The WP Minute

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Apple Journals & Day One | Matt Mullenweg

Important Takeaways:

• Apple announced its own Journal app at WWDC, which competes with Automattic’s product, Day One.
• Day One has a few advantages over Apple’s Journal app. One of them is the upcoming feature of Shared Journals, which allows fully end-to-end encrypted shared private journals with friends and family.
• Another advantage of Day One is its cross-platform availability. Unlike Apple’s Journal app, which is limited to Apple devices, Day One works on all Apple devices, Android devices, and the web.

Link: Original Article

A Place of One’s Own, in Noho – Automattic Design

Important Takeaways:

• Automattic has a unique office space in Noho, New York, which is described as a “magic space” with unobstructed views of lower Manhattan.
• The office design is inspired by the aesthetics of jazz clubs and features collections of mid-century vintage furniture, art and design books, and original art pieces.
• The office is designed to be a practical and elastic canvas for diverse uses, and it reflects the rich aesthetics of Automattic’s multiple creative tools.
• The office space is not just for work; it also serves as a socializing and connecting space for Automattic employees.

Link: Original Article

Linking to Supporting Orgs – Make WordPress.org

Important Takeaways:

• The post discusses the need for a dedicated page on WordPress.org to link to independent organizations that support WordPress’s mission of democratizing publishing.
• These organizations are not officially part of WordPress but offer valuable resources and opportunities to get involved.
• The proposed structure for such a page includes an introduction, organization categories, organization listings, updates and announcements, and contact information.
• The organizations should align with the mission of WordPress, adhere to a code of conduct, and actively contribute to the WordPress community or the broader mission of democratizing publishing.
• A vetting process is suggested for adding organizations to this page, including initial screening, detailed review, contacting the organization, decision to list, and periodic review.

Link: Original Article

WordPress Accessibility Day Gains Nonprofit Status Through Partnership with Knowbility – WordPress Accessibility Day

Important Takeaways:

• WordPress Accessibility Day, a virtual 24-hour conference focused on accessibility best practices for WordPress websites, has gained 501(c)(3) nonprofit status through a partnership with Knowbility.
• The event was initially started in 2020 by the WordPress core Accessibility Team and was revived in 2022 by Amber Hinds and Joe Dolson as an independent event.
• The 2022 event was a success, with 11 organizers, 1604 attendees, and 20 volunteers from 52 countries. After all event expenses were paid, WordPress Accessibility Day donated $2,000 to Knowbility.
• The partnership with Knowbility allows WordPress Accessibility Day to gain nonprofit status, making donations tax-deductible in the United States. It also provides access to Knowbility’s accessible online event planning resources.
• The 2023 event will be held from 10:00 AM CDT (3:00 PM UTC) on Wednesday, September 27th, until 10:00 AM CDT (3:00 PM UTC) on Thursday, September 28th. The event will be live captioned and have sign language interpreters.

Link: Original Article

One Equity Partners acquires cloud services provider Liquid Web and forms new holding company, CloudOne Digital

Important Takeaways:

• One Equity Partners (OEP) has completed the acquisition of Liquid Web, a provider of managed cloud services, forming a new platform known as CloudOne Digital.
• The senior leadership team of Liquid Web will transition to expanded roles in the new, larger CloudOne platform with Jim Geiger as CEO, Carrie Wheeler as COO, and Joe Oesterling as CTO.
• Liquid Web, founded in 1997, operates 10 global data centers with more than 500,000 sites under management. With its brand acquisitions, CloudOne Digital will serve over 187,000 clients worldwide.
• CloudOne Digital will offer a broad portfolio of cloud products that meet the needs of web-dependent small and mid-sized businesses, cloud servers for developers and businesses with highly persistent, compute-intensive workloads, and managed private cloud for mid-market businesses that require enterprise-grade infrastructure and solutions.
• OEP plans an aggressive expansion strategy for CloudOne Digital, aiming to combine and integrate complementary businesses in the multi-cloud infrastructure segment.

Link: Original Article

WordCampers Demand Changes to Q&A Format – WP Tavern

Important Takeaways:

• WordCamp attendees are calling for changes to the Q&A format at live events, citing issues with attendees abusing the format for self-promotion or not asking relevant questions.
• WordPress Core Committer Felix Arntz suggested that questions taking longer than a minute should be asked informally at a later opportunity.
• Arntz proposed several ideas to improve the Q&A format, including submitting questions to a central platform for upvoting, discarding lengthy questions, and providing mandatory training for emcees on handling problematic Q&A situations.
• He also suggested making Q&A optional, depending on the speaker’s preference, to create a more inclusive environment for speakers.
• The feedback received on Arntz’s Twitter thread was largely positive, with other attendees offering their own suggestions for improving the Q&A format.

