch bugs, and write better code. Didn’t make it to WordCamp Montclair? No problem because Sal’s slides are available online.

Clients don’t know what they don’t know:

• What web solutions are right for them?
• How does WordPress come into the picture?
• How do you make sure you understand the scope and timeline?
• What do you do if something changes?

Laura explored these questions in her WordCamp Montclair talk “The Art of the Pitch: Selling Your WordPress Solutions.” She offered attendees practical tips and strategies or successful relationship building that leads to closing the deal. Laura’s slides are also available online.

WordCamp Europe

WordCamp Europe took place June 13-15 in Torino, Italy. According to reports, it was a hit! Three WDS team members attended: CEO Brad Williams, Director of Operations April Williams, and Laura made it to Italy after participating at WordCamp Montclair.

Over 2,500 people attended WordCamp Europe. Contributor Day brought together 726 contributors working across 25 teams to support the WordPress project. There were two days of engaging sessions with 60 presentations and sessions, and even a youth workshop that gave younger attendees hands-on opportunities to build WordPress websites, explore new tech, and learn about internet safety.

Additionally, WordPress Cofounder Matt Mullenweg shared a mid-year project update on WordPress and concluded by fielding questions from the audience on various topics. His presentation highlighted the success of the contributor mentorship program and WCEU Contributor Day, demoed Translate Live, and shared an update on the Data Liberation initiative. You can watch Matt’s WordPress Summer Update presentation in the video below.

Scale Consortium Enterprise WordPress Showcase

The Scale Consortium, a group of representatives from some of the most prolific and successful enterprise WordPress agencies, recently hosted its Summer Enterprise WordPress showcase with Josepha Haden Chomphosy, Executive Director of the WordPress project. The session deeply investigated enterprise-level WordPress development, showcasing innovative sites and underscoring the platform’s benefits in large-scale applications.

This showcase affirms WordPress’ role as a formidable player in enterprise web development, demonstrating its capability to manage complex, high-traffic environments while offering flexibility and scalability. Highlights include Disney and ABC Press, Fujifilm, and WebDevStudios clients NBA G League. Watch the showcase video below.

New Do the Woo Podcast

In partnership with Scale Consortium, Do the Woo has launched a new podcast called “Scaling Enterprise, WordPress and Open Source Software.” Hosted by Brad, Karim Marucchi of Crowd Favorite, and Tom Willmot of Human Made, the podcast will explore WordPress-related topics and broader issues like AI, first-party data, and the DXP world, showcasing how open source and WordPress offer flexibility and innovation for enterprise clients. The first episode is out! Listen to it at the Do the Woo website.

New Web Glossary Added to WDS Site Documentation Plugin

WDS Site Documentation is a free client-centric documentation WordPress plugin that allows any WordPress developer can provide their clients with essential documentation directly on their own website, including video and PDF links. Now, WDS Site Documentation features a new Web Glossary, complete with approximately 70 website terms. Learn more in the News section of the Pluginize website.

Guest Blog Post for Pagely

Many people cherish the warmth and security that a long-term relationship brings. However, sometimes, these relationships take an unexpected turn for the worse, leading to a difficult farewell. This scenario can also apply to your experience with a managed WordPress host. What began as a promising partnership may now feel inadequate and disappointing.

At WebDevStudios, we’ve seen it all. That’s why we wrote a guest blog post for our partner Pagely. Read “Spotting the Red Flags: When It’s Time to Break Up with Your Managed WordPress Host” to learn more about managed WordPress host red flags and what you should do when it’s time to move on. Head over to the Pagely blog to read all about it.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Stay in the loop with WebDevStudios. Each month, we send out a jam-packed newsletter with expert advice on WordPress, digital marketing, and website strategy from our team of specialists. Subscribe now to get the latest issue. Check out last month’s edition to read Lisa’s tips on crafting an RFP to attract top WordPress agencies.

The post Company News – June appeared first on WebDevStudios.

That’s why WebDevStudios takes a break from client work on the last Friday of every month to sponsor our team’s efforts to give back to WordPress. Tomorrow, May 31st is Five for the Future Friday at WebDevStudios (WDS).

