In late March, a significant meeting took place involving nearly 30 WordPress core committers and project leaders to discuss the future release schedule of WordPress. The conversation was initiated by Mary Hubbard, the Executive Director of WordPress, who pointed out that many organizations had reduced their contributions to the project over the past months. She identified two worrying trends: the stagnation of both Gutenberg and Core Trac tickets over the past six months and a sharp decline in the development of new features within the Gutenberg repository since January.
As a result of these discussions, the leadership made a pivotal decision: WordPress 6.8 will constitute the sole major release for the year 2025. This decision prompts a closer look at what this means for users and how to adapt to this new yearly cadence.
Implications for Your WordPress Site(s)
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Minor Releases Will Continue: Minor updates (like 6.8.1, 6.8.2, etc.) will still be released periodically throughout the year, offering necessary bug fixes and security enhancements.
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Enhanced Flexibility in Minor Releases: The criteria for including enhancements in minor releases will be eased, while maintaining the rule against adding new files in those updates.
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Gutenberg Plugin Update Schedule: The Gutenberg plugin is expected to continue its current release pace but might slow to monthly updates. This means that users relying on the plugin for features will still receive regular updates.
Staying Current with WordPress
For those who typically wait for .1 releases to update, this new schedule could simplify maintenance, as there will be fewer major updates to plan for. However, this also means that when updates do arrive, they may include more substantial changes.
To engage actively as WordPress transitions to this revised release cycle, consider the following:
Follow Canonical Plugin Development
Key discussions highlighted the importance of canonical plugins—community-supported plugins that could introduce features to WordPress core independently of major releases. These plugins are crucial as they allow features to evolve and be tested outside of the core updates, providing immediate access to new functionalities.
To explore these plugins, consider testing the Performance Lab plugin, which houses many canonical plugins. However, it’s essential to approach those features on live sites with caution, keeping in mind that they are still experimental.
Participate in Testing
The need for widespread testing of beta and release candidate versions was emphasized in the meeting. By testing pre-release software, not only can you stay informed about upcoming changes, but you also contribute to enhancing WordPress’s overall quality. The WordPress Beta Tester plugin is a straightforward tool to get involved.
Again, make sure to test on a staging environment rather than a live site to avoid potential issues.
Engage with the Community
With fewer major releases to build excitement around, maintaining connections within the WordPress community is key. Engaging with platforms like Make WordPress blogs and WordPress Slack will help you stay informed and contribute your insights. The Slack #core channel is particularly active and serves as a primary resource for updates on upcoming developments.
Looking Beyond 2025
While the plan currently pertains to 2025 only, it raises questions about WordPress’s long-term trajectory. The leadership aims to explore more rapid release models as tooling improves, suggesting this slower pace might be temporary or a pathway to a more efficient future.
Regardless of how this change unfolds, 2025 is poised to be a notable year in WordPress’s evolution, potentially shaping its release strategy for years to come. With WordPress powering a significant portion of the web, the impact of this shift will resonate widely.
What are your thoughts on this transition? Do you believe that a more measured release cycle will benefit WordPress? Are you planning to test any new releases or get involved with canonical plugins? Share your opinions in the comments!
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