Link: Original Article

New Filter Controls: Discover “Commercial” and “Community” in the Theme and Plugin Directory – Make WordPress.org

Important Takeaways:

• New categorizations were introduced in the Theme and Plugin Directory in late 2022 to enhance the browsing experience. These filters categorize plugins/themes as “Commercial” and “Community.”
• The “Commercial” filter allows users to discover themes and plugins developed by professional companies and individuals who offer their products for a fee. These premium options often come with dedicated support, advanced features, and customization options.
• The “Community” filter showcases themes and plugins created by the WordPress community. These products are often developed by passionate individuals who share their work for free or follow an open-source philosophy.
• The introd...

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We’re slapping the beta label on it!

For the summer, we’re experimenting with a new format to the podcast and the newsletter. In the past, I’ve talked about the cost of curating and commenting on the weekly cycle of WordPress news. The cost is starting to catch up, sponsors want more, and the audience is falling out of interest.

We’re experimenting with delivering your the links our team and members have curated throughout the week, with a podcast episode from contributing members. This doesn’t mean we’re totally off the old format, but need to experiment, in an effort to provide the content our readers/listeners want.

1. “Demand for WordPress in 2023” – The blog post discusses the growing demand for WordPress in 2023, highlighting its dominance as a website platform and the increasing popularity of its ecosystem.
2. YouTube video: “The Importance of Cybersecurity” – The video emphasizes the significance of cybersecurity in today’s digital landscape, providing insights into various threats and preventive measures to ensure online safety.
3. “Introducing Jetpack AI Assistant” – Jetpack, a popular WordPress plugin, introduces an AI assistant that offers personalized recommendations and suggestions to help website owners improve their site’s performance and user experience.
4. “Johannes WordPress Theme” – Johannes is a WordPress theme that boasts a minimalist design and robust features, providing users with a versatile and visually appealing option for building their websites.
5. “Arbitrary Plugin Installation Vulnerability in Formidable Forms” – This blog post highlights a vulnerability in the Formidable Forms plugin for WordPress, emphasizing the importance of promptly updating plugins to mitigate security risks.
6. “WordPress 6.4 Development Cycle” – The blog post provides an update on the development cycle of WordPress 6.4, giving insights into the features and improvements being worked on by the WordPress core team.
7. “Newsletters Paid Subscriptions” – WordPress.com introduces paid subscriptions for newsletters, allowing content creators to monetize their newsletters and provide exclusive content to their subscribers.
8. YouTube video: “10 Tips for Effective Social Media Marketing” – The video offers valuable tips and strategies for effectively utilizing social media platforms to enhance marketing efforts and reach a wider audience.
9. “Underrepresented in Tech Webinars – Sponsorship Opportunities” – The webpage highlights sponsorship opportunities for webinars organized by Underrepresented in Tech, aiming to support diversity and inclusion initiatives in the tech industry.
10. “Design Share May 22 – Jun 2” – This blog post on the WordPress Design Team’s website shares updates and discussions about design-related topics, offering insights into recent activities and collaborations within the WordPress design community.
11. “Tim Ferris Podcast: Seth Godin Hints at Automattic’s Top-Secret AI Plugin” – The article on The WP Minute discusses a podcast episode featuring Seth Godin, where he hints at a top-secret AI plugin being developed by Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.

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Thanks to all of the members who shared these links today: 

• Eric Karkovack
• Sam Munoz
• Michelle Frechette
• Alex Borto

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We have to start this week’s news with coverage of WordPress’ 20th birthday. Our beloved CMS officially reached the milestone on Saturday, May 27. Dozens of celebratory events were held around the world. You can even sign an online birthday card as part of the #WP20 From Blogs to Blocks campaign.

Meanwhile, there is some special content worth checking out. First, WordPress co-founders Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little joined Drupal founder Dries Buytaert for a conversation on open source, AI, and the future of the web.

And if you’d like to read about the last 10 years of WordPress history, take a look at Building Blocks: The Evolution of WordPress. The online book serves as the second volume in a series.