Significance to the WordPress Ecosystem

The 5FTF initiative is vital for the continuous improvement and innovation of the WordPress platform. By encouraging contributions from diverse community members, 5FTF ensures that WordPress remains robust, secure, and versatile. For example, the development of WordPress 6.5 involved around 700 contributors from 57 countries, demonstrating the global effort needed to maintain and enhance this open-source project.

Such contributions lead to regular updates and improvements in WordPress core, plugins, and themes, directly benefiting the end-users by providing a better, more secure, and feature-rich experience. Additionally, the initiative helps identify and fix bugs, improve code quality, and develop new features, all of which are essential for keeping WordPress competitive and relevant in the rapidly changing landscape of web development.

Benefits to the WordPress Community

The WordPress community greatly benefits from the collaborative spirit fostered by 5FTF. This initiative brings together developers, designers, and other contributors, creating a strong network of individuals and organizations dedicated to the betterment of WordPress. Such collaboration not only accelerates the pace of innovation but also enhances the sense of community among WordPress users and contributors.

Active participation in 5FTF strengthens the bonds between different stakeholders in the WordPress ecosystem. It provides an opportunity for contributors to work on passion projects, share knowledge, and gain recognition for their work. This collaborative environment encourages the exchange of ideas and best practices, which leads to more efficient and effective solutions.

WebDevStudios’ Commitment to Five for the Future

WebDevStudios exemplifies a company that has fully embraced the ethos of 5FTF. Since 2014, WebDevStudios has consistently dedicated 5% of its time to contributing to WordPress, underscoring its commitment to the platform. This regular dedication to 5FTF is a core part of WebDevStudios’ company culture.

Team members are encouraged to engage in activities such as plugin development, support forums, and preparing for WordCamp talks. These contributions are not only beneficial to WordPress but also provide the team with a refreshing change from their daily routines, fostering creativity and professional growth.

Brad Williams, CEO of WebDevStudios, emphasizes the importance of this initiative in an interview for the Amazing Teams Podcast. He highlights that participating in 5FTF is not just about giving back but also about taking a break from the “client grind” and working on projects our team is passionate about. This approach ensures that the contributions are meaningful and impactful, benefiting both the contributors and the broader WordPress community.

Last month, our team members reported using their 5FTF Friday to work on WordPress Support forum tickets, updating plugins, and translations. Below are some posts from X that exemplify our participation. Be sure you’re following us to keep up with latest on Five for the Future.

It’s #5FTF @webdevstudios today and I have a full schedule getting all the things done. Checking in on #WordCampAsia 2025, #WordPress Program Supporter tasks, as well as working on a #BlockTheme pic.twitter.com/IRaskhEs4X

— JC Palmes #WCAsia2024 (@jpalmes) April 26, 2024

Working on further upping my Blocks/Gutenberg/React knowhow for #5FTF at the moment. Pray for me, if that’s your thing.

— Captain Macho Pirate Mick Rackham.yarr (@tw2113) April 26, 2024

Another Friday & another #5FTF celebration at @webdevstudios. This time I continued to work on a #WordPress core patch and did some unit tests with my buddy @salcode

— Aslam Doctor (@aslammdoctor) April 26, 2024

Happy #5FTF day. Very grateful to be able to help and contribute to our wonderful community. This is possible thanks to @webdevstudios. pic.twitter.com/e4mJr8x0y7

— Jennifer Farhat (@jenniFarhat) April 26, 2024

Boom! My plugin just hit 20K active installs today! It was 10k last year. Massive shoutout to @webdevstudios for allowing us to contribute to the #WordPress community via #5ftf every month. Let’s keep elevating together! https://t.co/hYhUI3MfaS pic.twitter.com/PvVEKeMdPd

— Aslam Doctor (@aslammdoctor) April 29, 2024

The post May Momentum: Our Ongoing Commitment to Five for the Future appeared first on WebDevStudios.

WordPress 6.5.3 Core Contributors

WordPress 6.5.3 was released to the public on May 7, 2024. WDS Principal Engineer Sal Ferrarello and Frontend Engineer Aslam Doctor are credited as contributors.

