At this time, I needed to take a while out to look again on the main milestones, information and developments have formed WordPress all through this yr, the theme and plugins developments which have developed all year long, and likewise have a look at what to anticipate for WordPress in 2018.
WordPress in 2017: The Milestones
March: WordPress Plugin Listing Will get a New Look
The WordPress.org Plugin Listing.
The WordPress.org plugin listing was relaunched with a brand new design and an improved search algorithm after virtually a yr within the making. Whereas the redesign was welcomed with largely constructive suggestions, there have been some preliminary hiccups round how plugin stats had been displayed and the tabbed format.
WordPress contributors additionally mentioned they felt their feedback was ignored regardless of the WordPress Meta Staff consulting with the group. However after just a few extra iterations of the redesign and helpful updates for plugin authors, the consensus now's that the redesign was a hit.
June: WordPress four.eight Launched
New widgets in WordPress four.eight. Credit score:WordPress.org.
Named in honor of jazz pianist and composer William John “Invoice” Evans, WordPress four.eight delivered admin enhancements that some may describe as minor, however when you ask me they’ve made my life utilizing WordPress a lot simpler.
Essentially the most seen options included hyperlink enhancements, Three new media widgets protecting photos, audio, and video, an up to date textual content widget that with visible enhancing assist, and an upgraded information part for the dashboard displaying close by and upcoming WordPress occasions.
For builders, this model didn’t disappoint. It delivered extra accessible admin panel headings, Multisite updates, a textual content editor JavaScript API and a media widgets API.
As standard, there have been numerous incredible volunteers who contributed to this model – 346, in actual fact – together with 106 who had been contributing for the primary time.
June: WordCamp Europe in Paris
WordCamp Europe 2017 was held in Paris, France.
Regardless of being promoted as “the most important WordPress occasion to at the present time” with greater than Three,000 anticipated attendees, WordCamp Europe fell short with just 1,900 people truly attending the two-day convention in Paris. In comparison with WCEU in Vienna in 2016, there have been 5% fewer individuals. Organizers blamed the comparatively low attended on a 24% no-show fee, promoting tickets too early and the costly French location.
Nonetheless, those that did attend had an amazing time assembly buddies and colleagues and, after all, studying from the superb displays on affords. Many, many WordPress people shared their recollections in wrap-up posts you will discover on the WordCamp Europe 2017 website.
WordCamp Europe 2019 can be held in Belgrade, Serbia.
June: Gutenberg Launched for Beta Testing
The Gutenberg editor.
WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg launched Gutenberg at WordCamp Europe and ever because it has prompted a stir locally. Matt Cromwell from WordImpress.com was th efirst to share his impressions of the challenge, which goals to switch the visible/textual content editor in WordPress with a brand new put up and web page constructing expertise that makes use of blocks.
A lot of different individuals have shared their opinions concerning the plugin, each good and bad, even prompting Mullenweg to defend the project. At one level, it was anticipated the plugin could be merged with WordPress four.9, however work on bettering it as a standalone feature-as-a-plugin continues.
Whereas there have been huge advances in the way it capabilities and performs, quite a lot of work nonetheless must be completed if it'll actually rework how we work within the backend of WordPress to publish on-line – and assist the CMS compete with platforms like Wix, Squarespace and Weebly.
Little question there can be extra strong opinions concerning the challenge because the crew behind it really works in the direction of together with it in WordPress 5.zero.
September: WordPress Reacts to React – and Wins
Drop it prefer it’s scorching: WordPress mentioned it might cease utilizing React.
The Gutenberg crew began in search of a brand new JavaScript library, albeit briefly, after Mullenweg announced the WordPress group would cease utilizing Fb’s React JavaScript library over concerns about a patent clause within the social media big’s open supply license.
In a blog post, Mullenweg defined he had hoped to formally undertake React for WordPress, on condition that Automattic had already used React for its WordPress.com app Calypso, and contributors had began utilizing it for Gutenberg.
It didn’t take lengthy for Fb to do an about-face. Only a week later the company re-license React as a result of backlash from the open supply group.
November: WordPress four.9 Launched
WordPress four.9 featured new site-building enhancements. Credit score:WordPress.org.