Not surprisingly, the WordPress community also shared their thoughts via blog posts. That’s how this whole thing got started, right?

Among the highlights:

• 
  WordPress Executive Director Josepha Haden Chomphosy shared an ode to the WordPress community’s role in the project’s success;
• Sarah Gooding of WP Tavern reflected on the impact of WordPress and outlines future challenges;
• HeroPress founder Topher DeRosia looked back at his start in blogging and what WordPress has meant to him;

For more coverage of the big celebration, check out the #WP20 hashtag on Twitter.

Links You Shouldn’t Miss

WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg wrote a short post regarding his creation’s 20th anniversary. And he also announced the Audrey Scholars program. The aim is to provide 100% scholarships to selected members. There are currently 13 scholars in the program, which renews annually. All are encouraged to apply, although the focus will be on “children of parents or guardians who have contributed significantly to open source, or have been significant in our principal Matt Mullenweg’s life.” Audrey Scholars is run by Audrey Capital, Mullenweg’s angel investment and research company.

Does Automattic have a top-secret AI plugin in the works? Author Seth Godin recently discussed such a tool on the Tim Ferris Podcast. The WP Minute’s Matt Medeiros took a closer look at how important AI will be to WordPress. He even makes a guess at this new item Godin referred to as the “single best use I have seen of Chat GPT or whatever they’re using.”

European service provider group.one has acquired popular WordPress SEO plugin Rank Math. The free version of the plugin currently boasts over 2 million active installations. This a deeper dive into WordPress for group.one, as they also own web host one.com and the WP Rocket optimization plugin.

A couple of well-known WordPress workflow solutions are teaming up. Sandbox site provider InstaWP has partnered with collaboration tool Atarim. There will be cross-product integration. Together, the aim is to make it easier to spin up test environments, collaborate, and track changes.

From the Grab Bag 

Now it’s time to take a look at some other interesting topics shared by our contributors.

Automattic has pushed an automated update of the Jetpack plugin to patch a security hole. The vulnerability was found during an internal audit and would allow site authors to modify WordPress files. If you use Jetpack, make sure to update to the latest version immediately.

• There’s been lots of talk regarding diversity and inclusion related to the upcoming WordCamp Europe. With that in mind, Michelle Frechette has shared some thoughts on moving forward as a community.
• WordPress developer and accessibility expert Joe Dolson has announced the closure of the Access Monitor and WP Tweets Pro plugins. Both plugins will be shuttered due to complications with their third-party tie ins.
• The results of the WordPress Individual Learner Survey are in. A total of 583 people participated. An analysis shows that 321 respondents described themselves as ‘somewhat knowledgeable’ or ‘very knowledgeable’ of WordPress, while nearly 32% had more than 10 years of experience.
• The WordPress Performance Team has conducted an analysis of version 6.2. The goal was to identify opportunities for future enhancements. Based on their findings, performance upgrades for classic theme templates, block widgets, and translation loading are among the identified targets.
• There’s a new proposal to establish a WordPress Sustainability Team. The group would be responsible for promoting eco-friendly practices on the web and for in-person events. It would also include creating themes and plugins that serve this purpose.
• Developer Bill Erickson has released BE Starter, a hybrid starter theme. The package combines classic PHP templates with a theme.json file to control block styles.

Thanks to all of the members who shared these links today: 

- Michelle Frechette
- Mustaasam Saleem
- Daniel Schutzsmith

Outro

Thanks to you, dear listener, for tuning in to your favorite 5-minutes of WordPress news every Wednesday.

You can support independent content like this by purchasing us a digital coffee at thewpminute.com/support

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The hot topic this week was diversity. More specifically, how it relates to the upcoming WordCamp Europe speaker lineup.

After the event announced its fifth round of speakers, StellarWP’s Michelle Frechette took to Twitter with the following observation:

“So far only 25% of the speakers announced for #WCEU are women (by name/photo), and only three appear to be non-white. Hoping to see some more inclusion in the next few rounds of announcements.”

What followed were some heated comments - including one from event organizer Sjoerd Blom:

“Please stop being prejudiced and wait until ALL speakers have been announced. Thanks.”

It’s worth noting that subsequent announcements have included more women and people of color. However, the tenor of conversation in Frechette’s thread has raised eyebrows.

To read more about the issues at hand, check out posts from Job Thomas, “Diversity in conference speaker line-up” and MasterWP’s Rob Howard, “For WordCamp, the challenge of diversifying tech takes center stage”.