This is a short-cycle maintenance release with 12 bug fixes in Core and nine bug fixes for the Block Editor. The next major release of WordPress is Version 6.6, which will be available sometime in July.

Become a WordPress Core Contributor

Ready to get involved with WordPress Core development like Sal and Aslam? It’s easy to get started.

Hop over to Trac, choose a ticket that catches your eye, and jump into the conversation in the WordPress.Slack.com #core and #6-6-release-leads channels. If you need a helping hand, the Core Contributor Handbook has you covered.

Back-to-Back Talks

This month, WDS Senior Frontend Engineer Alfredo Navas gave back-to-back virtual talks. First, Alfredo presented “Patterns for the Win” at WordPress Meetup Roma on May 10, 2024. Soon after, on May 15th, he presented “Block Editor 101” for Green Geeks. You can watch a recording of that webinar below.

Vancouver WordPress Talks

A few days after publishing this company news blog post, WDS Frontend Engineer Jennifer Farhat is presenting her talk “Introduction to theme.json” at Vancouver WordPress Talks. In this presentation, Jennifer will explore the JSON format and the structure of theme.json. By the end of her talk, the audience will clearly understand the hierarchy used for loading a website’s settings and style configurations.

Upcoming WordCamps

With the warmer weather upon us, it’s the perfect time to hit the road and attend some WordCamps. We’ve got a slew of them coming up, and you’ll find our WDS team members attending and speaking at various events. If you spot someone from WebDevStudios at a WordCamp, don’t be shy—come say hi! We’d love to chat about your upcoming WordPress project and share some insights. Below is a list of the WordCamps where you’ll find WebDevStudios.

• WordCamp Montclair, June 1: WDS Principal Engineer Sal Ferrarello is presenting a talk titled “Introduction to Unit Tests.” WDS Account Manager Laura Byrne will also present her talk “The Art of the Pitch: Selling Your WordPress Solutions.”
• WordCamp Europe, June 13-15: WDS CEO Brad Williams, Director of Operations April Williams, and Account Manager Laura Byrne will all be in attendance.
• WordCamp Canada, July 11-13: Principal Engineer Amor Kumar and Senior Project Manager Xavi Aguilar will be in attendance.
• WordCamp Minneapolis/St. Paul, August 16: WDS COO Lisa Sabin-Wilson, Engineering Manager John Heimkes, and Marketing Manager Laura Coronado will be in attendance.

Content Collaboration with Scale Consortium

Traffic surges are akin to digital tsunamis. They can make or break your website. On Scale Consortium’s Insights blog, Brad published an article that covers how WordPress scales for sudden website traffic surges. Wondering how WordPress handles website traffic spikes? Go read Brad’s article now.

Best WordPress Plugins

Best-of lists are tricky because they’re normally riddled with sneaky affiliate links. However, SiteCare broke the mold with its list of “The Best WordPress Plugins to Supercharge Your Website.” WebDevStudios-developed plugin WP Search with Algolia made the list because it bridges the gap between WordPress content and the powerful Algolia search service. Looking to level up your WordPress site? Keep SiteCare’s list handy.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Stay connected with WebDevStudios! Every month, we send out an email newsletter filled with timely advice on WordPress, digital marketing, and website strategy from our team of WordPress experts. Subscribe now to receive this month’s issue. Read last month’s edition to see what Brad says about boosting your website’s search experience.

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Since 2014, we’ve proudly participated in the Five for the Future (5FTF) movement, dedicating 5% of our WordPress agency’s time to contributing to the WordPress project. We continue that tradition tomorrow, April 26, 2024, by devoting our entire workday to 5FTF.

Our involvement in 5FTF is more than a mere obligation. It’s a fundamental part of our company culture. In fact, team member after team member will tell you that one of the reasons they joined WebDevStudios was our dedication to 5FTF.

Five for the Future Friday at WebDevStudios

The last Friday of every month is devoted to Five for the Future, so our team takes a break from client projects to work on their WordPress projects. This could be plugin development, taking tickets at the WordPress Support Forum, or working on a WordCamp talk. In whatever manner our staff members choose to spend their day giving back to WordPress and open-source technology, we support it.

