Over the years, WordPress has undergone countless changes, updates and patches. Gutenberg, however, has already made a name for itself as the editor with the power to either make or break the popular CMS. So, let’s dive in and explore how Gutenberg could forever change how we manage, upload and create content online.
What Is Gutenberg?
Gutenberg is a new WordPress update that has caught the attention of pretty much everyone within the digital sector. The update primarily revolves around adopting a functionality that may ring a bell with anyone who has ever used an easy online web builder. Web builders, or page builders as they are known in WordPress, allow the user to create visually rich, engaging pages, inserting relatively complex elements into a page with very little technical knowledge. The elements, Also Known As content blocks, can include galleries, social media feeds, videos and text.
Why The Change?
For anyone who has experienced using WordPress to upload and manage content, the reason for change will be obvious. The current content editor has served its purpose well for years now. But there are a number of shortcomings that make editing the format of a page near impossible for a non-developer.
As websites have become more sophisticated and responsive design has become the norm, page content has evolved in complexity and needs to adapt to a variety of devices. This kind of functionality usually requires a developer to build. Content blocks, however, allow developer and designers to pre-package page elements, which can then be used and added to pages by content creation and marketing teams.
When Is The Official Gutenberg Release?
The WordPress team have been developing the Gutenberg editor for a couple of years now and it is running an open beta for users to give their feedback on the ongoing development.
As a result, we should see a real improvement in user interface and functionality – as it is being reviewed by the public on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, there is still no official release date. We do know, however, that the Gutenberg editor will be a part of WordPress 5.0, the release of which has been planned for 2018. Of course, it is expected for plans to change, so our advice is to keep your ears to the ground. To stay up to date, have a look at the WordPress 5.0 Development Cycle.
We will be sure to keep you updated on the continuing development of the Gutenberg editor. For more information about web design and building, get in touch today by dropping us a message or giving us a call on 01483 688480. We would love to hear from you!