Links You Shouldn’t Miss

A new proposal aims to modernize WordCamps. In the near future, the events could be focused on a singular topic and a specific audience. The WP Minute’s Eric Karkovack spoke with Angela Jin, WordPress Head of Programs & Contributor Experience, to learn more. They discussed the current state of WordCamps and how these community cornerstones might benefit from a change.

This month marks the 20th anniversary of WordPress. As part of the celebration, The WP Minute+ released a panel discussion about the software’s biggest moments. Hosted by David Bisset, the panel features Rae Morey, Jeff Chandler, Ken Elliot, and The WP Minute’s Eric Karkovack.

WordPress 6.2.1 was released on May 16. This version includes 20 bug fixes to WordPress core, 10 for the block editor, and a handful of security patches. And it also introduced an issue that breaks shortcodes used within block theme templates. If this describes your site, think twice before updating. Meanwhile, a workaround has been created and a permanent solution is being discussed.

Last week, we reported on a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability that was recently patched in the Advanced Custom Fields plugin. Sarah Gooding at WP Tavern reported that, within 24 hours of the vulnerability’s disclosure, attackers had begun attempts to exploit it. According to Ryan Barnett of Akamai Security Intelligence Group (SIG), malicious actors used code examples shared within the disclosure. It’s recommended that users of the plugin update their installs immediately.

From the Grab Bag

Now it’s time to take a look at some other interesting topics shared by our contributors.

• 
  WordPress has accumulated 13 default themes since 2010. To cut down on maintenance requirements, there’s a proposal to retire some of the older themes.
• Cloud service provider WPCS announced that they’ve secured investment from Emilia Capital. Emilia is owned by Yoast founders Joost de Valk and Marieke van de Rakt.
• Users of Essential Addons for Elementor should take note of a recently-patched security vulnerability. Sarah Gooding of WP Tavern reports that the unauthenticated privilege escalation vulnerability was rated as critical, and was patched in version 5.7.2 of the plugin.
• Speaking of security - ever wonder what it’s like to work in the field? Check out an interview with Alexander Concha, an Application Security Engineer at Automattic.
• The Kirki Customizer Framework plugin has found a new home. Founder David Vongries previously announced that he was sunsetting the product and looking to sell. WordPress development firm Themeum has acquired the plugin and plans to keep it in active development.
• Gravity Forms has launched a new podcast called “Breakdown”. The show explores different ways to use the popular plugin and will feature special guests. And it’s hosted by our very own Matt Medeiros.
• WordPress competitor Wix now offers support for “headless” website configurations. The service takes advantage of the growing popularity of headless installs, with the ability to manage content from the Wix site builder.
• There’s a difference between branding and marketing. Hazel Quimpo and Michelle Frechette discussed the topic on a recent episode of the Audacity Marketing podcast.
• Curious about the benefits of a 4-day workweek? Social media toolkit provider Buffer have released data regarding their three-year journey using the arrangement.

New Members This Week

• 
  Adam Weeks

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Results from the WordPress 2022 Annual Survey have been released. WordPress Executive Director Josepha Haden Chomphosy notes that this was a slimmed down version of the survey. It featured 29 questions - as opposed to nearly 100 in past editions. This led to a 26% increase in completion rate. However, there was also a 56% decrease in overall submissions.

Among the highlights of this year’s results:

• 
  53% of respondents say they’ve used the Block Editor. Meanwhile, the Classic Editor saw a 25% drop in use.
• 76% of respondents install WordPress themselves.
• 68% agree or strongly agree that WordPress is as good as, or better than, other site builders and CMSs.
• Ease of use, flexibility, and plugin options were rated as the top reasons to use WordPress.
• The most frustrating aspects of WordPress were Gutenberg’s unfinished status and the difficulty of learning full site editing.

For more in-depth data, a slideshow is available for download.

Links You Shouldn’t Miss

WordPress turns 20 years old this month. And it has had a major impact on freelancers during its run. The WP Minute’s Eric Karkovack took a look at how the software became the perfect tool for solo entrepreneurs and small agencies.

Stacks, the first-ever community theme, is now available in the WordPress theme directory. The theme is geared towards creating slide decks that can be used in presentations. In the official announcement, core contributor Ben Dwyer writes that it’s part of a “new initiative to provide high quality themes for free.”

