This Week in WordPress #310 - CourtneyR.dev's 2nd Brain

This Week in WordPress #310 ![rw-book-cover](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dnTOfhZSTYw/maxresdefault.jpg) 🔗 **Source:** [This Week in WordPress #310](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw) > [!note]+ Document Notes > tags: [#WordPress, #Podcast, #Developer, #Community, #AI] > Author: [Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frett, Courtney Robertson, Mark Benzaken] > Source: [This Week in WordPress #310](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw) > Reference: N/A > date created: 2024-10-08 11:30 > > # Title: This Week in WordPress: Episode #310 — "Taco Shaped Hole" >  ## Table of Contents: - [📝 Summary](#summary) - [📖 Main Content](#main-content) - [🗒️ Notes](#notes) - [📖 References](#references) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter](#newsletter) - [✅ Action Items](#action-items) - [🧪 Hypotheses](#hypotheses) - [📊 Methodology](#methodology) - [❓ Questions](#questions) - [🔮 Future Research](#future-research) - [💡 Implications](#implications) - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#learning-styles-assessment) - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#accessibility-assessment) - [🌍 DEIB Assessment](#deib-assessment) - [✅ Logical Validity](#logical-validity) - [🔍 SEO Evaluation](#seo-evaluation) - [🎯 Conclusion](#conclusion) --- ## 📝 Summary: This episode of *This Week in WordPress* (#310), titled "Taco Shaped Hole," covers the latest in the WordPress ecosystem. The hosts, Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frett, Courtney Robertson, and Mark Benzaken, discuss topics such as WordPress 6.7 beta, Automatic plugin rollbacks, and Dre from Drupal's thoughts on WordPress's future. They avoid the ongoing WordPress drama and focus on the technical and community news within the project. ## 📖 Main Content: The main points include: - **WordPress 6.7 Beta Release**: The beta includes features like the new 2025 theme, zooming capabilities, media enhancements, and an API for custom preview options. Courtney Robertson emphasized the importance of testing and invited the community to participate. - **Automatic Plugin Rollback**: A feature led by trauma surgeon and developer Andy Fragan ensures that plugin updates can automatically revert if issues arise. - **Dre's Suggestions**: Dre, from Drupal, provides a perspective on how WordPress could benefit from a "maker vs. taker" credit system to address governance and community contribution challenges. He draws on Drupal's experience with similar issues. - **WordPress Automatic's Alignment Offer**: Automatic offered a voluntary exit for employees who disagreed with the company's direction, which led to 159 employees leaving. - **Community Initiatives**: Updates on WP Campus's research on WordPress in higher education and upcoming hackathons were also shared. ## 🗒️ Notes: - **WordPress 6.7 Beta**: - New 2025 theme inspired by nature and ancestry. - Zoom-out feature for better pattern composition. - Direct uploads from iPhone images. - API enhancements for content previews. - More flexibility in the query loop block. - **Automatic Plugin Rollback**: - Auto-updates now include rollbacks if an update fails. - Complex exceptions and edge cases were solved to make this possible. - Ensures a more stable experience for users. - **Dre's Proposal**: - Maker vs. taker system in Drupal rewards contributors. - WordPress could benefit from more distributed governance and a credit system. - Encourages fairness and more explicit recognition of contributors. - **WordPress Community Updates**: - WP Campus's research project with Human Made. - New WordPress hackathon announced with $5,000 in prizes. ## 📖 References: - WordPress 6.7 Beta (source: WordPress.org) - Dre's article on governance in Drupal (LinkedIn post) - Automatic's alignment offer (Matt Mullenweg's announcement) - WP Campus's research project (WPCampus.org) ## 🗣️ Paraphrase: 1. **Automatic Plugin Rollback Feature**: Andy Fragan, a trauma surgeon and dedicated WordPress contributor, has been instrumental in developing a feature that allows automatic plugin rollbacks. This means that if a plugin update fails, WordPress can revert to the previous version automatically. The project has taken years due to the complexity of addressing edge cases and ensuring that it works smoothly under various conditions. 2. **Dre's "Maker vs. Taker" Proposal**: Dre, founder of the Drupal project, suggests that WordPress adopt a system similar to Drupal’s, where contributors (makers) are rewarded through a credit system. This system would offer incentives such as higher rankings and visibility for organizations that actively contribute to WordPress, while non-contributors (takers) would receive fewer opportunities and recognition within the community. ## 📰 Newsletter: In this week's WordPress newsletter, we dive into the WordPress 6.7 beta release, offering exciting new features like a zoom-out view for patterns, enhanced media uploads, and improvements to the query loop block. Automatic plugin rollbacks are now live, ensuring a safer updating process. Plus, don't miss Dre's intriguing perspective on how WordPress can learn from Drupal’s contribution system! We've also got updates on WP Campus's new research project and an exciting WordPress hackathon coming soon. Be sure to test the new features and stay engaged with the community! 💻✨ ## ✅ Action Items: For Courtney, who focuses on supporting contributors and open-source advocacy, aligning with topics discussed in this episode can highlight: - **Open Source Governance**: Dre's proposal directly aligns with her work in growing open-source contributors, offering a potential model for fostering sustainable contributions in the WordPress ecosystem. - **Beta Testing**: Encouraging the community to engage with WordPress 6.7 beta testing fits Courtney’s mission to onboard new contributors. - **Automatic Plugin Rollback**: The focus on stability and quality in WordPress aligns with her advocacy for creating a better developer experience in the WordPress ecosystem. These topics fit her aspirations toward creating a sustainable, inclusive open-source program office. ## 🧪 Hypotheses: 1. If WordPress adopts a credit system for contributors, it will increase participation from both individuals and organizations. 