By dedicating an entire workday each month to 5FTF, we prioritize giving back to the WordPress community and ensuring that our contributions are meaningful and impactful. From bug fixes and feature enhancements to code reviews and documentation updates, our team actively engages in various areas of WordPress development, leveraging their expertise to make positive contributions.

Benefits of Participation

One of the key benefits of our commitment to 5FTF is the opportunity to contribute to the continuous improvement of WordPress itself. In fact, Matt Mullenweg, one of the founding developers of WordPress, reported that it took around 700 contributors in 57 countries to build WordPress 6.5, which was released on April 2, 2204. The progress of WordPress is credited to all those who give back to it.

Here’s a fun fact: two of those who received contributor credit for WordPress 6.5 came from our team—CEO Brad Williams and Principal Engineer Sal Ferrarello. By actively participating in WordPress’ development process and progress, we gain valuable insights into the platform’s inner workings and shape its future direction. Additionally, our involvement allows us to stay abreast of the latest developments in WordPress, ensuring that our team remains at the forefront of industry trends and best practices.

Moreover, our dedication to 5FTF enables us to give back to the broader WordPress community, sharing our knowledge, expertise, and resources for the benefit of all users. By investing in the future of WordPress today, we ensure that it remains a powerful and accessible tool for years to come.

March 2024 Five for the Future Friday

Our last 5FTF Friday was held on March 29, 2024. Some team members spent 5FTF Friday testing their self-developed plugins’ compatibilities with WordPress 6.5. Here are some other ways our team members contributed.

Actually getting to write code today for our WordPress #5FTF. Today’s task? Accessing patterns from the front end to recreate the official pattern library functionality. pic.twitter.com/mzTFdl66tN

— CMDR Mitchcraft St. Jude Creator Summit (@thatmitchcanter) March 29, 2024

Tested and confirmed my Blogroll Block is working well with the upcoming WordPress 6.5 https://t.co/RjAlEzlMPG #fiveforthefuture #5ftf

— Captain Macho Pirate Mick Rackham.yarr (@tw2113) March 29, 2024

This Good Friday, we are celebrating #5FTF at @webdevstudios. I did some research on faust.js blocks rendering & also submitted a patch to #WordPress core for a bug found by my buddy @salcode

— Aslam Doctor (@aslammdoctor) March 29, 2024

The post Sowing the Seeds of Progress by Participating in Five for the Future appeared first on WebDevStudios.

Join us as we recount our recent accomplishments and commemorate our collective achievements. To our peers, fellow members of the WordPress community, and esteemed clients, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support throughout our journey. Without further ado, here’s a glimpse into our latest company news, brimming with excitement and promise.

WebDevStudios Celebrates 16 Years

Founded by pioneers of WordPress, WebDevStudios (WDS) is ecstatic about celebrating 16 years of building amazing websites for medium-sized and enterprise-level companies and organizations, such as NBA, Care.com, Monster, and Starbucks.

What started as a small business operating from a coffee table flourished into a one-stop-shop WordPress agency of nearly 40 people dedicated to making the web a better place. Please take a moment to learn more about WDS’ history.

This month marks our 16th anniversary at @webdevstudios!

I’m thankful for every single person that has had an impact on our company over the years. Without our team and our partners we wouldn’t be doing what we love day in and out for as long as we have. Thank you!

— Brad Williams (@williamsba) April 10, 2024

WordPress 6.5 Released

On April 2nd, WordPress 6.5, aka “Regina,” was released, boasting new and improved methods to fine-tune and enhance the site-building experience, allowing users to exert control in personalized ways. This release also features fresh approaches to managing site typography, increased availability of comprehensive revisions, and a series of updates to the Site Editor accompanied by notable performance enhancements, facilitating smoother and faster operations.

There’s more to WordPress 6.5 than what was just mentioned. Visit WordPress.org for a detailed list of all of Regina’s special features and improvements. Since this release, WordPress 6.5.2, a minor release, has been launched. Due to an issue with the initial package, WordPress 6.5.1 was not released.

