WP Builds

465 - Creating interactive experiences in WordPress with the Tilbuci plugin

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan interviews Lucas Santos Junqueira from Brazil, about his innovative tool and WordPress plugin, Tilbuci (pronounced "Chabousi"). The plugin enables users to create interactive, animated “movies” inside the WordPress dashboard, similar to museum exhibits or advanced infographics. Lucas explains its origins, features, and versatility, including collaborative creation, export options, and interactivity. They discuss its complexity, available tutorials, challenges like accessibility, and design considerations for responsiveness and touch interactions. Lucas shares resources and support options for users wanting to explore or get help with Tilbuci.

464 - Why Brian Gardner is betting big on Block Themes

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan interviews Brian Gardner about his pioneering work in WordPress theming, the rise and impact of the Genesis Framework, and the shift toward block-based themes. They discuss the promise, challenges, and slower-than-hoped adoption of block editing, as well as its design flexibility through patterns. The conversation also explores the influence of AI tools like Miles on WordPress design, the evolving theme business landscape, and the future of web creation with AI-generated patterns and themes integrated into WordPress workflows.

463 - Understanding how Cloudflare boosts WordPress security and performance with Jonathan Jernigan

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan chats with WordPress educator Jonathan Jernigan about Cloudflare, what it is, how it works, and why it's valuable for website owners. Jonathan explains Cloudflare’s role as both a firewall and content delivery network, enhancing security and performance by blocking threats and replicating sites globally. They discuss practical use cases like reducing spam, setting firewall rules, and leveraging free Cloudflare features. The conversation also touches on Cloudflare’s business model, single points of failure, backups, and Jonathan’s course for beginners looking to learn more about Cloudflare’s capabilities.

462 - Debating AI’s impact with Jamie Marsland: content, creativity, slop and the future of WordPress

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley and Jamie Marsland debate the impacts of AI on WordPress and broader society - spoiler alert: Nathan wins!! ;-). Jamie shares insights on the new Claude WordPress.com integration, highlighting AI’s growing contextual awareness and its effect on website creation, content, and business strategy. Nathan challenges with concerns about content overload, authenticity, and the erosion of craftsmanship, sparking a lively discussion about the balance between technological advancement and maintaining human value in creativity and community. Ultimately, they explore both excitement and uncertainty about AI’s role in the future of WordPress.

461 - From support to CEO: Jon Penland’s journey at Kinsta

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Jon Penland, CEO of Kinsta, about his career journey from self-education in tech to leading a rapidly growing company. Jon shares insights on the importance of curiosity, hard work, and adaptability in career growth. They discuss Kinsta’s involvement in the WordPress community, their approach to AI and hosting advancements, and the vital role of collaboration and human support in their business. The conversation also touches on Kinsta's broader app platform, the evolving challenges in hosting, and the future of WordPress and web technology.

461 - From support to CEO: Jon Penland’s journey at Kinsta

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

This Week in WordPress #369

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode of TWiW, the panel discusses WP Engine’s acquisition of WPackagist, recent rapid-fire WordPress security updates, and highlights educational initiatives within the WordPress community. They also explore an agency’s strategic use of AI, preview upcoming features in WordPress 7, and cover the expanded functionality of the Ollie theme for WooCommerce. Additional topics include the release of a per-page theme switcher plugin, WordCamp Asia updates, and privacy considerations with Signal. The conversation is, as always, lively with tangents, especially on the growing intersection of AI and WordPress development.

This Week in WordPress #369

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

460 - Turning WordPress Blogs Into eBooks With Naweed Chougle

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Naweed Chougle about eBook Crafter, a WordPress plugin that lets users transform their blog posts into editable, customisable ebooks. Naweed explains the inspiration for the plugin, its key features, like using the block editor to repurpose and edit content before exporting, and future plans including additional file formats and self-publishing integrations. They discuss use cases such as creating lead magnets, educational materials, and distraction-free reading experiences, as well as how the tool can boost content value and audience engagement. Go listen...

This Week in WordPress #368

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Join us for the 'This Week in #WordPress' show, with Nathan Wrigley, Taco Verdonschot, Bud Kraus, Dan Knauss, Steve Burge. Wow, that's a LOT! This episode covers the latest developments in WordPress, including updates in WordPress 7.0 and Gutenberg 22.6, new featured plugin initiatives to boost discoverability, and discussions around advanced developer certifications. The panel explores AI’s growing role, collaborative editing features, and the FAIR project’s shift towards TYPO3. Other topics include WordPress Campus Connect in Malaysia, accessibility efforts, Divi 5’s release, and quirky tech stories like neural networks playing Doom and ultra-compact phones. The episode balances technical insights with community highlights and lighter moments, reflecting on both the challenges and innovations shaping WordPress today.

459 - Ben Pines on building a sustainable WordPress business with authentic marketing

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Ben Pines about founder-led marketing, particularly in the WordPress and SaaS spaces. Ben explains how traditional marketing tactics like SEO and paid ads are less effective due to AI-generated content, and advocates for a personal, trust-building approach where founders consistently share authentic insights. He describes how he helps founders develop a marketing system with minimal time commitment, just 1-2 hours a week, focused on genuine business sense and value, not just features. The discussion also touches on the importance of making marketing feel human and credible. Go listen...

458 - Unpacking the clever Content Area Block with Ian Svoboda

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Ian Svoboda, an experienced WordPress developer, about his Content Area Block plugin. They discuss the inspiration behind the plugin, which allows multiple editable content areas within WordPress templates, solving a long-standing challenge for editors and developers. Ian explains the technical hurdles in developing the plugin and how it improves the editorial experience by enabling flexible, visual block placement beyond standard post content. The episode also touches on potential core integration and the benefits for editorial teams seeking more intuitive WordPress layouts. Go listen...

This Week in WordPress #367

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 07:00:00 +0000

In this lively episode of TWiW, the panel dives into a range of WordPress topics, from the excitement around WordPress 7.0 Beta 1 and collaborative editing to hot debates about JavaScript usage and the dominance of Cloudflare. The conversation also covers AI’s expanding role in the ecosystem, open-source developments, cybersecurity concerns, and the importance of password managers. The episode is filled with community updates, a look at new tools, and plenty of lighthearted moments, including an ongoing joke about organising a rap battle showdown. Go listen...

457 - Building a human-centred web by saying NO to AI: Andy Bell on ethics, agency life, CSS and the open web

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Andy Bell, an expert in CSS and web design, about his journey from traditional design to becoming a sought-after CSS specialist. They discuss the evolution of CSS, the importance of leaning into web standards, and the challenges of agency work with high-profile clients. Andy also opens up about a tough 2025, the impact of AI on the industry, his agency’s anti-AI stance, and the value of authenticity and community in tech. Go listen...

This Week in WordPress #366

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 07:00:00 +0000

This episode of TWiW covers the latest in WordPress, with a strong focus on AI advancements, new products, and features expected in WordPress 7. The discussion includes updates on community events, challenges with in-person meetups post-pandemic, and the integration of AI tools for site management and design. The hosts also touch on debates around sponsored talks at WordCamps, the evolution of commercial and community aspects within WordPress, and recent plugin developments. Listeners get insights into both technical advancements and the shifting landscape of the WordPress community.

456 - WordPress vulnerabilities and the power of AI-powered malware detection

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

In this WP Builds episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Thomas Raef about WordPress website security. Thomas shares his journey founding We Watch Your Website, discusses the prevalence of attacks on US WordPress sites, and explores how hackers increasingly use stolen credentials and AI-powered methods. The episode gets into AI tools for both attackers and defenders, highlighting strategies like behavioural analysis and other mathematical things I don't understand! It wraps up with advice on implementing security measures like 2FA and device trust, and the ongoing AI "arms race" in cybersecurity. Go listen...

This Week in WordPress #365

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 07:00:00 +0000

This episode with Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Marc Benzakein, Rhys Wynne explores the renewed importance of blogging and owning your content in 2026, discusses WordPress's educational initiatives and their overlapping complexities, reviews recent updates including the 6.9.1 release and a new Wayback Machine plugin, and gets into the prevalence of AI in WordPress development. Panelists debate the ethics, utility, and future impacts of AI, the challenges of local meetups, and celebrate community efforts. The show features lively listener interaction and concludes with reflections on blogging versus social media, and ongoing WordPress community changes.

455 - Inside podcasting’s evolution: Seth Goldstein on trends, tools, and finding your audience

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with podcasting veteran Seth Goldstein about his 15+ years in the industry. They discuss how easy podcasting has become, the importance of having a plan and process, and how podcasts can serve brands and businesses beyond immediate monetisation. Seth shares insights on podcast production, discoverability, the role of websites and WordPress, pitfalls of AI-generated podcasts, and why authentic personality keeps listeners engaged. They also touch on the value of process documentation, niche audiences, and why starting small and staying consistent is key to podcast success.

454 - Innovative serverless solutions for WordPress with Carl Alexander and Paul Carter

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Carl Alexander, creator of Ymir (a scalable WordPress hosting technology), and Paul Carter from BuiltFast, about their new partnership. They discuss Carl's perseverance in developing Ymir, the technical benefits it brings to scalable WordPress hosting, and how BuiltFast plans to make this technology accessible to more users. The episode explores the changing expectations of customers and hosting companies, the need for invisible, reliable scalability, and how this collaboration aims to remove server limitations for ambitious WordPress projects. Go listen...

This Week in WordPress #363

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000

This Week in WordPress #363 with Nathan Wrigley, Jess Frick, Marc Benzakein, Marcus Burnette. This episode covers a range of WordPress-related topics, including the upcoming release of WordPress 6.9.1, the launch of a new centralised home for WordPress education initiatives, and trusted companies and individuals in the WordPress ecosystem. The panel also dives into the evolving role of AI in WordPress, discussing benchmarks, industry changes, and the impact of AI-driven advertising. Lighter moments feature fun conversations about corgis, alligators, and community experiences, all while emphasising the importance of collaboration, humility, and adapting to new technologies within the WordPress space.

453 - Does WordPress offer anything to a younger audience? With Taylor Drayson

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 13:45:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Taylor Drayson, a young WordPress professional who shares his journey into web development, inspired by his self-employed father. Taylor discusses projects like WP Extended, a modular plugin for WordPress agencies, and Snippet Club, his membership site offering code snippets and tutorials. He also talks about his work with WP Managed Ninja, managing community feedback and product improvements. Together, they delve into WordPress’s changing demographics, tech debt, community culture, and its future appeal to younger generations. Go listen...

This Week in WordPress #362

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Join Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Andrew Palmer, Marcus Burnette for the latest episode of This Week in WordPress. This episode covers the latest developments in WordPress, including discussions on the impact and future of AI in the ecosystem, details about the upcoming WordPress 7.0 release, the drop of older PHP support, and significant changes to plugin submissions due to a surge in AI-generated plugins. The panel also touches on new community roles, shifts in event structures, and notable news from both WooCommerce and Guildenberg, while reflecting on the broader trends shaping the WordPress landscape in 2026.

452 - Exploring FolioBlocks, Michael Campanella’s WordPress gallery plugin for photographers

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Michael Campanella, a professional photographer and developer of the Folio Blocks WordPress gallery plugin. They explore the plugin’s visual gallery options, including grid, justified, masonry, carousel, video, and a unique modular gallery, designed to offer photographers greater creative control. The discussion covers Folio Blocks’ deep integration with the block editor, features like taxonomy-based filtering, WooCommerce integration for sales, easy image downloads, and its pricing structure. Michael shares insights on why he built the plugin and highlights its strengths for users needing powerful, modern media galleries on WordPress. Check it out...

This Week in WordPress #361

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Come and join us LIVE for the This Week in WordPress show. This week I'm with Michelle Frechette, Anne-Mieke Bovelett, Marc Benzakein and we're going to be going over the last 7 days in the WordPress space. This episode covers recent WordPress news and trends, with a strong focus on accessibility, including actionable insights for improving SEO and user experience. It explores plugin market changes, collaboration tools, and AI’s impact on the community and development workflows. Discussion highlights include practical advice for building accessible sites, reflections on plugin sales and irreplaceability, emerging tools for WordPress optimisation, and upcoming WordPress events across the globe. The show gets into adaptability, community strength, and ongoing opportunities in the WordPress ecosystem despite technological shifts. Check it out...

451 - The realities of teaching WordPress: Dave Foy’s shift to live cohort learning

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Dave Foy about his journey from classroom teaching to creating online WordPress courses. Dave discusses the challenges of keeping tech courses up-to-date, the struggle with perfectionism, and why traditional self-paced courses often don’t deliver the best results. He shares his recent shift to a live cohort-based teaching model, which encourages action, community, and accountability, ultimately leading to better student outcomes. The episode is full of insights on educational methods, tech teaching, and personal growth. Go listen...