2. The automatic rollback feature will reduce plugin-related support tickets by 30%. ### 📊 Methodology: - Surveys of plugin developers and users regarding rollback feature usability. - Longitudinal analysis of contributor numbers pre- and post-credit system implementation. - Interview community leaders about their participation motivations. ### ❓ Questions: - How could a credit system change the WordPress contributor culture? - What challenges could arise in implementing a Drupal-like governance model in WordPress? ### 🔮 Future Research: - Explore how automatic rollbacks impact site security and maintenance. - Investigate the effect of adopting a maker vs. taker system on open-source communities. ### 💡 Implications: - Future research could help design more effective governance systems in open source, influencing not only WordPress but other large projects like Joomla or Magento. ### 🧠 Learning Styles Assessment: - **Visual Learners**: The episode could benefit from more diagrams or infographics explaining the plugin rollback feature. - **Verbal Learners**: The discussion was rich with explanations but could be improved by providing more written resources for deeper dives. - **Physical Learners**: A hands-on beta testing workshop would help engage kinesthetic learners. ### 📊 Accessibility Assessment: - **Screen Reader Compatibility**: All images and diagrams should include detailed alt-text descriptions. - **Improve**: Suggest adding summaries for auditory engagement and simple keyboard navigation for interactive components. ### 🌍 DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) Assessment: - **Inclusive Language**: Ensure gender-neutral language throughout the episode. - **Improve**: Encourage more representation of diverse voices, particularly in discussions about governance. ### ✅ Logical Validity: - The plugin rollback discussion followed a strong causal argument—"if updates fail, rollback will prevent site issues." - **Fallacy Watch**: No major logical fallacies noted, though the "maker vs. taker" discussion may oversimplify the complexities of contribution. ### 🔍 SEO Evaluation: - **Keywords**: "WordPress 6.7," "automatic plugin rollback," "maker vs. taker," "Drupal governance." - **Meta Description**: Succinct and focused on key terms for improved discoverability. ## 🎯 Conclusion: The WordPress 6.7 beta and automatic plugin rollback features are promising tools for making the platform more user-friendly and stable. Dre's insights from Drupal open the door for potential governance improvements, creating a more sustainable contributor culture in WordPress. The episode underscores the importance of ongoing community engagement and transparency in shaping WordPress’s future. Short Summary for [This Week in WordPress #310](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw) by [Merlin](https://merlin.foyer.work/) WordPress News: 6.7 Beta, Plugin Rollbacks, WP Campus Research & More | This Week in WordPress #310 [00:07](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=7) Discussed WordPress 6.7 beta 1 and automatic plugin rollbacks. [02:49](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=169) Omnisend and Memberful are highlighted for online selling and membership websites. [07:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=430) Michelle is an accomplished professional in the WordPress community [09:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=558) Introducing James La and Mark A No and discussing their involvement in the WordPress community [13:26](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=806) Use the chat widget for engagement [15:27](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=927) Discussion about tracking weather patterns in WordPress community [19:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=1160) Introduction of new sponsor Mark Westgard [21:23](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=1283) WordPress 2025 theme and zoom feature in beta 1 release [24:57](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=1497) WordPress project update and upcoming beta 2 testing [26:59](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=1619) Testing is crucial for theme and plugin updates [30:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=1843) WordPress 6.7 beta testing and release update [32:28](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=1948) Discussion about upcoming releases and plugin development [36:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=2179) Trauma surgeon answering support questions while in the emergency room integrates WordPress core features [38:16](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=2296) Auto rollbacks for automatic updates [41:55](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=2515) Discussion on success of core feature integration [43:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=2623) Dre Bagart's perspective on similarities between WordPress and Drupal communities [47:44](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=2864) Drupal Association's credit system and recommendations for WordPress governance [49:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=2986) Understanding and building wordpress.org profiles to contribute to the community. [53:24](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=3204) Importance of getting buy-in for funding in organizations [55:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=3318) Importance of understanding different community needs [59:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=3549) Focus on building a better understanding of contribution. [1:01:07](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=3667) Explaining the concept of Super Chat on YouTube [1:05:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=3908) Employee retention and company alignment