Last week, WordCamp US announced a new approach to programming. The flagship event is looking for speakers outside of the WordPress community. However, the traditional call for speakers is still part of the plan. It’s now open to anyone interested in giving a presentation. WordCamp US will take place from August 24-26 in National Harbor, MD.

Keeping with the WordCamp theme, the events may look different in the near future. WordPress Head of Programs & Contributor Experience Angela Jin laid out the vision for the Next Generation of WordCamps. The big change is in event programming. That includes a more clearly defined audience and a focus on specific topics. Community feedback is welcomed.

From the Grab Bag 

Now it’s time to take a look at some other interesting topics shared by our contributors.

• 
  In acquisition news, WooCommerce multi-vendor plugin WC Vendors has been sold to Rymera Web Co. Rymera is known for building WooCommerce extensions, including Advanced Coupons and Wholesale Suite.
• MasterWP is providing $1,000 travel grants for WordCamp US speakers from underrepresented groups. The program is now accepting applications and sponsors.
• Security firm Patchstack reported a reflected XSS vulnerability in the free and pro versions of Advanced Custom Fields. The issue was patched in version 6.1.6, so make sure to update your installs.
• Speaking of Advanced Custom Fields, users will want to check out the ACF Annual Survey. The feedback received will help “guide the evolution” of the popular plugin.
• eCommerce platform Shopify has announced staffing cuts. In a letter to employees, founder and CEO Tobi Lütke said the platform’s workforce will be “smaller by about 20%”. Additionally, Shopify Logistics has been sold to supply chain management firm Flexport.
• Developers Aurooba Ahmed and Brian Coords have launched WordPress Icons Library. It’s a searchable index of all icons used within WordPress. Icons can be copied and pasted in various formats.
• You can hear Josepha Haden Chomphosy’s thoughts on WordPress’ 20th anniversary in the latest episode of the WordPress Briefing podcast.
• How do we navigate the future of WordPress? Bluehost will host a webinar on May 11 to discuss the latest trends and predictions.

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On May 27, 2023, WordPress will celebrate its 20th birthday. It’s hard to fathom that the software has been around for so long. Yet some of us may struggle to remember what the web was like without it.

Just think of the designers, developers, and users that have come along during these past two decades. A whole generation has had easy access to content management and nearly-endless customization. Lucky them!

As a more experienced (ahem, old) freelancer, I can recall the challenge of building advanced websites pre-WordPress. Thus, I believe the software has been transformative. It has impacted virtually every aspect of a web designer’s job.

To celebrate this incredible milestone, let’s take a look at what WordPress means to freelancers. We’ll explore how its features and philosophy have empowered web professionals the world over.

A Reliable Foundation for Any Project

A typical WordPress project starts like this:

1. Install WordPress.
2. Add a theme and any necessary plugins.
3. Optionally add custom code as needed.
4. Add content.
5. Launch!

There’s more to it – but you get the idea. The amazing part of this process is that it doesn’t matter what type of website you are building. WordPress and its ecosystem make it possible.

This wasn’t always the case. Previously, content management systems (CMS) had been either built for niche usage or were severely limited in capability.

Themes existed for some systems, but nowhere near the breadth of what we see today. And the same goes for plugins.

For freelancers, this often meant scouring the web for a suitable solution. If you were a particularly gifted coder, you could build a tool from scratch. But either way, there were obstacles at every turn.

WordPress brought a new level of flexibility to the masses. We may spend time picking out the perfect plugins. But the foundations of what we need are already there.

This doesn’t mean WordPress is the perfect fit for every project. But we can be confident that what we want to build is at least possible. That’s a big deal.

Plenty of Opportunities for Monetization

When you think about it, the concept behind WordPress is revolutionary. It’s free, open-source software that can be used for any purpose.

To put this into perspective: there’s no separate license for commercial use. You don’t need to buy anything. You don’t even have to send co-founders Mike Little or Matt Mullenweg a “thank you” note.

When I first started using WordPress, I was taken aback by this ethos. I was even a bit suspicious of it. Surely, they would pull the rug out from under us at some point? The software will inevitably cost money, right?

Well, that hasn’t happened. Quite the opposite. As people around the world have discovered, WordPress is a vehicle for making money.

Freelancers can use it to build websites for clients – and charge whatever the market will allow. Developers can sell their creations as well. The past 20 years have seen the rise of a strong commercial plugin and theme market. And web hosts have tailored their services around it.

This also means that starting a freelance web design business is incredibly affordable. Anyone willing to learn WordPress can begin serving clients with minimal (or even zero) monetary investment.