This Week in WordPress #360

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000

This episode kicks off the new year with reflections on WordPress’ most-read news of 2025, covering both community achievements and challenges. The conversation explores resolutions, AI-powered tools for WordPress and app building, plugin submission issues, and the evolving role of AI in web development. Updates touch on upcoming WordPress releases, event schedules, and initiatives like the Zeel Memorial Scholarship, all while highlighting the importance of collaboration, innovation, and maintaining a positive, supportive community.

450 - What just happened? Episode 5. WordPress in transition, 6.9, trademark battles, and AI

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of WP Builds, Nathan Wrigley and Rae Morey recap the past few months in the WordPress ecosystem. They talk about the new features of WordPress 6.9, discuss advances in AI tools and APIs, and highlight community news including sponsorship shifts, legal updates, and standout block themes like Ollie. The conversation also touches on flagship WordCamp scheduling challenges, the launch of Telex, and the evolving role of Jetpack. Throughout, Rae Morey provides expert insight, drawing on her reporting for The Repository. Go listen...

This Week in WordPress #359

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Join Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Courtney Robertson and Jesse Friedman. This episode covers highlights in the WordPress community, including upcoming events like CloudFest Hackathon, the Open Source Experience conference, and CMSConf. The panel discusses the release of WordPress 6.9, early planning for version 7.0, and new plugins. Other topics include the evolution of responsive block editing, the debate around integrating AI as a core component of WordPress, updates to the Global Partnership program, and reflections on Black Friday purchases. The discussion talks about collaboration, innovation, and adapting to emerging technologies while maintaining an open, user-focused approach.

449 - Making digital accessibility a reality: Anne-Mieke Bovelett’s CloudFest Hackathon journey

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this WP Builds episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Anne-Mieke Bovelett about her experience leading a winning accessibility project at the CloudFest Hackathon 2025. Anne-Mieke shares her passion for digital accessibility, discusses the challenges and impact of her team's AI-powered WordPress plugin that converts infographics into accessible formats, and reflects on the need for ongoing support and funding for hackathon projects. The conversation also touches on the broader importance of accessibility and potential improvements for future hackathons. Go listen...

This Week in WordPress #358

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000

On "This Week in WordPress #358," Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Davinder Singh Kainth and Marc Benzakein discuss the release of WordPress 6.9, including new features like block-level collaboration and accessibility improvements. They cover WordPress community news, ongoing Black Friday deals, trending plugins, and the growing impact of AI. The episode also highlights awards within the WordPress space and the rise of WordPress in non-English markets, especially Asia. The panel shares laughs, personal stories, and their appreciation for contributors driving the platform forward.

448 - Innovative WordPress plugin marketing: Dave Grey’s sponsorship model

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Dave Grey about Nag Me Not, a plugin and browser extension designed to clean up WordPress admin screens by removing nagging banners and ads. The conversation explores the unique approach Dave is taking to market and sell the tool, partnering with hosting providers and service companies to offer Nag Me Not as a free benefit to their customers, potentially reducing support payloads and enhancing the user experience. They discuss this sponsorship-based model, its benefits for hosts, and invite listener insights on pricing and distribution.

This Week in WordPress #357

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000

In "This Week in WordPress Episode 357," Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Steve Burge, and Marcus Burnette cover a playful Cards Against Humanity Black Friday sale, Michelle’s tech award nomination, and the upcoming WordPress 6.9 release. They discuss the return of a three-release cycle for WordPress, plans for core AI integration, and recent Cloudflare outages. Other topics include WordPress security mishaps, accessibility, PublishPress plugin updates, creating a Wapuu for WordCamp Asia, and the new AI Experiments canonical plugin. The episode blends WordPress news, community events, and lively discussion. Oh, and dad jokes!

447 - Simplifying WordPress event calendars and ticketing with Jonathan Jernigan of Pie Calendar

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Jonathan Jernigan about Pie Calendar, a simple-yet-powerful WordPress event calendar plugin. They discuss the plugin’s evolution, including major new features like Eventbrite and ICS calendar integration for easy ticketing and syncing with external calendars. Jonathan also shares insights into his WordPress-focused community and YouTube channel. The conversation highlights Pie Calendar’s user-friendly setup, flexibility for different organisations, and the team’s focus on simplicity. Future plans for additional integrations are teased, as well as stories of how a wide range of clients, from breweries to city councils, use the plugin. Go listen...

This Week in WordPress #356

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode, I'm joined by Taco Verdonschot, Jonathan Bossenger, Birgit Pauli-Haack to discuss WordPress 6.9, including new blocks, performance improvements, accessibility updates, and upcoming live events to help users prepare for the release. The panel pays tribute to WordPress contributor Zeel Thakkar, and covers news about a new leader at Jetpack, Black Friday deals, and community appreciation initiatives. They also highlight developer resources and recent plugin launches, making this a comprehensive update on what's happening in the WordPress ecosystem.

446 - Inside Checkout Summit: Reviving Human Connections in the WooCommerce and WordPress Community

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Rodolfo Melogli about the growing isolation in the WooCommerce and WordPress communities due to remote work and AI, and his mission to “bring humans back” through in-person interaction. Rodolfo shares his journey as a WooCommerce expert, the challenges of working remotely, and the inspiration for organising Checkout Summit, a people-focused, content-rich WooCommerce event in Palermo designed to foster genuine connections, collaboration, and community in a relaxed, inclusive setting. If you’ve been feeling the effects of remote work and the rise of automation, or simply want a better way to connect with your fellow WordPress peers, this episode is for you.

This Week in WordPress #355

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000

In "This Week in WordPress #355," Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, and Rhys Wynne discuss the Kagi search engine, Michelle's job search, and WordPress updates including 6.9’s new features like collaborative editing and abilities API. The episode covers the challenges faced by open source projects like FFmpeg, security concerns with AI-powered tools such as Telex, the Global Partner Program for WordPress event sponsorships, and developments in full site editing, highlighting the Ollie theme. Listener comments add depth to discussions about the future and risks of WordPress plugin and block creation through AI.

445 - More fun in WordPress: How Nick Hamze uses AI to build unusual WordPress blocks

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Nick Hamze, a quirky and creative force in the WordPress community. Nick shares his unconventional journey from law school to working at Automattic, running a wildly successful Pokémon card shop, and building unique WordPress blocks using AI tools like Telex. Their conversation gets into the joy of creating weird, fun projects, the empowering possibilities of AI for non-coders, and the importance of injecting creativity and personal touch back into the web. If you’ve wondered how AI tools can transform your workflow, felt weighed down by the pressure to build serious, polished things, or just want to be reminded why fun and experimentation are so important in WordPress, this episode is for you. Go listen...

444 - Accessibility made easier: Natalie MacLees on Aaardvark for agencies and developers

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 13:03:00 +0000

On this episode of WP Builds, Natalie MacLees joins Nathan Wrigley to talk about the new accessibility tool, Aaardvark Accessibility. They discuss Natalie’s background in web accessibility, the evolution and importance of accessible web design, and how their SaaS platform helps agencies and developers find, fix, and monitor accessibility issues across client websites. The conversation also covers practical and moral reasons for improving accessibility, details about automated and manual testing, reporting features, explanations in plain English, and pricing plans.

443 - AI Experiments in WordPress: a plugin search engine, customer support bots, and Block Editor integration

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this WP Builds podcast episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Amadeu Arderiu about three innovative WordPress AI projects: ploogins.com, an AI-powered search engine for both free and premium plugins. Joinchat, a plugin that adds an AI chatbot to your site, answering queries using your website's content. And Suggerence, an experimental tool that lets users interact with, and build inside, the Gutenberg block editor using AI-driven natural language and even drawings! They discuss technical challenges, future possibilities, monetisation, and the evolving role of AI in WordPress. Go listen...

This Week in WordPress #354

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

This episode covers WordPress 6.9’s new features and testing guide, major UK cyber attacks, security insights, and why Malwarebytes chose WordPress. The panel discusses plugin lifetime deals, the rise of newsletters, and the pros and cons of web design trends. AI’s impact on WordPress is explored, including new agentic browser capabilities and WS Form’s integration with Elementor’s AI agent. The episode also highlights collaborative editing in WordPress, a dramatic smart bed malfunction due to AWS outage, and the importance of owning your data, plus fun detours like the year’s best animal photos.

442 - Matt Cromwell on preparing WordPress products for a changing demographic and AI revolution

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this WP Builds episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Matt Cromwell about his recent article on the future of WordPress product businesses. Matt shares his evolving passion for the WordPress plugin ecosystem, discusses anxieties around the future, especially user expectations and the rise of AI, and highlights the importance of better UI/UX and partnering with marketers and designers. The episode talks about how focusing on user experience and collaboration can help WordPress products thrive, even as the landscape shifts. Plenty of humour and mentions of Matt’s podcast WP Product Talk are sprinkled throughout! A LOT! Go listen!

This Week in WordPress #353

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0000

"This Week in WordPress #353" covers the AWS outage and its impact on major online services, WordPress security trends (including Wordfence and Patchstack reports), upcoming features in WordPress 6.9 (like block visibility controls and the accordion block), the Blocktober project by Tammie Lister, and discussions on plugin/UI design trends and product advice. The panel also celebrates WordCamp Canada, accessibility efforts, and highlights AI’s role in WordPress development. There's a lot more than this, so have a listen...

441 - From developer to educator: Jonathan Bossenger talks about WordPress DevRel

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Jonathan Bossenger, a developer advocate at Automattic, about his journey into WordPress and developer relations (DevRel). Jonathan shares how his passion for teaching led him from software development to DevRel, explains the varied roles within DevRel, and discusses the importance of both technical skills and the ability to teach and communicate effectively. The conversation covers team collaboration, feedback processes in open source, and advice for those interested in pursuing a similar path. Jonathan emphasises humility, adaptability, and a love for helping others as key traits for success in DevRel.

This Week in WordPress #352

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0000

This episode dives into the debate over the WordPress mascot Wapuu, discussing its value to the community versus criticisms about its professionalism. The panel explores the possibility of Ollie’s Menu Designer joining WordPress core, shares insights on plugin marketing and discoverability, highlights the new blueprint feature in WordPress Studio for easily sharing site setups, and reviews a flurry of upcoming WordPress events. Plus, they touch on the launch of Fluent Cart as a new e-commerce solution and discuss branding, community, and engaging content in the WordPress ecosystem.

440 - Comparing WordPress page builder accessibility: in-depth insights from Amber Hinds

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode of WP Builds, Nathan Wrigley interviews Amber Hinds, CEO of Equalize Digital, about her comprehensive 2025 WordPress page builder accessibility comparison research project. Amber explains her background in accessibility, the meaningful motivation behind her work, and the in-depth methodology of her study, which tested 19+ page builders for accessibility issues. They discuss the importance of accessible website tools, key findings, and the ongoing need for improvement in the WordPress ecosystem. Amber also highlights that accessible tools still require knowledgeable implementation for truly inclusive websites. If you want to understand not just which page builder is technically the most accessible, but also what it takes to critically evaluate, improve, and select tools for accessible WordPress development, this episode is for you.

This Week in WordPress #351

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0000

This episode of "This Week in WordPress" dives into the nature of randomness in computers, highlights upcoming WordPress and tech events, and discusses the WordPress 6.8.3 security release. The panel explores Tammie Lister’s "Blocktober" project, new experiments to improve plugin discoverability, and updates on WP Accessibility Day, including a new accessibility knowledge base. They celebrate the free release of the Ollie Menu Designer plugin and touch on community news including PodcasterPlus, a local meetup, Bluesky’s patent pledge, and ongoing discussions about codes of conduct in open source communities.

439 - AI and automation in website audits: Pradeep Sonawane talks about Web Auditor

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Pradeep Sonawane about WebAuditor IO, a SaaS tool designed to help developers, agencies, and non-technical users quickly identify and fix website performance issues. Pradeep shares the origin story of the tool, how it evolved from an internal CLI project to a user-friendly SaaS with AI-powered insights, and its usefulness for WordPress sites. They discuss current features, integration plans, audience scope, and pricing, as well as the potential for future developments like a WordPress plugin and deeper workflow integration. Check out WebAuditor IO for a closer look at the tool in action, and stay tuned for a conversation that’s sure to inspire you to take your website optimisation to the next level!