The latest version of WordPress, named “Tipton” in honor of jazz musician and band chief Billy Tipson, contains a stack of updates designed to assist publishers and enhance the software program’s efficiency.
The Customizer has been given a giant replace with all-new design drafts, scheduling, locking and preview hyperlinks. There’s additionally code syntax highlighting and error checking aimed toward making a smoother web site constructing expertise. Different additions embody a brand new gallery widget and enhancements to theme shopping and switching.
December: WordCamp US in Nashville
The mud has solely began to settle after WordCamp US on December 1-Three, however by all accounts it was an enormous success. Mullenweg delivered his annual State of the Word handle, which highlighted the achievements of the previous yr whereas setting the route for the yr forward for WordPress.
The large information was that WordPress has grown one other 2%+ this yr – it now powers 29.1% of the net. Mullenweg said he planned to keep his “lead hat” on for another year and see the Gutenberg challenge via all the best way to inclusion within the core WordPress software program.
WordPress Themes in 2017: The Design Developments
Developments may also say so much concerning the instances. Developments ebb and move in internet design and improvement, however a sMadeleine Morley at The American Institute for Graphic Arts says:
“A pattern by no means merely emerges for a single yr after which disappears in a puff of smoke. As a substitute, an aesthetic turns into well-liked progressively, even mysteriously, over time earlier than really fizzling out slowly with out a lot discover in any respect.”
With that in thoughts, what has 2017 been all about? If our theme market is something to go by, minimalism and simplification are right here to remain – a minimum of in the interim.
This yr has seen the beginnings of a resistance to the flat design motion, with extra of a concentrate on originality and individuality in the usage of customized graphics, illustrations and iconography.
Semi Flat Design
First there was skeuomorphic design after which flat design got here alongside and dug its heels in due to Google’s Materials Design. This yr, nevertheless, has seen someplace of a disruption with “semi flat design” changing into an increasing number of well-liked.
So what's it? Properly, it’s not flat and it’s actually not skeuomorphic. Semi flat design provides extra dimension to themes utilizing delicate shadows so as to add a touch of complexity whereas nonetheless retaining the clear feeling of a flat design.
Freeman – Creative WordPress Theme for Agencies is one such theme embracing this design pattern. Discover the shadows that raise the web site examples to the precise of this homepage design:
The Freeman theme.
Microinteractions
Microinteractions have turn into so ubiquitous in internet design this yr that any theme that doesn’t have them is boring. What are they? Primarily, a microinteraction is a small product-related second that accomplishes a single process.
Whether or not it’s to tell a person button has been clicked or a kind has been despatched, microinteraction assist add magic to websites and delight customers whereas enhancing the person expertise.
One in every of my favourite examples of a web site that does microinteractions rather well is Werkstatt – Creative Portfolio Theme. The fullscreen demo of the theme contains a glitch impact for a singular person expertise. Click on via to see the effect in action.
The Werkstatt theme.
Geometric Shapes and Patterns
A pattern leftover from 2016, shapes, patterns and contours continued to make their approach into the preferred designs in our market. Harking back to flat design, this pattern added a cute and quirky really feel to themes utilizing fashionable design.
I’m a giant fan of how Fusion – Creative Multi-Purpose WordPress Theme has made use of patterns, shapes and microinteractions to actually make its homepage variations “pop.”
The Fusion theme.
Louder and Brighter Colours
This yr marked a giant shift away from muted, impartial colours to brighter and bolder designs. Not solely has this helped cement the branding of among the themes in our market, it has helped give them a contemporary look that’s on pattern how tech firms like Dropbox and Spotify have redesigned their web sites.
An amazing instance of a theme main this explicit design pattern is Halcyon – Multipurpose Modern WordPress Theme.
The Halcyon theme.
Genuine Images
Who wants inventory photos when nice high quality images are in all places today? Nowadays, anybody can spot a inventory photograph. Likewise, free photos assets like Unsplash have turn into so overused that you just’ll discover images from the positioning in all places – not a terrific look while you’re attempting to be authentic.