It provides us with the opportunity to start small and evolve as needs change. How many other industries can say that?

Advanced Features That Are Within Everyone’s Reach

WordPress helped to resurrect my career. I began using it regularly around 2010. And I was in a major rut at the time.

My specialty had been hand-coded HTML and CSS. I still consider them essential skills. But I was limited in the type of websites I could build. Implementing advanced features seemed impossible.

I wasn’t sure where my business was going. Then I started experimenting with WordPress. In a way, it was like rediscovering my passion for web design.

The software and its ecosystem allowed me to expand my capabilities. Complex functionality was no longer a pipe dream. I could enlist plugins like WooCommerce, Gravity Forms, and Advanced Custom Fields to help me build bigger and better.

Suddenly, I didn’t need to be a senior-level PHP or JavaScript developer. And I didn’t need to turn down projects that seemed too dense. Plugins provided the main features I needed. From there, I could use the skills I had to add further customization.

And my skill level also increased. Diving into more advanced projects made me curious. They put me on a path of learning that I still enjoy to this day. WordPress helped to make it possible.

Part of WordPress’ mission is to democratize publishing. But one can argue that it has done the same with design and development.

A Community To Share Knowledge and Kinship

As software, WordPress is wonderful. But the community it inspired is even more amazing. It’s something each of us benefit from.

For freelancers, the WordPress community has been an invaluable resource. It has provided opportunities to connect, share, and grow.

That’s because community members are all-too-happy to share what they’ve learned. Whether it’s a handy code snippet or business advice, there is so much knowledge out there.

At our best, we genuinely enjoy lifting each other up. That’s what makes events like WordCamps so powerful. But it’s also something we see every day on social media and other platforms.

Freelancing is often about individuality. We run our businesses in a way that best suits us. But the WordPress community helps to bring us together. Regardless of background, identity, or geography.

For all of its faults, it’s also worth remembering the good that this community has done. I think there are people from all corners of the globe that would agree.

For Many Freelancers, WordPress Is a Lifeline

I don’t have the statistics in front of me. Perhaps they don’t exist. But it’s safe to say that WordPress has had a major impact on freelancers.

And 20 years has been a good long run. That’s especially relevant in tech, where big ideas come and go all the time.

Thankfully, WordPress has become something freelancers can rely on. That says a lot about the software – and even more about the people behind the project. Those that contribute in ways both official and unofficial.

Milestones are a great time to look back at what was. But it’s also an important reminder to never take what we have for granted.

What WordPress has done for freelancers, and countless others, is worth celebrating. Let’s hope for another 20 years and beyond.

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It looks like the days of automatically sharing WordPress.com content to Twitter are over. Automattic announced that customers will no longer be able to auto-publish to Twitter via the Jetpack Social plugin.

You may recall that WordPress.com’s access to the Twitter API was suddenly suspended in April. While it eventually came back online, changes to Twitter’s policies have made the continued use too expensive.

Automattic says that Twitter’s price increase is “prohibitive for us to absorb without passing a significant price increase along to you, and we don’t see that as an option.” Bye bye birdie.

Links You Shouldn’t Miss

The Beaver Builder page builder plugin has been on the market for 9 years. The WordPress landscape has changed dramatically in that time. For instance, page builders are now seen as competitors to the native Block Editor. What does that mean for the future? Matt Medeiros spoke with Robby McCullough of Beaver Builder for an in-depth discussion of the topic.

There’s news to report regarding this summer’s WordCamp US. The first round of ticket sales started on May 1 and quickly sold out. Another round of sales will be coming soon. Meanwhile, there will be a different approach to event programming. Organizers are targeting “experienced, seasoned, professional speakers at the top of their industries who are not currently active members of our unique community.” They’ve put out a survey for suggested speakers and topics. A traditional call for speakers will also be announced in the near future. The event will take place from August 24-26th in National Harbor, MD.

WordPress community member Michelle Frechette has launched WP Speakers. It’s a free resource that connects speakers and event organizers within the WordPress ecosystem. In a press release, Frechette notes that "As well-connected as I am in WordPress, I couldn’t even imagine how much more difficult it might be for someone who didn’t know a lot of speakers personally. So WP Speakers was born."

WordPress agency Human Made has recently published articles detailing their experimentation with AI. Now they’re hosting a virtual event to examine how this technology will impact the content management system (CMS). Word on the Future is a virtual event and will take place on May 25.