This Week in WordPress #350

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Episode 350 of TWiW, hosted by Nathan Wrigley, tackled key topics in the WordPress ecosystem, including updates on RT Camp’s GoDAM plugin, Site Spotlight site reviews, and upcoming features in WordPress 6.9. The panel discussed WordPress’s marketing struggles, the “cool kids” debate, community events calendar conflicts, and recent layoffs at major agencies like 10Up. Notable news included Shopify’s new WordPress plugin and WooCommerce’s POS app launch. Accessibility initiatives and innovative plugins were also highlighted, reflecting the ongoing evolution and challenges in the WordPress community.

438 - Taking WordPress editing further with Amender's AI-powered, universal content customisation

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode of WP Builds, Nathan Wrigley welcomes back Sebastian Webb to discuss his new WordPress product, Amender. Sebastian explains how Amender lets users visually and non-destructively edit any content or styling on WordPress sites, regardless of which builder or theme created it, using both an intuitive interface and AI-assisted commands. The conversation covers Amender’s technical approach, AI integration, unique licensing model, ideal use cases, and practical examples. Amender is positioned as a flexible amendment tool, not a full page builder, and offers a generous, security-focused pricing structure.

This Week in WordPress #349

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In episode #349 of "This Week in WordPress," Dave Gray, Nathan Wrigley, Tammie Lister, and Tim Nash discuss the latest happenings in the WordPress community. They cover recent software updates, highlight new features and plugins, and share insights on design trends and website security. The hosts also dive into community news, ongoing projects, and future developments within the WordPress ecosystem, offering their perspectives and experiences as longtime contributors and users.

437 - Streamlining photo sales with ShutterPress

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Olly Bowman about his new WordPress plugin, ShutterPress, designed for photographers to easily sell prints and digital downloads through WooCommerce without the hassle of creating individual products for each image. Olly explains how the plugin streamlines gallery and product management, supports password protection, watermarking, and future features like CDN storage, print service integration, and AI-powered image recognition. Whether you’re a professional photographer or want an easy gallery solution, ShutterPress offers both flexible display options and e-commerce functionality.

This Week in WordPress #348

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In episode 348 of This Week in WordPress, the panel dives into upcoming WordPress events, new features in Gutenberg (like the accordion block), and AI’s growing role in translation plugins. They discuss changes in the hosting landscape, including leadership updates, and touch on the legal battles between major players in the WordPress space. The conversation segues into community topics, conference planning woes, and even an amusing detour about alligators in Florida. It’s a lively blend of WordPress news, product updates, industry trends, and plenty of good-humoured tangents.

436 - How AI is helping WPML translate your WordPress website faster and cheaper

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Amir Helzer, founder of WPML and Toolset, about the evolution of WordPress translation tools. Amir discusses how AI and large language models (LLMs) have revolutionised website and software translation, allowing WPML’s new Private Translation Cloud (PTC) to deliver highly accurate, context-aware translations in over 50 languages. They delve into the technical side, user experience improvements, quality guarantees, and the exciting impact of AI on multilingual website management and software localisation. If you’re interested in the future of multilingual WordPress sites, curious about how AI is reshaping global content, or want to learn what it takes to deliver personalised, context-aware translations at scale, then this episode is for you.

This Week in WordPress #347

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Here we go again. It's Monday and that means This Week in WordPress. Your weekly, fun recap of the WordPress news. This episode features Nathan Wrigley, Courtney Robertson, Tim Nash, and Rhys Wynne discussing recent developments in WordPress. Key topics include the rise of AI in the WordPress ecosystem, reflections on the evolution and diversity of WordPress editors, major events like WordCamp US and local meetups, plugin team stats and automation, security trends, and the intersection of collaboration tools with WordPress. The panel also spotlights creative web projects, new performance initiatives, and lively community banter, blending technical insights with a friendly, engaging atmosphere.

435 - "At The Core" with Birgit Pauli-Haack and Anne McCarthy – Episode 4

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode of WP Builds “At The Core,” Nathan Wrigley, Birgit Pauli-Haack, and Anne McCarthy recap recent and upcoming WordPress core developments. They highlight the roadmap to WordPress 6.9, including simplified site editing mode, block-level commenting, template management improvements, the expanded command palette, speculative loading, and upcoming core blocks. The discussion dives into efforts around admin redesign and foundational work for better AI integration, aiming for more accessible and developer-friendly future WordPress releases. The episode ends with enthusiasm for the WordPress Campus Connect initiative, encouraging community engagement and innovation. Whether you’re a developer, an agency, a solo site builder, or someone passionate about the open web, this episode is for you.

This Week in WordPress #346

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In episode #346 of "This Week in WordPress," Nathan Wrigley is joined by Taco Verdonschot, Dave Grey, and Alex Osmuchenko for a lively discussion covering the latest in WordPress and beyond. The panel dives into upcoming features in Gutenberg 21.5, including the new accordion block and command palette, while sharing perspectives on the ongoing WP Engine vs. Automattic legal saga. They highlight the launch of the F.A.I.R. package manager site, growing educational initiatives like WordPress credits in Costa Rica, and a packed schedule of upcoming WordCamps and WP Accessibility Day. The team also explores the new Telex tool for building blocks with AI, a revealing page builder accessibility report, and Rocket.net’s partnership with Hosting.com. As usual, there’s plenty of banter, travel tales from WordCamp US, and an airport security story involving a suspicious Wapuu card game. Dive in for news, community, and plenty of WordPress insights!

434 - Unlocking faceted search in WordPress with Ross Morsali of Search & Filter

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Ross Morsali, creator of the popular WordPress plugin Search & Filter. Ross shares the origin story of the plugin, its evolution from a free tool to a full-fledged business, and how it enables advanced faceted search and filtering on WordPress sites. They discuss technical integrations (like ACF, various page builders, and Gutenberg), scalability, onboarding improvements, future features, and Ross's commitment to long-term support. The conversation offers insight into both the challenges and opportunities of building a complex, widely used WordPress product.

This Week in WordPress #345

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Ahoy, it's Monday again, and you know what that means? This Week in WordPress - the best place for a roundup of WordPress news. Today. I'm with Michelle Frechette, Dave Grey and Miriam Schwab. This episode covers the latest WordPress news, including Gutenberg updates, community trends, and the state of the WordPress ecosystem. The panel discusses new AI tools like Angie, the launch of WPWiki, plugin developments, and positive signs from global WordPress events. They address WordPress’s reputation, event attendance, youth engagement, and hosting news like Jess Frick joining Rocket.net. The hosts reflect on the challenges and optimism within the community, sharing insights into initiatives supporting students, plugin innovation, and upcoming events, highlighting their confidence in WordPress’s ongoing growth and adaptability.

433 - Feeling Insecure? with Tim Nash. Episode 4 – The rise of AI in the security space

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode of WP Builds' "Feeling Insecure," Nathan Wrigley and WordPress security consultant Tim Nash discuss the rising impact of AI on internet and WordPress security. They explore how AI is being used both by hackers to rapidly exploit vulnerabilities and generate sophisticated phishing emails, and by defenders to counter threats. They highlight recent industry reports, the cat-and-mouse dynamics of cybersecurity, and the role of hosting companies in mitigation. Tim also plugs his WordPress Security 101 course. If you want to understand the new ways AI is shaping security threats (and defences) in the WordPress ecosystem, or if you’re curious about what’s changed in phishing and plugin vulnerabilities, this episode is for you.

This Week in WordPress #344

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Another week, and we're bringing you the latest WordPress news from the last seven days. I'm with Jess Frick, Rob Cairns. This episode covers the latest WordPress news, including updates to the Block Editor, the future of neglected blocks, and the launch of the Abilities API. The panel discusses what it takes to succeed as a WordPress plugin vendor, Divi’s ongoing popularity and development, and changes ahead for WordCamp US, including a more interactive Contributor Day. They debate the state and future of WP Tavern and the challenges of maintaining independent journalism in WordPress. Other highlights include plugin repository issues, the importance of authentic marketing, and opportunities for community involvement in accessibility and development teams.

432 - How Dave Grey is fixing WordPress admin pain points with smart utility plugins

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Dave Gray about his journey transitioning from a corporate career to running his own WordPress focused business. Dave discusses his decision to create utility plugins like Administrator Toolkit and Nag Me Not, aimed at helping freelancers and site maintainers manage client sites more effectively. He also talks about his other projects like Launch That Website, demonstrating his focus on small, purposeful tools rather than all in one solutions. The conversation covers the challenges of deciding which features to add, building a product ecosystem, and balancing work-life as an entrepreneur. If you’re managing client sites, building WordPress plugins, or looking for ways to make your WordPress admin life simpler and more secure, this episode is for you.

This Week in WordPress #343

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0000

This week I'm joined by Mark Westguard, Jesse Friedman, Marc Benzakein. We cover the upcoming WordPress 6.9 release, including new features like enhanced site editing, improved template management, block-level visibility, and built-in AI integration. The panel also discusses the declining activity in WordPress testing, the evolving WordPress admin redesign, and the importance of owning your online influence in a world dominated by third-party platforms. News about the upcoming WordCamp US, Automatic’s 20-year milestone, gatekeeping in the WP creator community, and the impact of AI on documentation and workflows round out the episode.

431 - Automating WordPress form and checkout testing with Matt Schwartz of CheckView

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this WP Builds episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Matt Schwartz, founder of CheckView, a SaaS platform designed to automate testing of WordPress forms and WooCommerce checkouts. Matt explains how CheckView helps agencies and site owners ensure forms work properly by simulating real user interactions, catching issues before customers do. They discuss features, supported plugins, integration challenges with security tools like Cloudflare, and how automated monitoring can prevent lost sales or leads due to unnoticed form failures. The episode also touches on pricing, agency use cases, and CheckView’s expanding roadmap. If you’ve ever experienced the embarrassment, or financial consequences, of a broken form or silent checkout failure, or if you’re simply looking for ways to make your processes more bulletproof and client-friendly, you’ll definitely want to tune in.

This Week in WordPress #342

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000

This Week in WordPress #342, titled "AI is Lit," dives deep into the rapid integration of AI into the WordPress ecosystem. Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Andrew Palmer, and Rob Cairns discuss new community initiatives like WP Includes Me and WP Trailbodies, recent accessibility improvements in WooCommerce, and upcoming events. The main focus is on the transformative impact of AI projects, such as the new Abilities API, agentic plugins, and tools from Elementor and Hostinger. The panel also explores the implications of AI on design, security, and content creation in the WordPress space.

430 - Making WordPress more secure with user role management

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this WP Builds episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Robert Abela of MelaPress about managing WordPress user roles and capabilities. Robert shares insights on the importance of granular role control for site security and accountability, introducing their new free plugin, MelaPress Role Editor, which lets users create, customise, and assign multiple roles and capabilities. They discuss real-world scenarios, UX improvements, and future plans for enhanced features. Listeners learn how to streamline WordPress permissions, avoid security risks, and improve site management with user-friendly tools. If you’ve ever wanted more control over your site’s access, need to lock down who can touch what (and how), or just want to avoid the all-too-common admin free-for-all, this episode is for you.

This Week in WordPress #341

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In episode #341 of "This Week in WordPress," Nathan Wrigley is joined by Michelle Frechette, Tim Nash, and Tammie Lister to discuss the latest WordPress and tech news. Key topics include WordPress’s new AI integration roadmap, advancements in AI for healthcare, a recent security issue with Gravity Forms, and the push for a decentralised plugin repository. They also review recent and upcoming WordPress events, talk about plugins and core updates, and reflect on community stories. The episode balances technical discussion, community highlights, fun banter, and a touch of “doomsaying” about web security and browser competition. Check it out!

429 - Aurélien Denis on crafting emails natively in WordPress with MailerPress

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Aurélien Denis about MailerPress, an upcoming WordPress plugin for sending email campaigns directly from your site. Aurélien explains how MailerPress mimics the Gutenberg UI, uses custom blocks for email creation, and integrates features like branding with theme JSON and querying WordPress content (including WooCommerce products). The plugin stores contacts in custom tables and allows flexible email delivery via popular services. They're seeking beta testers and hint at future AI and automation features.

This Week in WordPress #340

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode of "This Week in WordPress" #340, Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Tammie Lister, and Piccia Neri discuss community news and updates, including the gamification of WP World, a new accessibility podcast, and the maintaine.rs open-source story collection. They cover WordPress project news, calls for contributors for versions 6.9 and 6.8.2, responses to the Matt Mullenweg / WP Engine controversy, and the launch of a WordPress contribution internship program. The panel also highlights independent WordPress events, a proposal for phased plugin updates, and growth in block-based themes like Ollie, along with broader tech and community reflections.