WordPress 6.5.2 is a security and maintenance release with two bug fixes on Core, 12 bug fixes for the Block Editor, and one security fix. It is highly recommended that you update immediately if you haven’t already done so.

WordPress 6.5 Contributors

WordPress 6.5 wouldn’t be what it is without its contributors. That is the lovely nature of open-source technology.

Each WordPress release comprises numerous components with its own successes and obstacles. It requires a committed team of enthusiastic contributors to maintain momentum and ensure smooth progress. WordPress 6.5 owes its success to a diverse and cross-functional group of contributors, always eager to champion ideas, overcome obstacles, and address challenges. Among these contributors are our own CEO, Brad Williams, and Principal Engineer Sal Ferrarello.

Pretty cool to get props for contributing to WordPress 6.5! This stems from the plugin dependency work that spans over 12-years with MANY people involved. Glad to see it finally in WP Core! https://t.co/T3DAkD4Lnj

— Brad Williams (@williamsba) April 4, 2024

It took 700 contributors (150 of whom were first-time contributors) from at least 57 countries to make WordPress 6.5. Their collective efforts resulted in over 2,500 enhancements and fixes, guaranteeing a stable release for all users. This achievement underscores the strength and capability of the WordPress open-source community. Congratulations to Brad and Sal on their contributions to WordPress 6.5.

All WebDevStudios Plugins Are WordPress 6.5 Compatible

We are pleased to announce that all WDS plugins available at our online plugin shop, Pluginize, are compatible with WordPress 6.5. Pluginize posted the announcement on its blog on April 10th.

Some WDS plugins were updated with improvements in addition to compatibility. Furthermore, a couple of WDS-developed plugins require WordPress 6.5. Head over to the Pluginize blog for more details.

WordCamp Canada

Congratulations to WDS Account Manager Laura Byrne, who was announced as a featured speaker at WordCamp Canada, happening July 11-13, 2024. Her talk is titled “Turning a 10-Year WordPress Hobby Into a Successful New Career.” In it, Laura will address how she started a viral fan website, immersed herself in the WordPress community, and discovered a way to create a job out of doing something she loves. Tickets are on sale now.

Other upcoming WordCamps where you will find WebDevStudios in attendance are WordCamp Montclair (June 20th) and WordCamp US (September 17th-20th).

Behind the Scenes of the South College Website Redesign

The team at WebDevStudios recently launched the website redesign and rebuild of South College, a private for-profit college with its main campus in Knoxville, Tennessee. This project included a data migration and a full website redesign and rebuild.

The college aimed to enhance user experience, streamline content, and revitalize the layout for improved visual appeal and navigation. The primary objectives included boosting enrollment, optimizing site navigation, prioritizing mobile responsiveness, and ensuring seamless information retrieval for users. Simply put, the goal was to create a more intuitive and engaging web presence that fosters enrollment growth and user satisfaction.

After its launch, South College CMO Kathleen Stockholm made a guest appearance on the “Education Marketing Leader” podcast to discuss the strategy behind its success.

I am very proud of our team at ⁦@webdevstudios⁩ for the work we did on the redesign and re-platforming of the ⁦@SouthCollege⁩ website at https://t.co/aw7RBWtZjf https://t.co/gbev8QpEMZ

— LSW (@LisaSabinWilson) April 18, 2024

You can listen to the full episode below. Visit the South College website at South.edu. Learn more about using WordPress for education websites on this WDS Solutions page.

WDS Leadership Retreat

A WebDevStudios leadership team retreat is vital to our WordPress agency’s success, offering numerous benefits beyond the virtual boardroom. Firstly, it gives leaders a chance to step away from daily client projects. They can immerse themselves in an environment ideal for strategic planning and collaboration. This dedicated time away from distractions helps our leadership team gain new perspectives, brainstorm innovative ideas, and align on our company’s future vision.

