Here are my slides from my session for the virtual WPBlockTalk event where I review how to extend the block editor in a number of fashions – from both the plugin, and the theme side of things.
Explore a website’s Gutenberg blocks with Detective Wapuu
Ever glanced at a website and wondered if it was built with Gutenberg blocks?
If so, you’re in luck. Nick Hamze, a prolific block builder connoisseur, has launched a new Chrome extension aimed at helping folks detect what blocks are being used on a website. And it’s just about as ingenious as it’s name: Detective Wapuu
Installable as a free Chrome extension, Detective Wapuu cleverly scans the webpage you are currently on, highlighting any blocks added to the a page.
Gutenberg Block Patterns: The Future of Page Building in WordPress
While the block editor absolutely leveled-up the WordPress publishing experience, building beautiful web pages is still quite a challenge.
It’s like we’re handing folks the International Space Station LEGO set — without any sort of help to build it. Sure, the cleverest master builders will likely figure it out, but what about everyone else — the other 99%? Now if that set came with four or five assembled “chunks” of the ISS, completing the build would be much simpler. Maybe even simple enough for that 99%…
Enter Gutenberg block patterns: thoughtful arrangements of blocks that deliver entire sections of a page, with just a single click.
2019 Year in Review
As we cross into this next decade, I can’t help but to look back with excitement on this last year in particular. My career took a rather unexpected — yet incredible — turn.
Most notably, I sold both CoBlocks and ThemeBeans, joined GoDaddy as a Product Manager of WordPress Experience, attended WordCamp Europe for the first time, led the release of the revolutionary Go WordPress theme, and gave a block building workshop at WordCamp US (watch Part 1 and Part 2).
2019 has been a wild ride to say to least. Wild, and incredibly enjoyable. And you know what, I couldn’t have asked for a more rewarding year.
A new look for the Login Designer website
I never actually launched an “official” website for Login Designer, a plugin I built to help folks better customize their WordPress login pages. The plugin’s aging landing page clearly needed some attention. And now that Login Designer is my only active side project – I gave it just that.
A Look at WordPress Themes of the Future
There’s been a lot of discussion around the future of WordPress themes lately due to the ongoing evolution of the block editor. Now that Gutenberg is expanding into other areas of a site (apart from post content), the definitive end of WordPress themes as we know them today is coming.
WordCamp Europe 2019 and the Bright Future of WordPress
WordCamp Europe was as just as incredible as everyone said it would be. The city of Berlin was welcoming and beautiful, the sessions were great, and there was a lot of tasty food. But best of all, the vibrant WordPress community we all know and love was there in full-force.
CoBlocks 1.10: Easier Maps, Form Block Spam Protection, and more
Things are going so great at GoDaddy and we’re charging ahead on both new features and upcoming blocks for CoBlocks. Our last release added three new gallery blocks from Block Gallery and a new Form block. And while this latest update does not add any WordPress blocks, it does add a whole slew of new and improved functionality across many bits of the plugin.
GoDaddy Acquires CoBlocks, ThemeBeans and Block Gallery
I’ve made a number of things as a WordPress “maker” — most notably ThemeBeans, CoBlocks, and Block Gallery. My mission and clear focus through building products has always been to deliver a phenomenal WordPress experience. It’s the foundation upon which my career is built.
And while it’s been a fantastic experience so far, it almost feels like I’m just getting started — in such a good way.
CoBlocks has a new logo
A couple of weeks ago, I started pushing out a new, cleaner logo for CoBlocks. We ultimately needed a new logo that accurately portrayed the underlining theme behind our work, and that fit nicely within the context of the new Gutenberg WordPress block editor.