428 - Bulk editing WooCommerce products faster with Setary: Katie Keith shares insights and benefits

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode of WP Builds, Nathan Wrigley talks with Katie Keith, founder and CEO of Barn2 Plugins, about their new partnership with Setary, a SaaS bulk editing tool for WooCommerce products. Katie shares the story behind the partnership, how Setary streamlines bulk product edits through a spreadsheet interface, and its time-saving benefits for both technical and non-technical users. They also discuss plans for a Shopify version and upcoming features like scheduling. Katie touches on integration with custom fields, pricing, and special offers for existing Barn2 customers.

This Week in WordPress #339

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In "This Week in WordPress #339," Nathan Wrigley is joined by Zach Stepek, Tim Nash, and Remkus de Vries to discuss new educational WordPress courses on security and performance, as well as Nathan’s new Podcaster Plus plugin seeking beta testers. The panel covers the upcoming WP Awards, lower-than-expected WordCamp US ticket sales, and the paused Tumblr-to-WordPress migration. They highlight updates to the WordPress developer blog, a new plugin called Better Loops, and whether default themes should be paused. We also have a lively debate on event sponsorships, AI’s impact on content, and practical WordPress community updates.

427 - Exploring Ally: a new plugin for web accessibility from Elementor

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today we have Daniela Soibelman from Elementor, but we're not talking about the Page Builder, we're talking about a new plugin for website accessibility. It's called Ally, and it's a new web accessibility plugin. Daniela explains her journey at Elementor, the inspiration behind Ally, and how the plugin helps WordPress users create more accessible websites with features like usability widgets, compliance statements, and future plans for AI-powered accessibility scans and remediation. Ally works with any WordPress site, not just Elementor-built pages, aiming to make web accessibility simpler and more achievable for everyone. Whether you’re running a small blog or managing sites for clients, this episode will help you understand not just what Ally offers right now, but where it’s headed, making accessibility a shared, achievable goal for everyone working on the web.

This Week in WordPress #338

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000

426 - Why Independent Analytics could be the WordPress alternative to Google Analytics you've been waiting for

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, I talk with Ben Sibley and Andrew Mead, creators of the Independent Analytics WordPress plugin. We discuss how the plugin offers privacy-focused, GDPR-compliant analytics entirely within your WordPress dashboard, no external servers, tracking, or cookies involved. The plugin is designed for simplicity and deep WordPress integration, providing easy-to-understand reports on visitors, referrers, devices, and more. We cover features, performance, third-party integrations, support, upcoming roadmap items, and pricing, emphasising user privacy, straightforward setup, and responsive support from the small team behind the product. Listen in for practical advice, behind-the-scenes details, and plenty of inspiration for putting privacy and simplicity first in your WordPress analytics workflow.

This Week in WordPress #337

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 16th June 2025. With Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Steve Burge, Jesse Friedman.

425 - From radio addiction to Do the Woo / Open Channels: Sir Bob Dunn on his podcasting journey

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, I with veteran podcaster Bob Dunn about the evolution of podcasting, especially within the WordPress and WooCommerce spaces. We discuss their early audio influences, the growth and accessibility of podcasting, and dive into the technical side, from microphones and editing software to production workflows. Bob explains his pivot from hosting to managing the multi-host "Do the Woo" podcast channel, shares repurposing tips, and we both reflect on content creation, podcast longevity, and how WordPress seamlessly powers our sites. Whether you’re a podcaster already, a WordPress professional, or someone just looking for inspiration to start something new, this episode is for you.

This Week in WordPress #336

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 9th June 2025. Join Nathan Wrigley, Remkus de Vries, Piccia Neri, Tim Nash as we chat about the WordPress news from the previous week. We dive into the launch of FAIR, a new decentralised package manager that could shift plugin distribution away from WordPress.org. The panel also discusses the formation of an official WordPress AI team, what it could mean for the project, and recaps highlights from WordCamp Europe. Other topics include new plugin releases like FluentCart (a WooCommerce competitor) and user experience improvements, along with updates on various speaker projects. The tone is lively, oh and there's pictures of Mark Westguard on a phone!

424 – Revolutionising WordPress theme management with Brad Williams and Theme Switcher Pro

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this WP Builds episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Brad Williams about his longstanding role in the WordPress community and the launch of Theme Switcher Pro, a plugin that lets you run multiple themes on a single WordPress site. Brad explains how it helps sites transition from the classic editor to the block editor without a complete rebuild and discusses various creative and enterprise use cases. The conversation also covers WordPress agency culture, plugin pricing, and the importance of community support and trust in product launches. So, if you’re fascinated by the intersection of WordPress development, product innovation, and business strategy, or if you just want a peek at what’s possible with your next big site migration, this episode is for you.

423 – What just happened? Episode 4. Big events and Core release changes

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 29 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the WP Builds podcast, Nathan Wrigley and Rae Morey recap major WordPress news from the past quarter. They discuss key events like PressConf, CloudFest, WordCamp Asia, and the new altctrl.org event. Highlights include changes to Oxygen and Elementor page builders, plugin and hosting acquisitions, the launch of StellarSites, diversity challenges in WordPress leadership, the shift to one major WordPress release per year, AI-powered tools, accessibility debates, and the reinstatement of previously banned community members. If you're curious to know what's been happening in the WordPress space over the lsat few months, this episode is for you.

This Week in WordPress #335

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 27 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In "This Week in WordPress #335," Nathan Wrigley is joined by Tim Nash, Tammie Lister, and Piccia Neri to discuss rebuilding trust in the WordPress community, recent reforms proposed by Executive Director Mary Hubbard, and comparisons between WordPress and Drupal governance. The panel dives into the surge of plugin submissions, largely fueled by AI-generated plugins, and the challenges this poses for moderation and quality control. They also touch on accessibility initiatives, the importance of kindness in community interactions, and showcase new and interesting WordPress blocks and tools.

422 - Streamlining WordPress Agency Workflows: Zach Hendershot Introduces Miruni

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 22 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, I chat with Zach Hendershot about Miruni, an AI-powered tool designed to streamline edit requests for WordPress agencies. Miruni lets clients mark up website changes via screenshots, then uses AI to automate most updates. Agencies just review and approve. Zach explains how Miruni handles various content types, including Elementor, and upcoming features like video and audio requests. We also discuss Miruni’s simple SaaS pricing model, its focus on saving agencies significant time, and the importance of keeping humans in the approval loop for quality control. If you're an agency and could do with saving a little bit of time with your client requests, perhaps Miruni is worth a look?

This Week in WordPress #334

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 20 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 12th May 2025. Join Nathan Wrigley, Remkus de Vries, Tim Nash, Corey Maass as we discuss the news from the last 7 days. We dive into speed optimisation, with Remkus de Vries sharing why image optimisation isn’t everything. The panel discusses AI’s growing role in WordPress, accessibility, the end of the WordPress Media Corps, notable community updates, and new plugins like a media library tool and cart sidebar for WooCommerce. We also get into issues with Figma Sites’ code, WordCamp event updates, and the importance (and pitfalls) of obsessing over optimisation scores. It's all coming up on This Week in WordPress.

421 – “At The Core” with Birgit Pauli-Haack and Fabian Kaegy – Episode 3.

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 08 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode of WP Builds’ “At the Core,” Nathan Wrigley is joined by Birgit Pauli-Haack and Fabian Kaegy to discuss recent developments in WordPress, especially the 6.8 release. They highlight new features like enhanced details / accordion blocks, improvements to the style book, pattern section styles, gallery image expansion, and template editing. The conversation also covers the shift to slower, more focused WordPress core releases, changes in the development process, and new plugins such as ClassifAI and ThemeSwitcher Pro, which help with AI integration and gradual block theme migration. If you want to keep up with the changing pace of WordPress core development and get practical takes on the latest features, this episode is for you.

This Week in WordPress #333

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 06 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Episode 333 of "This Week in WordPress," hosted by Nathan Wrigley with guests Wendie Huis in t Veld, Dave Grey, and John Overall, covers WordPress news and community updates. They discuss canonical plugins, particularly their use for accessibility improvements and the debate over whether such features should be in WordPress core or as separate plugins. WordPress 6.8.1's release is highlighted, along with the upcoming Page Builder Summit and speaking opportunities at WPLDN. The episode touches on challenges in launching and marketing new WordPress products, strategies for broader reach, and the newly updated WordPress Mercantile swag store. Other topics include observations from the recent PressConf event, reinstating previously banned WordPress.org contributor accounts, trends in global WordPress contributions, emerging email tools like MailerPress, and both the benefits and frustrations of AI in customer support. The hosts emphasise inclusivity, community growth, and the evolving landscape of WordPress.

420 - Simplifying WordPress data exports and imports with WPSyncSheets

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 01 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Arpit G Shah, founder of Creative Work Designs, about WPSyncSheets plugins. Arpit shares how his tools enable bi-directional syncing of WordPress and WooCommerce data with Google Sheets, making tasks like import/export, inventory management, and bulk edits easier, no need to manage data directly within WordPress. He also discusses pricing, large-scale data handling, upcoming AI features, and future plans for integrating with other platforms like Airtable. This episode is perfect for anyone looking to streamline WordPress and WooCommerce data workflows. If you’re a WordPress or WooCommerce user who relies on Google Sheets, or wishes their site and their spreadsheets “just talked to each other”, this episode is for you.

This Week in WordPress #332

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Another week, and we're bringing you the latest WordPress news from the last seven days. Join Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette and Tim Nash. We cover the PressConf event highlights, discuss the new Theme Switcher Pro plugin, and explore Joost’s reflections on unintended consequences in SEO tools. We share updates on Patchstack security alerts, and WordPress 6.8, mention upcoming events like WordCamp Canada, and introduce Tim Nash’s new WordPress security course. There's chat about new tools including BetterFox for Firefox and WP Descriptor for AI-generated image alt tags. The episode is lighthearted, featuring fun audience banter inspired by a mysterious “of the chickens” sign, as well as practical and community news from the WordPress ecosystem.

419 - Elementor V4 unveiled with Gabriella Laster

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, I talk with Gabriella Laster, Product Marketing Director at Elementor, about the upcoming Elementor v4 release. Gabriella explains why a major codebase rewrite was needed, highlighting significant performance improvements, a new CSS-first approach, more intuitive UI changes, and enhanced workflow features. She reassures existing users that v3 and v4 will coexist, ensuring a smooth transition without breaking sites. The episode also covers their commitment to developer documentation, ongoing user education, and no planned pricing changes. You can expect incremental rollouts throughout 2025 with opportunities to participate in early testing. If you rely on Elementor for your livelihood, or even just your own website, and want to know what Elementor v4 will mean for you, this episode is for you.

This Week in WordPress #331

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 14th April 2025. Join Nathan Wrigley, Mark Westguard, Wendie Huis in 't Veld, Steve Burge as we talk about the WordPress news from this week. We discuss the upcoming Page Builder Summit, the release of WordPress 6.8 (the only major update for 2025), and new features like speculative loading for faster page speed. We explore the environmental and practical impacts of prefetching, the shift to an annual WordPress release cadence, and concerns about AI’s growing role in web development. The panel also touches on community events like WordCamp Europe, the importance of human connection, and shares news about plugins, accessibility tools, and open-source site projects.

418 - Sherry Holub's custom fields approach to website design

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Today, I'm chatting with Sherry Holub about her journey in the WordPress space. Sherry discusses her background in art, transitioning from graphic design to running her own agency and her early adoption of WordPress for custom designs. We talk about how she utilises custom fields to build unique, easily modifiable websites tailored to client needs. Sherry highlights the importance of balancing creativity with functionality and shares how her approach caters to small businesses and nonprofits. The conversation also touches on the evolving nature of web design and WordPress's adaptability. Go Listen...

This Week in WordPress #330

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In "This Week in WordPress #330," Nathan Wrigley, Taco Verdonshot, Piccia Neri, and Corey Maas discuss various topics, starting with Google wanting merchants to share marketing emails for better service insights. Piccia introduces Canva's expansion into website building and promotes her course on accessible data visualisations. Corey presents his new Chrome extension, Pause Tab, designed to help manage browser tabs more effectively. The episode also highlights the sale of the Newsletter Glue plugin by Leslie Sim, stressing its impact on the WordPress community. Additionally, there's excitement around WP APAC, a new collective for WordPress professionals in the Asia Pacific. They discuss WordPress 6.8's upcoming release, the final for 2025, and the implications of reduced WordPress releases' perception. Lastly, the conversation touches on controversial ads appearing in the block editor and Progress Planner's integration with Yoast SEO for improved site maintenance.