after a significant percentage opted out [1:07:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=4029) Leadership changes at Automatic. [1:11:03](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=4263) WP Campus aims to spotlight challenges and goals in higher education with WordPress. [1:13:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=4391) AI is making its way into the browser, leading to potential benefits and costs. [1:16:59](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=4619) Wordpress integration in the browser is transformative [1:18:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=4726) The browser-based Google Gemini AI in WordPress is intriguing. [1:22:27](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=4947) WordPress skills competition registration deadline and new updates for plugin developers [1:24:14](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=5054) Plugin review team shifts at night affecting updates [1:28:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=5289) Farewell to Yost with appreciation and anticipation for the future [1:30:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=5404) WordPress Dev Days schedule announced --------------------------------- Detailed Summary for [This Week in WordPress #310](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw) by [Merlin](https://merlin.foyer.work/) WordPress News: 6.7 Beta, Plugin Rollbacks, WP Campus Research & More | This Week in WordPress #310 [00:07](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=7) Discussed WordPress 6.7 beta 1 and automatic plugin rollbacks. - Talked about testing WordPress 6.7 beta 1 and its features. - Explained the ability to automatically roll back a plugin after update. [02:49](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=169) Omnisend and Memberful are highlighted for online selling and membership websites. - Omnisend is an email and SMS tool, generating significant ROI with steady sales growth. - Memberful facilitates building membership websites with gated content, payment collection, and more for WordPress. [07:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=430) Michelle is an accomplished professional in the WordPress community - She is involved in various podcasts, events, and is an author - She is living outside of Rochester, New York and enjoys nature photography [09:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=558) Introducing James La and Mark A No and discussing their involvement in the WordPress community - James La was a speaker at Rochester and is congratted for his achievement - Mark A No is the marketing manager at MainWP and will soon be starting his own non-WordPress related podcast [13:26](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=806) Use the chat widget for engagement - Chat widget available on the right for desktop users, below for mobile users. - Non-logged in users can participate by clicking on the live chat inside the video. [15:27](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=927) Discussion about tracking weather patterns in WordPress community - Mention of trouble in Marcus's area due to the weather - Suggestion to use WP World to check for impacted WordPress users and loved ones [19:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=1160) Introduction of new sponsor Mark Westgard - Mark Westgard has sponsored the page and you can do the same by clicking the 'get started' button. - New show 'Feeling Insecure' with Tim Nash focusing on security aspects in WordPress. [21:23](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=1283) WordPress 2025 theme and zoom feature in beta 1 release - The beta 1 release of WordPress includes the new 2025 theme inspired by natural beauty and ancestry heritage. - The release also introduces a zoom feature to visualize and compose with patterns in the editor. [24:57](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=1497) WordPress project update and upcoming beta 2 testing - Discussion about the project progress, features, and upcoming beta 2 testing - Insights into the release party and the testing process for the software [26:59](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=1619) Testing is crucial for theme and plugin updates - Upgrading an existing site with a new theme may encounter issues, as seen with the 2025 theme not being bundled in during an update - Regular testing, especially during release parties and beta versions, helps ensure stability and identify edge case issues [30:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=1843) WordPress 6.7 beta testing and release update - Discussion about testing directions for the test team site and extending testing to other maintained things - Mention of the post 'Help test WordPress 6.7' with details about the testing process and the upcoming release [32:28](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=1948) Discussion about upcoming releases and plugin development - Colin Devo mentions the great opportunity for plugin development and testing against upcoming releases - Mentorship program starting and invitation for mentees to test [36:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=2179) Trauma surgeon answering support questions while in the emergency room integrates WordPress core features - He actively participates in WordPress core development during downtime, emphasizing the value of time management and seizing opportunities. - Contributed to enabling automatic updates for plugins in WordPress core, ensuring seamless and secure functionality for users. [38:16](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=2296) Auto rollbacks for automatic updates - Developing auto rollbacks for automatic updates was challenging due to various exceptions and complexities - Andy's commitment to core development has improved WordPress functionality and reliability [41:55](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=2515) Discussion on success of core feature integration - The feature was suggested a decade ago but got implemented with difficulty due to Gutenberg - Tim Nash