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Managed WooCommerce hosting is a growing segment within the WordPress ecosystem. And it has a new entrant: WooCommerce. The Automattic-owned eCommerce provider recently launched WooExpress.

The service is hosted by WordPress.com. It aims to be a one-stop shop for building and maintaining an online store. Packages start at $40 per month with discounts for paying annually. A selection of pre-installed extensions and themes are included.

Sarah Gooding of WP Tavern reports that WooExpress’ starting price is higher than entry-level products from GoDaddy and Bluehost. However, the most expensive package ($70 per month) comes in below GoDaddy’s premium tiers.

Beyond its name recognition, WooExpress may enjoy a few advantages over competitors:

As we reported last week, the price of WooCommerce extensions is going up. Bundling popular titles built by WooCommerce is likely to attract value-conscious store owners.

Meanwhile, its beefed-up hosting infrastructure was already in place. WordPress.com has been offering packages that include WooCommerce for some time. That’s likely to cut down on growing pains.

Lastly, ownership’s vast internal knowledge of WooCommerce and WordPress is a win for customers.

How will WooExpress fare? How will its competitors respond? The WP Minute will keep you posted.

Links You Shouldn’t Miss

SEO plugin maker Yoast announced the departure of former CEO Marieke van de Rakt. Under her watch, the company was acquired by Newfold Digital in 2021. van de Rakt will now turn her focus to investing in open source, sustainable, and female-led companies via Emilia Capital. In a related note, Yoast founder Joost de Valk announced that he too is stepping away from Newfold to focus on entrepreneurship.

Security firm Sucuri published a detailed report regarding the abuse of an abandoned WordPress plugin. The Eval PHP plugin hasn’t seen an update in a decade, but it’s being leveraged by malicious actors to install malware. The report also questions the wisdom of leaving similar plugins in the official repository long after abandonment.

WordPress.com launched a website building service back in 2021. It was a controversial topic at the time, with some freelancers wondering if their businesses would be impacted. The service initially aimed for the mid-range market, with prices starting at $4,900. Now they appear to be targeting the lower end of the market as well, with a $499 Built By WordPress.com "Express" package. The package promises a 5-page website built within 4 business days. Thanks to WP Minute Member Paul Lacey for reporting this development.

From the Grab Bag

Now it’s time to take a look at some other interesting topics shared by our contributors.   

• 
  CertifyWP has launched the WordPress Management and Design Credentialing Exam. The $150.00 exam aims to certify those knowledgeable in front-end WordPress development. The organization also offers an optional course to help learners prepare for the exam. 
• There have long been calls for a well-organized notification system for WordPress. Project core contributor Joe Bailey-Roberts provided an update on such efforts over on the Make WordPress blog.
• How can WordPress developers leverage AI tools? WP Engine Builders will hold a virtual event on April 28 to discuss the possibilities.
• Big changes to Twitter’s verification system have been in the news. Users who haven’t purchased the Twitter Blue service are now missing those famous blue checks next to their name. WordPress co-founder and Tumblr CEO Matt Mullenweg recently explained why he’s now a Twitter Blue subscriber.
• Mark Westguard, founder of the WS Form plugin, shared some thoughts about the cost of sponsoring WordCamps. Westguard has questioned the affordability for small businesses.
• When it comes to SEO, page experience has been mentioned as a factor in recent years. However, Google recently removed it from their ranking systems page.
• What does a “power user” think of Gutenberg in its current form? Torque Magazine’s Nick Schäferhoff published a review that points out the good and bad.
• We’ve all seen software and services that use urgency as a marketing tool. The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has offered advice pointing out what is and isn’t permissible.

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It’s the WP Minute!

Support independent WordPress news like this, join the Slack membership, or purchase a classified listing in the weekly newsletter at thewpminute.com/support 

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You know how it goes, everything I mention here will be linked up in the newsletter and the blog post. Check out thewpminute.com for the links.

Most Impactful

The uncertainty surrounding social media providers like Twitter has sparked interest in alternatives. Mastodon and other Fediverse networks have received a look. But longtime WordPress users may recall a self-hosted option: BuddyPress.

The venerable plugin can turn any WordPress website into a social hub. It still boasts over 100,000 active installs. And even if you haven’t heard much about it lately, it’s still very much in development. Version 11.1 was released back in February.