417 - “The Nice Show” with Mark Westguard. Episode 2: More niceness!

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode of "The Nice Show" from WP Builds, hosts Nathan Wrigley and Mark Westguard discuss the importance of positivity. They share stories of meeting nice people, like Derek Ashauer and Miriam Schwab, and mention useful WordPress plugins like Conversion Bridge. They explore online tools like Loveable for web design and highlight community events like PressConf, WP Accessibility Day, and the Page Builder Summit. The conversation lightens with real-world anecdotes, delightful short videos, and curious news about bringing extinct animals back to life, all in the spirit of spreading niceness.

This Week in WordPress #329

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week with Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Tammie Lister, Tim Nash. We discuss a variety of WordPress topics. Michelle launches a new events-focused podcast with Bob WP, and starts a weekly series of talks at Post Status. We explore potential alternatives to Figma, Automattic's recent workforce restructuring, and the implications of a reduced WordPress release cadence. We also cover upcoming events like Press Conf and the Page Builder Summit, and discuss the challenges of engaging Gen Z with WordPress, highlighting the need for modern design and effective communication.

416 - Exploring Rapyd Cloud's hosting for WordPress

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this WP Builds episode, Nathan talks with guests Wes Tatters and Mike Eisenwasser about Rapyd Cloud, a high-performance hosting solution for dynamic WordPress sites. Wes, the managing director, developed the infrastructure designed to dynamically scale resources based on demand. Mike, the co-founder and chief product officer, details their focus on sites needing significant resources, like social networks and e-commerce platforms. They offer managed WordPress hosting with advanced security and performance monitoring. Rapyd's pricing starts at $50/month, appealing to serious site owners seeking robust, scalable, and efficient hosting solutions. So, if you’ve been seeking a reliable, high-performance, and dynamic hosting solution for your WordPress site, this episode might just provide the answers you’re looking for with Rapyd Cloud as a promising option on the horizon.

This Week in WordPress #328

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Join Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Corey Maass, Bob Dunn as they discuss the WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 24th March 2025. There's a lot to talk about but also a lot of technical gremlins! We discuss various topics related to WordPress, including accessibility, AI, and recent news in the WordPress community. Featured items include the new Elementor A11Y tool, the announcement of the Page Builder Summit, and updates on WordPress 6.8 accessibility improvements. We also delve into the practicalities of using AI in website development and recap highlights from the CloudFest hackathon.

415 - Feeling Insecure? with Tim Nash. Episode 3 – The state of WordPress security and the transition to bcrypt

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of WP Builds entitled "Feeling Insecure? Episode #3," Nathan Wrigley and Tim Nash explore various aspects of WordPress security. Tim shares insights into his background in cybersecurity, including his past experience with physical penetration testing. We discuss the Patchstack report on WordPress security, noting an increase in vulnerabilities but reassuring listeners that more vulnerabilities being found isn't necessarily alarming. We get into the complexity of vulnerabilities, security measures like hashing and encryption, and changes coming in WordPress 6.8. The episode highlights the importance of updates and ends with a positive outlook on security advancements. It's a tin foil hat episode, and I hope that you enjoy it!

This Week in WordPress #327

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 17th March 2025. Today we're joined by Remkus de Vries, Anna Hurko and Jonathan Overall. We discuss the proposed move to one major WordPress release annually, sparking concerns about developer and user impacts. We explore Visa challenges for WordCamp Asia 2026 attendees and the implications of WordPress's update frequency on market competitiveness. The episode highlights Cloudflare’s AI Labyrinth security feature and discusses the pros and cons of speculative loading in WordPress 6.8. Attendees' experiences at CloudFest, a large European event with diverse tech showcases and hackathons, are also shared.

414 - Revolutionising WordPress translations: Leo Losoviz talks Gato AI Translations for Polylang

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this WP Builds episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Leonardo Losoviz about his new project, "Gato AI Translations for Polylang." Leo explains how his new plugin leverages the existing Gato GraphQL technology to automate the translation of WordPress content. By connecting to AI services like ChatGPT and Google Translate, the plugin translates posts, pages, and more into various languages, streamlining the process significantly. Leo highlights the plugin's ease of use and flexibility, including the ability to handle complex content types while maintaining the structure. Future plans for additional plugins are also discussed. If you’re currently managing a multilingual site, or if you’ve been curious about the potential of AI in your WordPress projects, this episode is for you.

413 - WordPress speed: Akshat Chaudhary on Airlift's one-click optimisation

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of WP Builds, I talk with Akshat Choudhary, founder of Block Vault, about his new product, Airlift. Airlift is a WordPress optimisation tool that promises to speed up websites with the click of a button by automatically implementing performance enhancements like caching, CDN, and image optimisation. Akshat discusses the challenges and importance of making websites faster for user engagement and conversions. Although building Airlift took longer than anticipated, with three-and-a-half years of development, the goal is to make fast websites accessible to everyone, emphasising the impact on user experience and engagement. Go listen.

This Week in WordPress #326

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

"Things hard won will not be easily lost" - This Week in WordPress #326. Join Taco Verdonschot, Marieke van de Rakt, Marcus Burnette as we discuss the WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 3rd March 2025.

412 - Exploring AI in WordPress with Matt Medeiros

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the WP Builds podcast, Nathan Wrigley and guest Matt Medeiros discuss the role and impact of AI in web development, particularly within WordPress. They explore Matt's journey in developing an app called Pulse WP using various AI tools, such as chat GPT, Claude, Bolt, and Replit. The conversation touches on AI's potential benefits, challenges, and its implications for future web development. They also consider how AI may democratise technology but express concerns about its rapid growth and the need for understanding and adaptation within the WordPress community. Go listen...

This Week in WordPress #325

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Today we're with Michellle Frechette and Andrew Palmer to discuss the WordPress news from the last week.

411 - Unity in WordPress: navigating fractures and embracing positivity with Simon Harper

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 13:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today, we have Simon Harper. He's here to discuss the current challenges and dynamics of the WordPress community. He explores the fragmentation within the community, sparked by tensions from a trademark dispute between WP Engine and Matt Mullenweg of Automattic. The conversation touches on the challenges of managing a large, diverse community, the impact of money in open-source projects, and potential strategies for fostering positivity and unity, such as emphasising contributions and uplifting the community's achievements amidst ongoing disputes. So, if you are interested in the future of WordPress and its community dynamics, this episode is for you.

410 - Tony Zeoli thinks that radio's not dead, it's got an online future

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Today, we're with Tony Zeoli, who shares his journey from being a DJ and club promoter to founding Netmix and developing radio station-related WordPress plugins. Tony discusses the history of Netmix, his experience with streaming audio online in the '90s, and his project's evolution into modern tools for radio stations on WordPress. He highlights the differences between live radio and podcasting, the ongoing relevance of radio, and introduces features of his "Radio Station" and "Radio Station Pro" plugins. Tony also narrates his move to North Carolina and involvement in academia and other startups. Go check it out...

409 - What just happened? Episode 3. Funding, acquisitions, legal and events

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the WP Builds podcast, I'm joined by Rae Morey once again to discuss various updates in the WordPress community, including the launch of a new event called PressConf, the release of WordPress 6.7, and significant acquisitions like Group One acquiring GT Metrics. We get into the legal battle between Automattic and WP Engine, the sudden shutdown and subsequent reopening of WordPress.org services, and contributions to the WordPress project. Additionally, we touch upon community contributions, the future direction of WordPress development, and even mention innovations in quantum computing by Google. Join us for an informative podcast as we explore what just happened in the WordPress world and beyond!

This Week in WordPress #324

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week. Join Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Tim Nash and Corey Maass as we talk about the WordPress news from the past 7 days. It's always fun!

408 - Bringing Bluesky and WordPress together with Daniel Post’s Autoblue plugin

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode, I interview Daniel Post about his WordPress plugin, Autoblue, designed to integrate Bluesky, a decentralised social network, with WordPress. Daniel shares his background in WordPress development, the recent rise in popularity of Bluesky, and details how Autoblue works, including automatic post sharing and comment synchronisation. We discuss the potential future features, user engagement, and the technical aspects of the Bluesky API. Daniel underscores the plugin's aim to merge social media interaction with website comments to enrich user experience.

This Week in WordPress #323

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 27th January 2025. Join Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Ross Morsali and Cami MacNamara as we talk about the WordPress News from this week.

407 - “At The Core” with Birgit Pauli-Haack and Anne McCarthy – Episode 2.

Nathan Wrigley — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of WP Builds, I discuss recent developments in WordPress with guests Birgit Pauli-Haack and Anne McCarthy. They cover several significant updates, including collaborative editing features, phase three of the Gutenberg project, data views, style books, and the evolving WordPress Playground. The conversation highlights the practical applications and future implications of these features for developers and users. Birgit and Anne provide insights into ongoing and upcoming enhancements, aiming to make WordPress more versatile and user-friendly, especially for content creation and collaboration.

This Week in WordPress #322

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 20th January 2025. Join us myself and Mark Westguard, Tim Nash, Marc Benzakein as we chat about the news from the previous 7 days.

406 - InfluenceWP's approach to WordPress community building with Ryan Logan

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of WP Builds, I'm chatting with Ryan Logan about InfluenceWP, a platform connecting WordPress consumers with trusted partners, deals, and unbiased information. Ryan explains his background in IT and WordPress, the non-affiliation policy of InfluenceWP, and the ethical principles guiding the platform. He discusses the nominal paywall for consumers and collaboration opportunities, emphasising his commitment to community and moral integrity. Despite personal and financial investments, Ryan is motivated by his passion and the desire to give back to the WordPress ecosystem. Whether you’re a WordPress developer, an agency, or someone looking to build your first website, this episode offers insights into how you can find trusted resources and partners through InfluenceWP.

This Week in WordPress #321

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 13th January 2025. Join Nathan Wrigley, Taco Verdonschot, Nicky Bulmer, and Corey Maass as we discuss the WordPress news from the past 7 days.

405 - New Show "The Nice Show" with Mark Westguard. Episode 1.

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the WP Builds podcast, "The 'Nice Show' with Mark Westguard - Ep 1", I'm joined by... erm... Mark Westguard to introduce a new, lighthearted show focused on positivity, and silliness. We chat about nice people like Michelle Frechette and Joe Dolson, highlight Mark's recent updates to WS Form, discuss upcoming WordPress community events, and explore the merits of the Bluesky social network. We share personal stories and end with a humorous short video recommendation for those who like burping. The goal is to provide an antidote to online negativity and foster a cheerful atmosphere. I hope that we succeed!

This Week in WordPress #320

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 07:00:00 +0000

"Singing, weirdness and the week where nothing happened". The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 6th January 2025, with Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Tim Nash, Corey Maass.

404 - Alan Fuller is not found! Actually he is, and he's been learning to develop blocks

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 13:45:00 +0000

Today's episode cannot be found. It's 404! This is my sad attempt at humour, and it's about as funny as I get, sadly! What actually happens is that Alan Fuller discusses the complexities of transitioning WordPress plugins from shortcodes to blocks, addressing caching issues, Eventbrite API limitations, and the rise of visually-driven tools like Elementor. He reflects on pricing mistakes, AI advancements, and balancing development with user preferences, while continuing to support his successful plugin business. Join us as we explore these themes in-depth, and examine the current landscape, and future directions, of WordPress development.

403 - Feeling Insecure? with Tim Nash. Episode 2 - Risks and Regulations

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Today we have an exciting and essential conversation for all WordPress enthusiasts and developers. In this episode, titled "Feeling Insecure? Risks and Regulations", I'm joined by Sir Tim Nash to chat about the crucial topic of WordPress security. It's the second of our new show, which will be dropping about once every quarter. Thanks Tim! From securing your devices to balancing usability with top-notch security, it all gets covered. So, get out your tin foil hats, sit back, un-relax, and let's allow Tim the chance to scare us all silly.

This Week in WordPress #319

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 9th December 2024.

402 - Exploring eCommerce payment solutions with Aaron Bowie

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Today, I'm joined by Aaron Bowie, a seasoned WordPress developer based in Aberdeen, Scotland. He's here to talk about his WooCommerce payment gateway plugins, emphasising customer-centric development and the advantages of traditional payment gateways like Barclaycard over Stripe and PayPal. Key topics include PCI compliance, cost considerations, and the complexity of integrating payment solutions. Aaron stresses the importance of seamless onboarding, transparent support, and cost-saving benefits of direct bank connections. He also compares fees and security measures, highlighting the unique offerings of various providers. The overall focus is on providing tailored, reliable payment solutions for e-commerce businesses. Have a listen...