Thankfully, since everybody has a smartphone today it’s simple to take a terrific high quality photograph your self. And when you don’t have an eye fixed for images, try the incredible photos over at Beautifulwp Components.
Try Baker – A Fresh Theme for Bakeries, Cake Shops, and Pastry Stores for a mouth-watering instance of how real, genuine images can actually promote a theme.
The Baker theme.
WordPress Plugins in 2017: The Expertise Developments
One of many nice issues about WordPress is how extendable it's – if there’s a function or perform you want on your web site, there’s a plugin for it.
As the net has developed to maintain tempo with internet design – and likewise make our on-line lives simpler and extra productive – plugin authors have stepped as much as the problem, releasing some thrilling options to our plugin market this yr.
However whereas new plugins have gained in recognition, outdated favorites have proven the check of time and proceed to dominate the highest 10 best-selling merchandise. As we shut out 2018, listed below are the highest developments in WordPress plugins.
Web page Constructing and Drop and Drop
The WPBakery Web page Builder.
It'd’ve had a reputation change, however WP Bakery Web page Builder (previously Visible Composer) continues to be by far the preferred web page builder plugin in our market with virtually 340,000 gross sales. The drag and drop plugin makes quick work out of customizing any web site.
Once you search “web page builder” in our market, the outcomes present a complete of 398 plugins, revealing simply present in-demand drag and drop options are for WordPress.
Cryptocurrency
Bitcoin, the world’s first decentralized digital foreign money, was first invented eight years in the past. Whereas it’s not all that widespread to see web sites that settle for Bitcoin funds, the very fact is 1.5% of Americans have used it or are currently using Bitcoin – that’s four.eight million individuals.
Picture:Bitcoin trading concept.
So it’s no shock that plugin authors have developed quite a lot of options that allow web sites to simply accept digital foreign money as funds – and integration cryptocurrencies with WordPress in other cool ways, together with:
- Displaying market data
- Cost Gateways and Accepting Funds
- Accepting Donations
- Gaming
- Mining
eCommerce / WooCommerce
Picture: Computer Table Hands Girl Credit Card Concept.
WooCommerce is the most popular eCommerce platform on the web, now powering over 28% of all on-line shops. Among the finest issues about this free, open supply answer is that there are a whole bunch of extensions out there that can assist you add better performance to the core software program – every thing from instruments that can assist you higher handle your retailer, show delivery data at checkout and develop your advertising efforts.
Over the previous yr, 648 new WooCommerce plugins have joined our market, bringing the full variety of extensions we have now out there for WooCommerce to 2,276.
Dwell Chat
Simply among the stay chat out there in our marketplace.
This yr has seen stay chat turn into a necessary software for eCommerce and assist groups. The wonderful thing about stay chat is that you just don’t have to attend round for somebody to answer to your e-mail or telephone name – you possibly can chat to somebody proper now – precise individuals answering your questions in real-time. What’s extra, it permits assist crew members to multitask whereas serving to a number of prospects.
There have been 42 new chat plugins added to our market over the previous yr, serving to web sites present extra assist choices and likewise combine buyer assist with social platforms like Fb and WhatsApp.
What’s in Retailer for WordPress in 2018?
One phrase: Gutenberg. In his State of the Phrase this yr, Mullenweg mentioned his Three huge focuses for the yr forward could be round Gutenberg and core improvement (WordPress 5.zero is due out subsequent yr), particularly, Gutenberg enhancing, customization and a brand new theme.
Whereas all of that can be preserving Mullenweg busy, in different elements of the WordPress ecosystem I think will see extra shifts within the product market as plugin developers reassess their business models and a few edge nearer in the direction of adopting a SaaS mannequin (as Beautifulwp has this yr with Components) and large gamers like GoDaddy continue eyeing off small companies which might be ripe for the choosing.
Different issues to maintain an eye fixed out for: cryptocurrencies and mining with plugins/websites as Bitcoin continues to rise in value, jostling within the managed WordPress internet hosting area as Automattic gets a foothold, and the continued rise of WooCommerce as the preferred eCommerce platform. In the case of WordPress, the future is bright.
NOW READ: Extra of our wrap-ups of 2017
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