And as Sarah Gooding of WP Tavern reports, a Virtual Contributor Day will be held on April 20. It coincides with French WordPress Community Contributor Day in Paris.

Taking the current social media climate into account, BuddyPress may have an opportunity to grow. That’s not to say it will overtake Twitter or Facebook anytime soon. But it could become an attractive option for those who want to build smaller, tight-knit communities.

Links You Shouldn’t Miss

If you’ve purchased (or are planning to purchase) any commercial extensions from the WooCommerce Marketplace, you may notice some price increases. The WP Minute has confirmed that emails are being sent to customers announcing higher costs for yearly renewals. In an email exchange, a WooCommerce support representative stated that “Only a subset of extensions had their prices changed.” We’ve reached out to WooCommerce’s official press channels but have not yet received any comments. Have you been impacted by a price hike? Let us know on Twitter @thewpminute.

WordCamp Europe is all about the kids! Sarah Gooding at WP Tavern reports that the event, held from June 8-10 in Athens, Greece, will feature free childcare. This will allow attendees of the conference and Contributor Day to bring their children along. And a special workshop for kids will take place on June 8.

Last week, we told you about Joe Hoyle’s integration of AI within the WordPress block editor. The Human Made co-founder and CTO has posted a follow up that demonstrates some new features. Content streaming and content-aware editing add a new level of convenience to the tool. As Hoyle says, “small incremental improvements make a large difference to productivity and quality of life.” These experiments are worth keeping eye on.

From the Grab Bag

Now it’s time to take a look at some other interesting topics shared by our contributors.

• 
  In acquisition news, WP Minute member Justin Ferriman reports that plugin developer SnapOrbital has been scooped up by writer and entrepreneur Andrei Tapalaga. SnapOribital is known for their premium add-ons for LearnDash.
• The 4th annual Atarim Web Agency Summit will take place from April 25-28. The virtual event will feature 40+ sessions aimed at helping agencies grow their business. WordPress Executive Director Josepha Haden Chomphosy is listed among the presenters this year.
• If you’re a WordPress product maker seeking investment, Emilia Capital is encouraging you to make an in-person pitch at WordCamp Europe. The firm is run by Marieke van de Rakt and Joost de Valk of Yoast SEO.
• Developing WordPress plugins within the browser may soon become a reality. Automattic developer and WordPress Playground creator Adam Zielinski shared three examples of how it could work over on the Make WordPress blog.
• WordPress Playground relies in part on the SQLite database engine. Core contributor Ari Stathopoulos has posted an update on the proposal to add official support within WordPress.
• The COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on in-person events - including WordPress Meetups. They’re slowly starting to come back. That now includes Boston, which will reconvene on April 24.

Thanks to all of the members who shared these links today: 

• Justin Ferriman

Outro

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Do you remember what made WordPress 5.6 so historic? It was the first version of the software produced by an all-woman and non-binary release squad. And it looks like history is about to repeat itself.

WordPress 6.3 is scheduled to be released in July and will once again feature an all-women and non-binary squad. Project Executive Director Josepha Haden Chomphosy made the announcement and shared an outline for those interested in contributing.

The momentum for this reprisal can be traced back to Matt Mullenweg’s 2022 State of the Word. During the Q&A portion, project contributor Laura Byrne asked Mullenweg to commit to another such release. The result is another step forward for inclusion and diversity in the WordPress community.

Next up (listen to the podcast for more): Michelle Frechette with the Community Minute!

Links You Shouldn’t Miss

AI experimentation continues in the WordPress community. This time around, Human Made’s Joe Hoyle has demonstrated a generative AI plugin that’s natively integrated into the block editor. The plugin works with ChatGPT and allows users to enter prompts. Content is then generated based on that input. But there’s more to the story. The WP Tavern’s Sarah Gooding took a deeper look at this and other AI experiments currently taking place.

Block Visibility is a WordPress plugin with over 9,000 active installs. Developer Nick Diego recently made the decision to convert his freemium product into a free one. He spoke with The WP Minute’s Eric Karkovack about the change and his WordPress journey so far.

Guildenberg, a new organization geared towards WordPress product founders, is up and running. The aim is to help with product monetization, accelerate adoption, and standardize compatibility. CEO Jonathan Wold has put out a call to founders who are interested in learning more.

What’s the state of workplace culture within the WordPress ecosystem? The Team Experience Index aims to find out. It’s an anonymous survey for employees designed to gather feedback that can be shared with emplo

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