This Week in WordPress #318

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 2nd December 2024.

401 - “Get it optimised” with Remkus de Vries. Episode 2. Your site is running, now what?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0000

In this WP Builds episode, I chat with Remkus de Vries and dive into website optimisation. Remkus, co-founder of Scanfully, a site health monitoring tool, shares his expertise on caching strategies, optimal hosting, and addressing plugin inefficiencies. He emphasises the importance of integrating performance throughout the build process, not just at the end. Remkus also discusses the upcoming features for Scanfully and highlights useful optimisation tools like Code Profiler and Query Monitor. The conversation underscores that user experience and quick load times are crucial for site success. So join us and have a listen...

This Week in WordPress #317

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 25th November 2024.

400 - From WordCamps to podcasts: Bud Kraus' adventures in WordPress

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Today is a big day. It's episode #400 of the WP Builds podcast. This is an important milestone, and as suck I'm going to do absolutely nothing of any kind whatsoever to celebrate it, aside from this paragraph of text. So there! I'm joined on the podcast by Bud Kraus. Bud is a WordPress educator and content creator, best known for his educational materials on joyofwp.com. His expertise in WordPress and his engaging instructional style have made him a pillar in the WordPress community. In this episode, we dive deep into Bud's journey, exploring how his passion for teaching and creating content started. We'll also talk about his podcast, "Seriously BUD?" which offers a refreshing departure from traditional WordPress content by focusing on stories and light-hearted conversations. Bud shares his motivation behind starting the podcast and the joy he finds in uncovering fascinating personal stories from his guests. So, join us as we celebrate Bud Kraus’s contributions to the WordPress ecosystem, share some intriguing personal stories, and gain insight into what makes the WordPress community so special.

This Week in WordPress #316

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 18th November 2024.

399 - Joost de Valk talks about Progress Planner, their new website productivity tool

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Joining us is Joost de Valk, the mastermind behind the immensely popular Yoast SEO plugin. But today, Joost is here to share his latest project, Progress Planner - a tool designed to revolutionise the way we maintain and update our websites. Imagine a blend between a "Fitbit for websites" and Duolingo. That's precisely what Progress Planner aims to be, combining gamification techniques with practical maintenance strategies to keep users engaged and their sites up-to-date. In our chat, Joost unveils the features, from special badges and weekly activity emails to a task management dashboard right inside of WordPress. We explore how these elements work together to reduce procrastination and make website upkeep a fun, interactive endeavour. So, whether you're a non-tech-savvy business owner struggling to keep your site relevant, an agency looking for ways to enhance client interaction, or someone simply curious about innovative WordPress tools, this episode has something for you.

This Week in WordPress #315

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 11th November 2024.

398 - What just happened? Episode 2. An uneventful 3 months

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 15:30:00 +0000

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley and Rae Morey discuss key events in the WordPress community. Highlights include an automated plugin review system achieving zero backlog, the expansion of the Kim Parsell Memorial Scholarship to WordCamp Europe and Asia, and HeroPress' call for sponsorship. They address the ongoing conflict between Automattic and WP Engine, including legal disputes and community fallout, alongside the departure of WordPress Executive Director Josepha Haden Chomposy and Mary Hubbard's new leadership. Despite the drama, the episode offers insights into WordPress's design updates, featured events, and efforts to improve gender diversity. Check it out...

This Week in WordPress #314

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 4th November 2024.

397 - Ben Butler on turning WordPress static with Headless Hostman

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of WP Builds, I'm joined by Ben Butler, who runs the Headless Hostman static WordPress hosting solution. Ben shares insights on their approach to enhancing security and performance for WordPress sites. The challenges faced by sites running things like NitroPack and WooCommerce. And dynamic functionalities managed via CloudFlare. They plan a Shopify plugin extension soon, and are actively developing a WooCommerce static solution. Their innovative infrastructure boasts high traffic handling and many other features discussed in the episode. Ben also highlights their seamless integrations with Elementor, WP Rocket, and WPML, aiming to help enterprises manage large-scale, traffic-heavy websites effectively.

This Week in WordPress #313

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 28th October 2024.

396 - New show “At The Core" with Birgit Pauli-Haack - Episode 1.

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Today we have the first instalment of our (yet another) new quarterly show. This one is called "At The Core,", and I'll bet you can't guess what it's about!?! Erm... WordPress Core, and all the recent updates that we can squeeze into 45 minutes! For this new show I'm joined by Birgit Pauli-Haack. She's an Automattician, massive fan of Gutenberg, and all around lovely person! She's also the founder of the Gutenberg Times, which you really should check out. In this premiere episode (ha!), we talk about the latest and greatest developments in the WordPress universe; spotlighting WordPress Playground, a revolutionary tool that allows users to effortlessly spin up websites directly in their browsers - no hosting or database required. We discuss its cutting-edge features, including managing multiple sites from one browser and the much-anticipated blueprints for easy site setup. This episode is packed with resources and discussions, so check it out right away...

395 – HeroPress: What it is, and why it’s so important

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode we have Topher DeRosia discussing HeroPress, a platform sharing inspiring stories within the WordPress community. Topher highlights HeroPress’ mission to counteract negativity by showcasing WordPress’s potential. He shares truly impactful stories, such as a child in a stock photo symbolising HeroPress’s motivation to help, and individuals like Hari from India who found success through WordPress. Despite funding challenges, Topher remains committed to maintaining the core essays and possibly starting a storytelling podcast, urging support through recurring donations. Check out the episode today!

This Week in WordPress #312

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 14th October 2024.

394 - New show "Get it optimised" with Remkus de Vries. Episode 1.

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

So, here we are with yet another WP Builds show. Shiny! In this episode, Remkus de Vries discusses building a high-performance WordPress website, emphasising a solid foundation with good hosting and theme selection. He highlights the importance of "bare metal" speed, Time to First Byte, and independent hosting reviews. Remkus recommends starting with the WordPress site editor and tools like the 'Create Block Theme' plugin. He advises against relying on third-party page builders which may induce complexity and vendor lock-in. The conversation stresses early optimisation and concludes with plans for future discussions on extending WordPress capabilities. Check it out...

This Week in WordPress #311

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 7th October 2024.

393 - Streamlining digital sales with Mindspun

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Matt Laue, founder of Mindspun, discusses how his company aims to revolutionise digital purchases by enabling users to buy products online in seconds using seamless tools like digital wallets and fingerprint scans. He highlights the advantages of reducing checkout time and tackling cart abandonment. Matt shares the complexities behind developing Mindspun's WordPress payment plugin, including integrating block-based design and maintaining compatibility with systems like Stripe. He also reflects on the challenges of standing out in a competitive market and the evolving WordPress community, expressing optimism about its future and adaptability. So, join us as we learn about a possible future for e-commerce and digital wallets!

This Week in WordPress #310

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from Monday 30th September 2024.

392 - New Show "Feeling Insecure? with Tim Nash". Episode 1.

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Tim Nash, seasoned WordPress security expert, launches "Feeling insecure?" podcast discussing tools, legislation, vulnerabilities, and security best practices for WordPress. This show, just like the other new shows I've recently started (and the ones I'm still to unveil) will happen about once a quarter, and this is the first one! We explore a range of pressing security topics. Tim begins by discussing the relevance of tools like Patchstack for comprehensive security and the potential legal ramifications of software vulnerabilities highlighted by new legislation such as the European Cyber Resilience Act. The conversation turns to looking into real-world examples, including the CUPS vulnerability affecting Linux systems, illustrating the far-reaching impact of security flaws (or not!). You'll hear Tim's expert opinion on the topic of 'responsible disclosure' and the recent actions of major security players like Ubuntu and Red Hat. There's loads more, so have a listen...

This Week in WordPress #309

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from 16th to 29th October 2024. What a week it was!

391 - What the heck is an immutable website? Tim Nash knows and explains all

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Today, I'm joined by WordPress security maestro Tim Nash. I'll bet he's never been called that before! He's here to explore his tactics for securing and managing WordPress website deployments. Tim delves into the concept of immutable operating systems, advocating for read-only core files to boost security, particularly for high-traffic, enterprise environments. He also addresses deployment strategies, such as red-green deployments and the utilisation of orchestration tools like Kubernetes. Practical solutions for file management, database efficiency, and mitigating DDoS attacks are highlighted, alongside standard practices like blocking PHP execution in upload directories. The episode offers a blend of technical insights and fun anecdotes, making it essential listening (!!!) for anyone looking to enhance their WordPress site's security and performance. Get the tinfoil hat ready, and a large mug of coffee, just in case!

390 - Transforming conversion tracking in WordPress with Conversion Bridge

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Todoay, we're with seasoned WordPress developer Derek Ashauer discussing his new product, Conversion Bridge, designed to enhance conversion tracking on WordPress sites. Derek highlights its compatibility with 51 plugins, including WooCommerce and various LMS systems. He explains the easy setup process, flexible site license structures, and robust customer support. Privacy concerns and alternative analytics platforms that comply with global laws are also addressed. Unique user needs and future integrations are covered, providing insights into streamlining analytics and conversion tracking. This episode is packed with information that'll help you simplify your conversion tracking workflow, and make the most out of your WordPress site.

389 - All New 'The Community Show' with Courtney Robertson. Episode 1.

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 14:05:00 +0000

So this is fun! A new show! This is the next one that I'm announcing… The Community Show! It's with Courtney Robertson, who knows more about the WordPress community than almost anyone else I can think of. We're going to be doing this show, just like the other ones (stay tuned, I'll announce them soon too) every 3 months or so. That means that our new podcast hosts won't get burn out, but also we'll have plenty to talk about. So what's this new show about… well… the WordPress community, and all the things that it does. Events, meetups, online sessions, updates and more. Really, this show will encompass almost anything in the WordPress space. It's going to be fun and I'm grateful that Courtney has made some time in her busy schedule to record the show with me. So, whether you're a seasoned WordPress expert or a newcomer eager to dive in, this episode offers a pretty comprehensive look at the ways that you can keep up with the community.

This Week in WordPress #308

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 2nd September 2024. You can find this episode here: https://wpbuilds.com/2024/09/10/this-week-in-wordpress-308

388 - Bringing Back Conversations: Matthias Pfefferle on ActivityPub and WordPress

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Today on the podcast Matthias Pfefferle joins me to discuss the integration of WordPress with the Fediverse through the ActivityPub protocol. Mathias talks about the differences between traditional social media and decentralised networks like Mastodon, focusing on the benefits of ActivityPub for bloggers. He explains how the plugin allows WordPress posts to function as social media posts, enabling direct interactions from various federated platforms without cross-posting. The conversation covers the evolution, technical challenges, and future roadmap of the plugin, including new features like supporting podcasting (yay!) and improving profile editing. Matthias also touches on the broader adoption of Fediverse platforms and their potential for growth. Check it out!

This Week in WordPress #307

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 26th August 2024. You can find the episode here: https://wpbuilds.com/2024/09/03/this-week-in-wordpress-307

387 - Building customer trust through transparent crisis management with Marc Benzakein

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Today I chat with Marc Benzakein, a tech industry veteran, as he shares insights on crisis management. Marc recounts a severe cyber security breach during his tenure at a previous company where a hacker demanded $40,000 within 72 hours. He emphasises the importance of honesty, transparency, and clear communication in crisis management. We also discuss the role of proactive security measures and professional handling of cyber threats in a post-9/11 world. The episode underscores the value of gaining customer trust and business sustainability through transparent crisis management. Join me for a sobering and insightful discussion that underscores the need for honesty, preparation, and resilience in the face of security crises. This episode is not just informative but a good listen for anyone looking to understand the intricacies of effective crisis management and customer relations.

386 - What just happened? A new show with Rae Morey from The Repository. Episode 1.

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

So this is really, truly, genuinely exciting for me! Today, we announce a new show "What just happened?" with Rae Morey. Rae, a former newspaper journalist turned web developer, curates top WordPress stories over at The Repository. This, the first episode, discusses Automattic's partnership with Perplexity, educational resources at learn.wordpress.org, logistical improvements for WordCamp events, Uganda's educational initiatives, and the revival of the Cwicly page builder. Rae’s background, motivations, and her wonderful newsletter are highlighted. The episode provides insights and encourages community engagement within the WordPress space as it cast an eye back over the last 3 month in the WordPress space.