On April 15-19, 2024, WDS hosted a leadership team retreat in Pennsylvania, where the future of our company was discussed, strategized, and planned.  Pictured below, left to right, are: COO and Co-Founder Lisa Sabin-Wilson, Director of Engineering Mitch Canter, Delivery Manager Deborah Hudson, Account Manager Laura Byrne, Engineering Manager John Heimkes, Engineering Manager JC Palmes, CEO and Co-Founder Brad Williams, Director of Accounts Jen Miller, Delivery Manager Autry Reeves, and Director of Operations April Williams.

Spent the week with the @webdevstudios leadership team in central PA. It’s been difficult to meet the past few years, but nothing replaces in person strategic planning. We made some amazing progress and had a lot of fun doing it! pic.twitter.com/YiVO9pz5bM

— Brad Williams (@williamsba) April 19, 2024

Overall, the importance of a leadership team retreat cannot be overstated. It is a cornerstone for organizational growth, fostering innovation, collaboration, and personal development among leaders. This ultimately drives WebDevStudios toward greater success and the achievement of our strategic objectives.

WebDevStudios Is Hiring a Technical Strategist

Don’t you want to join a remote team that fosters growth, innovation, and collaboration? You’re in luck because now is your chance!

WDS is seeking a Technical Strategist to perform needs analyses and gather requirements and acceptance criteria for client projects. Your day-to-day will involve conducting research, critical thinking, strategic planning, and relationship-building to enrich every client engagement and contribute to our portfolio of exceptional work. Each opportunity presents a unique challenge and demands a consultative yet efficient approach.

As a Technical Strategist, you will collaborate with industry-leading designers and developers to serve a diverse clientele. You’ll tackle complex problems, devise innovative solutions, and play a pivotal role in achieving tangible results for our clients. Apply via our Careers page.

The post Company News – April appeared first on WebDevStudios.

“We basically dedicate the last Friday of the month, and it’s all hands, and we just contribute to WordPress,” Brad says. “It’s a great break from the client grind for our team. They can work on passion projects, maybe do something a little different than they normally do any given day of the week, or maybe just take a break from coding.”

He goes on to say that the nature of open-source technology, such as WordPress, requires its community to give back to it in order for it to flourish. And that’s what the WebDevStudios (WDS) team is doing tomorrow, March 29th. We’re giving back to WordPress.

Giving Back to WordPress Through Five for the Future

Participating in Five for the Future is more than an act of generosity. It’s a vital investment in the sustainability and growth of WordPress as a platform.

By allocating resources to the Five for the Future (5FTF) initiative, individuals and organizations contribute directly to the enhancement of WordPress core, plugins, themes, and the broader ecosystem. This collective effort fosters innovation, improves security, and enhances the overall user experience for millions of WordPress users worldwide.

Moreover, active participation in 5FTF reinforces the spirit of community and collaboration that lies at the heart of WordPress, strengthening bonds between developers, designers, users, and contributors. Ultimately, giving back through initiatives like 5FTF enriches the WordPress platform and ensures its longevity and relevance in an ever-evolving digital world.

WDS 5FTF Contributions

Our team members contribute to 5FTF in a variety of ways. Sometimes they share it on social media. Here’s a sample of some the ways our team gave back to WordPress in February.

#5FTF @webdevstudios today and my day will be filled with blocks and getting ready for #WCAsia2024 #ContributorDay. If you see me, say hi https://t.co/wbR7xAxOpK

— JC Palmes #WCAsia2024 (@jpalmes) February 23, 2024

#5ftf has arrived early this month at @webdevstudios and this time I am doing some digging with Block Binding API. #WordPress

Reference: https://t.co/xnJrB1uYlJ pic.twitter.com/zxA8dRSD6q

— Aslam Doctor (@aslammdoctor) February 23, 2024

#5FTF Confirmed WP 6.3.4 compatibility for my WordPress Blogroll Block https://t.co/RjAlEzlMPG Version 1.3.4 is now available.

Also I have topped 70+ installs! Maybe getting some love from the #indieweb movement?

— Captain Macho Pirate Mick Rackham.yarr (@tw2113) February 23, 2024

For today’s #5FTF at @webdevstudios! I’m Diving deep into the Interactivity API, excited for the future of WordPress.https://t.co/3MrIVAaW5p

— Alfredo Navas (@3LPU4S) February 23, 2024

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