praised Andy for his work on automatic updates, resolving issues efficiently [43:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=2623) Dre Bagart's perspective on similarities between WordPress and Drupal communities - Dre, the founder of Drupal, offers a unique viewpoint from outside the WordPress community on similarities in community issues. - Discusses the problems encountered by the Drupal community and the actions taken to address them early on. [47:44](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=2864) Drupal Association's credit system and recommendations for WordPress governance - Drupal Association operates independently within the Drupal ecosystem, overseeing the contribution tracking and credit system. - Recommendations for WordPress include expanding the governance model, defining makers and takers, and implementing a fair rewards system for contributors. [49:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=2986) Understanding and building wordpress.org profiles to contribute to the community. - Emphasizing the importance of setting up a comprehensive WordPress profile for effective community contribution. - Commitment to help individuals understand and build their WordPress profiles, including indicating involvement in make teams and hours committed. [53:24](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=3204) Importance of getting buy-in for funding in organizations - Flexibility in rules can make the case harder due to unknown information - Initiative to improve contributor dashboards for tracking team activities and automating data gathering [55:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=3318) Importance of understanding different community needs - Discussion on how what works for one community may not work for another, but can spark ideas for improvement. - Challenges faced by the founder and the concept of 'makers versus takers' in open source explained. [59:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=3549) Focus on building a better understanding of contribution. - Exploring the idea of maker versus taker with more depth. - Emphasizing the importance of listening to needs and covering essential contributions. [1:01:07](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=3667) Explaining the concept of Super Chat on YouTube - Super Chat is a way for viewers to highlight their comments by paying money. - Viewers can support content creators by sending money through Super Chat. [1:05:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=3908) Employee retention and company alignment after a significant percentage opted out - Matt calculated the potential payout of 126 million dollars for the employees who left. - Considerations on the impact of losing close to 10% of the workforce on company dynamics and culture. [1:07:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=4029) Leadership changes at Automatic. - Executive director Josepher Hayden Chomos has left Automatic. - Chlo and Naoko have also taken leave, with Naoko assuming the role previously held by Angela Jin. [1:11:03](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=4263) WP Campus aims to spotlight challenges and goals in higher education with WordPress. - The project examines organizational considerations, governance, and more. - WP Campus will share its findings publicly. [1:13:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=4391) AI is making its way into the browser, leading to potential benefits and costs. - AI integration in browsers like Chrome's canary build and Gemini Nano may impact performance and user experience. - Users may need to consider the costs and implications of relying on third-party AI services. [1:16:59](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=4619) Wordpress integration in the browser is transformative - The ability to tinker with and utilize AI within Wordpress without an API key is intriguing - Concerns exist regarding the privacy implications of AI processing data [1:18:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=4726) The browser-based Google Gemini AI in WordPress is intriguing. - The Nano variant may not be as powerful as chat GPT 40m, but its offline functionality is still fascinating. - Being able to use the AI in a cafe with no internet connection opens up new possibilities, potentially with data mining involved. [1:22:27](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=4947) WordPress skills competition registration deadline and new updates for plugin developers - Registration deadline for WordPress skills competition is 26th October. Competition offers prizes of $3,000, $1,000, and $5,000 for first, second, and third place respectively. - Plugin developers are now required to have two-factor authentication enabled for logging into their.org account. Also, a new plugin check tool will automate error checking for submitted plugins, reducing the submission queue significantly. [1:24:14](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=5054) Plugin review team shifts at night affecting updates - Updates go out when Europe is in nighttime - Developers expect quick recognition for their plugin updates [1:28:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=5289) Farewell to Yost with appreciation and anticipation for the future - Justapprication for the journey at Yost and recognition of the opportunities and experiences gained. - Excitement for the future with newold digital and the WordPress community. [1:30:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTOfhZSTYw&t=5404) WordPress Dev Days schedule announced - The schedule has been posted for the official WordPress event, Dev Days. - The event will have various tracks and talks focusing on development and core contribution.  📄 **Full text:** ![[Full Document Contents/Articles/This Week in WordPress #310|This Week in WordPress #310, WP Builds]] ## Highlights - Nathan Wrigley and today I am joined by co-host Michelle frett but I'm also joined by Courtney Robertson and by Mark bakine benzak Kane ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j9parx183p52qhrj71ynhg4z))