This Week in WordPress #306

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 12th August 2024. You can find the episode here:

385 - Revolutionising newsletters: Xaver Birsak's journey with his Mailster plugin

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the WP Builds podcast, I chat wih Xaver Birsak, the creator of Mailster, an email marketing plugin for WordPress. Xaver, who has over 20 years of experience in the tech industry, shares his journey from working with Flash, HTML, and JavaScript to developing Mailster, which initially launched in 2012 and recently updated to version 4.0. The discussion covers Xaver's transition from the Envato marketplace to a subscription-based model, detailed features of Mailster such as its drag-and-drop builder and GDPR compliance, and future plans for the plugin. Whether you're a seasoned email marketer or just starting, this conversation is packed with insights on integrating email marketing seamlessly within your WordPress site while maintaining full control over your data. Check it out...

This Week in WordPress #305

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 5th August 2024. You can find the post here: https://wpbuilds.com/2024/08/13/this-week-in-wordpress-305

384 - Surveying the WordPress industry: Revenue trends and challenges with Kyle Van Deusen

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Today we have Kyle Van Deusen on the podcast. Kyle is not only the founder of the prominent community, The Admin Bar, but also a dedicated WordPress expert who has been deeply engrossed in the industry for years. In this episode, we explore the results of the latest survey conducted by The Admin Bar, which delves into the nitty-gritty of the WordPress ecosystem. With over 1,100 participants, mainly freelancers and agency owners, the survey provides a comprehensive snapshot of the current state of the industry. We discuss some key stats, such as how 68% of businesses reported gross revenues under $100,000 in 2023, and how only 10% of freelancers and agency owners are making $100,000 per year. Whether you’re a freelancer, agency owner, or just passionate about web development, this episode provides the insights and benchmarks you need to stay ahead of the curve.

This Week in WordPress #304

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 29th July 2024. You can find the post here: https://wpbuilds.com/2024/08/06/this-week-in-wordpress-304

383 - No Script Show, Episode 14 - The Frontend Divide: UX Designers vs JavaScript Specialists

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

In episode 14 of "The No Script Show," Nathan Wrigley and David Waumsley discuss the division between UX designers and JavaScript specialists, focusing on Chris Coyier’s article “The Great Divide.” After halting their work together on the WP Builds podcast, due to David’s shift towards minimalist web development with HTML and CSS, they launched "The No Script Show" to explore this new approach. This episode, the last to be featured on WP Builds, delves into whether the divide between HTML/CSS-first developers and JS framework specialists has narrowed over the years, touching on advancements in CSS, web components, and web standards, and examining ongoing issues such as gatekeeping and accessibility.

382 - Alex Moss Talks Yoast, entrepreneurship, and SEO trends

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000

In WP Builds Podcast episode #382, Alex Moss discusses his multifaceted career from a self-taught PHP developer in 2011 to Principal SEO at Yoast. The conversation spans his co-founding of an agency, involvement in the NFT market, and views on emerging digital trends. Alex highlights potential practical uses of NFTs beyond speculation, collaboration between marketing and development teams, and advancements at Yoast post-acquisition by Newfold Digital. Key topics include the future of SEO amidst AI and privacy challenges, Google's dominance, the evolution of search engines, and the balancing act of offering premium and free services at Yoast. Go check it out.

This Week in WordPress #303

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 15th July 2024. You can find the post with the links here: https://wpbuilds.com/2024/07/23/this-week-in-wordpress-303

381 - No Script Show, Episode 13 - What is the W3C doing about AI?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the WP Builds Podcast, Nathan Wrigley and David Waumsley discuss the significant and evolving role of AI on the web, focusing on the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) new report titled "AI and the Web, Understanding and Managing the Impact of Machine Learning Models on the Web". The episode delves into AI's dual challenges: data quality and environmental impact. We explore ethical and societal implications, such as privacy, transparency, and the potential for AI to undermine human creativity and entry-level jobs. We also address the importance of standards, regulatory frameworks, and Tim Berners-Lee's optimistic vision of AI, emphasising the need for collaborative and ethical AI development. Go listen...

This Week in WordPress #302

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 8th July 2024. You can find the post here: https://wpbuilds.com/2024/07/16/this-week-in-wordpress-302

380 - Exploring Siren Affiliates with Alex Standiford: redefining affiliate marketing strategies

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today, we have Alex Standiford talking about his innovative approach to affiliate programs through his new plugin, Siren Affiliates, which is unlike any other affiliates system you've used. Alex gets into the specifics of Siren and its user interface, explaining how rewards are divided, what actions earn points, and what events trigger point calculations. He emphasises the ability of third-party developers to extend these components, allowing for a high degree of customisation. If you’re interested in a truly new and unique approach to affiliate programs that fosters collaboration and fairness among affiliates, this episode is for you.

This Week in WordPress #301

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 1st July 2024. You can find it here: https://wpbuilds.com/2024/07/09/this-week-in-wordpress-301

379 - No Script Show, Episode 12 - How web typography has evolved

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 13:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today, David Waumsley and I go a journey through the evolution of web typography! We both admit to feeling a mix of intrigue and intimidation toward typography, traditionally seen as the realm of design experts. We start by acknowledging the historical constraints of web typography and the relevance of its principles, despite the shift to the digital age. We then get into modern practices, such as responsive design and the shift from pixels to rems. We also explore new web typography features, including font size adjust, kerning, and scroll animations, while emphasising the significance of accessibility and internationalisation, particularly for non-Latin languages. Fluid typography and its benefits, like proportional font size changes, are highlighted, along with tools such as the Utopia CSS generator for creating cohesive designs. The practicalities of ensuring readability through proper spacing and underlining are also explored. We wrap up with a look at the shift from system fonts to the abundance of Google Fonts, highlighting the importance of readability and clarity in contemporary web design. For anyone interested in the nuances of modern web typography and responsive design, this episode is for you.

This Week in WordPress #300

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 24th June 2024. You can find it here: https://wpbuilds.com/2024/07/02/this-week-in-wordpress-300

378 - Exploring AI in customer support with Aaron Edwards

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000

In podcast episode #378 of WP Builds, Aaron Edwards discusses his DocsBot AI, a chatbot plugin designed for WordPress customer support. Edwards, former CTO of WPMUDev, shares his journey into AI, highlighting his work on the Imajinn plugin and his pivot to developing DocsBot AI. This AI-based SaaS integrates with various content sources to train custom bots, automating customer ticket responses while ensuring GDPR compliance. The episode covers the technical aspects, integration capabilities, pricing, and future potentials of AI in customer service, making it a valuable listen for WordPress developers and business owners seeking to streamline support workflows.

This Week in WordPress #299

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 17th June 2024 with Remkus de Vries, Birgit Pauli-Haack, Birgit Olzem. You can find the show here: https://wpbuilds.com/2024/06/25/this-week-in-wordpress-299

377 - No Script Show, Episode 11 - What’s new in web images. Are they worth a thousand words?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Today we discuss advancements in web image standards and new CSS features. Topics include object fit, aspect ratio, border images, filters, clip path, mask-image, and backdrop filters, which offer alternatives to traditional image editing tools like Photoshop. The episode also covers HTML and CSS considerations, such as img and picture elements, alt tags, and loading attributes. New image formats like WebP and AVIF are examined, along with the use of SVGs for accessibility and performance benefits. Go listen...

376 - Exploring typography and accessibility with Piccia Neri

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000

In Podcast #376, guest Piccia Neri, a seasoned designer and long-time collaborator with WP Builds, discusses the evolution of her career and the critical role of accessibility in web design. Initially a book designer, Piccia adapted her skills to the digital age, emphasizing accessibility as essential for good UX. The episode explores the importance of starting web design with content and typography, driven by ethical considerations and upcoming legislation like the European Accessibility Act. Piccia shares actionable insights on accessible typography, HTML structuring, and how accessible design can boost SEO. Listeners are offered valuable resources, including a free accessibility primer and workshops.

This Week in WordPress #298

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 27th May 2024. You can find it here: https://wpbuilds.com/2024/06/04/this-week-in-wordpress-298

375 - Insights from Marcel Bootsman on static site hosting with Kinsta

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 30 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Today we're talking to Marcel Bootsman from Kinsta, discussing Kinsta's static site hosting. We get into the benefits, technical nuances, and environmental sustainability of static site hosting, highlighting its potential to enhance WordPress website speed and efficiency. Marcel explains how Kinsta leverages Cloudflare's global infrastructure and discusses the complexities involved. The conversation also touches on the developer expertise needed and the possibility of integrating dynamic elements into static sites. Kinsta's static hosting emerges as a cost-effective and high-performing alternative to traditional methods, offering insights on getting started and associated costs.

374 - WordPress turns 21. Hear from 21 voices about what WordPress means to them.

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 23 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

So this is like no podcast episode I've ever done. Normally it's me talking to one, perhaps two, other people... but not today! A few weeks ago I was on a call with Adam Warner and Marcus Burnette from GoDaddy, and we were trying to come with fun ways to celebrate the 21st birth of WordPress, which is on May 27th 2024. This podcast is the result. It's 21 voices from the WordPress world who recorded themselves speaking about their experiences of WordPress; the software, the community, the things that it's enabled for them. And it's wonderful. It's varied, it's interesting, it's encouraging, it's fun! I truly hope that you enjoyed this episode, I enjoyed making it!

373 - No Script Show, Episode 10 - User Preferences: rethinking web design

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 16 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Once more we bring you a podcast hijack in which the No Script Show takes over the WP Builds podcast, perhaps for the last time? I confess that I'm enjoying this new project very much indeed! We get into some of the new features that have been added to CSS and what they enable you to do, and how widely supported they are. If you've not listened to the previous 9 episodes, then you won't know that your browser is getting more capable and instead of hacking things together with frameworks and scripts, we can now do many of the 'cool things' with just a smattering of CSS. But what are these CSS things, and how do they allow the user of a web page to have some control in what they see, and how do they enable you, the website builder do do things with less dependencies and in shorter amounts of time? Listen to find out...

This Week in WordPress #297

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 14 May 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 6th May 2024. You can find the show notes here: https://wpbuilds.com/2024/05/14/this-week-in-wordpress-297

372 - Alex Borto discusses AI integration in WordPress development

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 09 May 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Today we have the pleasure of hosting Alex Borto, a WordPress developer from France. Alex has been part of the WordPress landscape since 2011, educating and inspiring through his popular blog, wpmarmite.com, and a thriving YouTube channel with over 69,000 subscribers. In this episode, Alex will delve into his innovative project, WP Turbo Dev, which has been making waves by significantly enhancing the workflow for WordPress developers through the integration of AI technology. As the founder of WP Turbo Dev, Alex shares insights into how this tool not only accelerates development processes, but also ensures that, even as AI takes on more routine tasks, the art of development remains irreplaceable for more complex demands. We explore the current features, the projected roadmap, and how the tool integrates with popular plugins and themes to provide a comprehensive development experience. Alex also talks about the broader implications of AI in WordPress development, reflecting on how developers can leverage AI to improve their coding efficiency, whilst still maintaining a high standard of creativity and functionality. He’ll also touch on his initial motivations for starting free WordPress code generators, and how incorporating AI has expanded the capabilities and resources available to the community. For both new and experienced developers interested in the future of WordPress and AI, this discussion with Alex Borto promises to be worth a listen.

This Week in WordPress #296

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 07 May 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 29th April 2024. You can find the post here: https://wpbuilds.com/2024/05/07/this-week-in-wordpress-296

371 – No Script Show, Episode 9 – Does Baseline solve our browser support problems?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 02 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Back in the day, all the browsers were enemies. They all went off and decided how they would do things with no regard for what their 'rivals' were doing. This was fun and gave us website developers the joy of having to make sure that what you'd built looked decent in most of the popular browsers. If you're as old as me and have been in this game for a while, you'll remember shouting at your monitor when things did not work out as planned - which was all the time. I even had a soft rubber mallet, called "The Hardware Hammer" with which I could beat my computer without the costly repair bill! Fast forward to today and things are much better. Browser vendors all seem to be working towards a common goal, a common spec. But, and there had to be a but... they don't ship all of the feature at the same time. Some browsers support this thing, others don't (yet). In this episode we explore where we can go to find out what new features are available in which browsers, so that you can be sure that the site that you're about to ship works well for everyone, no matter how they're viewing it.

This Week in WordPress #295

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 22nd April 2024. You can find the episode here: https://wpbuilds.com/2024/04/27/this-week-in-wordpress-295

370 - Airtable meets WordPress: uniting Airtable's power with WordPress

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today we have Stéphane Menet, a seasoned expert with a 20-year background in web strategy and business. He's not only the founder of WP Connect, but also heads a web agency that collaborates with freelancers to build dynamic project teams. His experience runs across a multitude of frameworks and CMS's, it's not all WordPress. We get into the evolving realm of no-code tools, and their impact on content management and web development. Stéphane has crafted a plugin, the Airtable to WordPress plugin, that demonstrates this shift, catering especially to non-technical WordPress users who require an intuitive way to manage their website data. You'll learn about the specific process of setting up the Airtable to WordPress plugin, from generating a token for secure connectivity, to mapping your data with pretty granular control. Episode here: https://wpbuilds.com/2024/04/25/370-airtable-meets-wordpress-uniting-airtables-power-with-wordpress

This Week in WordPress #294

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 15th April 2024. You can find the episode here: https://wpbuilds.com/2024/04/23/this-week-in-wordpress-294

369 – No Script Show, Episode 8 - Designing an effective homepage

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

So we’re back with another ‘podcast hijack’, in which the WP Builds podcast is temporarily taken over by a new podcast that I’m doing with David Waumsley. It’s called “The No Script Show”, and we’re getting back to the basics which we feel we’ve lost touch with, namely HTML and CSS. This week, it’s all about something called ‘component based web design’, but before that, a few words about what this show is about… Over the years our reliance on tools like Page Builders mean that we’ve not kept up with the new technologies which are becoming available to us via the browser, HTML and CSS… and that made us sad! Sad because there’s real power in what can now be achieved, and it’s an exciting time, where CSS can do much of the heavy lifting which used to be the domain of Javascript. Does this mean that WordPress is not in view, not for me, but WordPress uses all-the-things we discuss, so they’re tied together in so many ways! The hope is that you’ll enjoy the podcast enough to subscribe to it and enjoy the podcast as we get into this new subject. There are the show notes that you’ll find on the noscript.show website for this episode. Today we are talking about… designing an effective homepage.

This Week in WordPress #293

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 8th April 2024.

368 - Driving WordPress education via Full Site Editing with Chris Badgett

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Today we're joined by Chris Badgett, who is a WordPresser with a rich background in e-learning and WordPress development. Starting in 2008 with a leadership blog, he transitioned to freelance work and eventually ran his own agency focused on learning management systems, memberships, and coaching. Identifying a lack of integrated tools in the market, Chris founded LifterLMS, a learning management plugin for WordPress that blends e-commerce, gamification, and membership functions. Now, nine years after launch, LifterLMS is a testament to his dedication to providing WordPress solutions for educators and learners within the WordPress ecosystem. In this episode, we talk about Chris's journey from humble blogging beginnings to crafting a comprehensive, integrated LMS platform that democratises online education for experts and novices alike. Chris, a non-developer by trade, has leveraged the capabilities of full site editing to empower his customers to design online education experiences without the need to write any code. We get into the milestones of LifterLMS, detailing the significance of their evolution towards full stack learning solutions. We talk about how the platform can be customised, and the recent launch of the SkyPilot theme, designed to significantly enhance the user experience for course creators and learners. We also explore the shift from traditional themes to full site editing, how it's reshaping user expectations, and the role of templates and blocks in simplifying the creation of course content.

This Week in WordPress #292

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 1st April 2023.

367 – No Script Show, Episode 7 – How do we start a website project?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

So we’re back with another ‘podcast hijack’, in which the WP Builds podcast is temporarily taken over by a new podcast that I’m doing with David Waumsley. It’s called “The No Script Show”, and we’re getting back to the basics which we feel we’ve lost touch with, namely HTML and CSS. This week, it's all about something called 'component based web design', but before that, a few words about what this show is about... Over the years our reliance on tools like Page Builders mean that we’ve not kept up with the new technologies which are becoming available to us via the browser, HTML and CSS… and that made us sad! Sad because there’s real power in what can now be achieved, and it’s an exciting time, where CSS can do much of the heavy lifting which used to be the domain of Javascript. Does this mean that WordPress is not in view, not for me, but WordPress uses all-the-things we discuss, so they’re tied together in so many ways! The hope is that you’ll enjoy the podcast enough to subscribe to it and enjoy the podcast as we get into this new subject. There are the show notes that you’ll find on the noscript.show website for this episode. Today we are talking about how do we start a website project?

366 - Need a lightweight calendar? Have a look at Pie Calendar

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Today we have a conversation with Jonathan Jernigan, the co-creator of the Pie Calendar plugin for WordPress. Jonathan has been working with WordPress for many years. For 5 years he worked with Oxygen, and within the last year has made the switch to full-time GenerateBlocks and GeneratePress as his tools of choice. As if that were not enough, he's also the co-founder of Pie Calendar, which is the reason that he's on the podcast today. This episode gets into the philosophy and strategy behind creating a WordPress plugin that champions a less-is-more approach. Jonathan, alongside his colleague Elijah Mills, took the decision that they wanted Pie Calendar be minimal and adapt to the needs of its users, be affordable, and concentrate upon a feature set which they could maintain. If you're interested in a lightweight calendar plugin for your WordPress website, this episode is for you.

This Week in WordPress #291

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 18th March 2024.

365 - No Script Show, Episode 6 - What’s the big deal with container queries?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Today we are talking about CSS container queries. These mark a serious advancement in what browsers will allow us to do, but we are asking what does that mean for us right now? CSS container queries off the potential for granular styling based on container size. We discuss the challenges overcome to make container queries possible, highlight real-world usage examples, and share our personal perspectives on their significance. We also hint at a potential shift in the show's focus for future episodes. Go listen...

This Week in WordPress #290

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 07:40:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 11th March 2024.

364 - Nenad Conic on crafting quirky eCommerce websites using WooCommerce

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Today we welcome Nenad Conic of Maksimer, to discuss some of the challenges and solutions in WooCommerce e-commerce projects. Maksimer, which has been at the forefront of WordPress and WooCommerce-based e-commerce solutions since its founding in 2009, has been creating large-scale and complex online stores. Nenad gets into the work required to operate a WooCommerce store with over 1.2 million products, and talks about how they developed a specialised platform for online medication management, utilising WooCommerce for subscription services within the constraints of healthcare regulations. The episode also gets into an ambitious endeavour where Maksimer used WooCommerce Bookings to craft a booking system for a camping site website, integrating a React application with Google Maps API to enhance the user experience. It's a really great implementation and shows how, with the right knowledge, Woo can be used for unconventional e-commerce scenarios. It's a fascinating discussion, showing what Woo is capable of if you've got the time, budget, expertise to hire a team like Maksimer. Good food for thought concerning the future of e-commerce in WordPress.

This Week in WordPress #289

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 26th February 2024.

363 – No Script Show, Episode 5 - What is component based web design?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000

So we’re back with another ‘podcast hijack’, in which the WP Builds podcast is temporarily taken over by a new podcast that I’m doing with David Waumsley. It’s called “The No Script Show”, and we’re getting back to the basics which we feel we’ve lost touch with, namely HTML and CSS. This week, it's all about something called 'component based web design', but before that, a few words about what this show is about... Over the years our reliance on tools like Page Builders mean that we’ve not kept up with the new technologies which are becoming available to us via the browser, HTML and CSS… and that made us sad! Does this mean that WordPress is not in view, not for me, but WordPress uses all-the-things we discuss, so they’re tied together in so many ways! The hope is that you’ll enjoy the podcast enough to subscribe to it and enjoy the podcast as we get into this new subject. This episode looks at 'component based web design', what it is, and do we even need it?

This Week in WordPress #288

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 19th February 2023.

362 - Inside WordPress with Raitis Sevelis: UI/UX, IndyStack, and community

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Today, I'm chatting with with Raitis Sevelis on several topics in the WordPress landscape. Sevelis has an extensive background in UI/UX design and product management for prominent WordPress tools like WPBakery and Visual Composer, and he shares his insights into the inner workings of the platform and the community. We discuss the founding principles and unique features of IndyStack, Raitis' latest venture, which bridges the gap between developer needs and client usability in managed WordPress hosting. IndyStack introduces the capability for developers to work on a site for free and transfer ownership to their clients while maintaining developer access, a novel concept that I find quite intriguing for some agency workflows. Raitis also takes us behind the scenes of WP Racoon, his side project, which serves as a forum for discussing plugins, themes, and the business of WordPress, away from the constraints of corporate affiliations. The role of communities, the use of Facebook for engaging with users, and the strategic benefits and downsides of such platforms are also discussed. We round off the episode getting into the need for core developers and the community to collaborate in refreshing WordPress's ecosystem through improved onboarding, user interface, and by fostering educational content to power the platform's next phase of growth.

361 – No Script Show, Episode 4 - What is Intrinsic web design?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000

So we’re back with another ‘podcast hijack’, in which the WP Builds podcast is temporarily taken over by a new podcast that I’m doing with David Waumsley. It’s called “The No Script Show”, and we’re getting back to the basics which we feel we’ve lost touch with, namely HTML and CSS. This week, it's all about something called 'Intrinsic design', but before that, a few words about what this show is about... Over the years our reliance on tools like Page Builders mean that we’ve not kept up with the new technologies which are becoming available to us via the browser, HTML and CSS… and that made us sad! Sad because there’s real power in what can now be achieved, and it’s an exciting time, where CSS can do much of the heavy lifting which used to be the domain of Javascript. Does this mean that WordPress is not in view, not for me, but WordPress uses all-the-things we discuss, so they’re tied together in so many ways! The hope is that you’ll enjoy the podcast enough to subscribe to it and enjoy the podcast as we get into this new subject. These are the show notes that you’ll find on the noscript.show website for this episode. This episode looks at 'Intrinsic design', what it is, and why it's important for the future of the web.

This Week in WordPress #286

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 5th February 2024.

360 - Synchronising data and design with Jorge Casals from DataPocket

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Today we're having an interesting conversation with Jorge Casals, and we're talking about DataPocket. Jorge chats about how DataPocket serves as a conduit for synchronising data from various platforms to design tools, offering a better flow of information for e-commerce teams. The discussion gets into DataPocket's pricing model and its integration with Intercom for customer support, highlighting the roadmap to expand its reach to larger enterprises. Jorge talks about why he thinks DataPocket is revolutionising e-commerce by automating content creation and synchronisation, while also addressing the platform's utility for agencies and plans for future integrations. We also tackle the ethical implications of AI integration and the thought process behind DataPocket's approach to data storage and accessibility. As you'll hear in the episode, I was a little unsure of how it all worked, but I'm sure that you'll figure it all out from Jorge's explanations! If you've not heard of DataPocket before and are interested in how synchronisation of designs can alter the e-commerce landscape, this episode is for you.

This Week in WordPress #285

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 29th January 2024.

359 – No Script Show, Episode 3 - Modern CSS layouts

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000

So we’re back with another ‘podcast hijack’, in which the WP Builds podcast is temporarily taken over by a new podcast that I’m doing with David Waumsley. It’s called “The No Script Show”, and we’re getting back to the basics which we feel we’ve lost touch with, namely HTML and CSS. Over the years our reliance on tools like Page Builders mean that we’ve not kept up with the new technologies which are becoming available to us via the browser, HTML and CSS… and that made us sad! Sad because there’s real power in what can now be achieved, and it’s an exciting time, where CSS can do much of the heavy lifting which used to be the domain of Javascript. Does this mean that WordPress is not in view, not for me, but WordPress uses all-the-things we discuss, so they’re tied together in so many ways! The hope is that you’ll enjoy the podcast enough to subscribe to it and enjoy the podcast as we get into this new subject. These are the show notes that you’ll find on the noscript.show website for this episode: This episode looks at what modern CSS techniques can bring to make your designs easier to manage, and much more interesting.

This Week in WordPress #284

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 22nd January 2024.

358 - Exploring web accessibility: a conversation with Gen Herres

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 13:00:00 +0000

So today we're chatting with Gen Herres about web accessibility. Gen is an experienced WordPress developer who has been in the field for over a decade. After making the typical mistakes in website development, Gen met Amber Hinds in 2019 and became interested in accessibility through her company, Equalize Digital. This led to a deep dive into the world of accessibility, and Gen began to incorporate it into her development processes. She discovered the lack of good checklists for accessibility and continues to explore this challenging and rewarding aspect of web development. Whether you're new to the world of accessibility or a seasoned professional seeking to enhance your knowledge, this episode provides a comprehensive overview of the critical role that accessibility plays in web development.

357 - No Script Show, Episode 2 - The big picture

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 13:00:00 +0000

So we're back with another 'podcast hijack', in which the WP Builds podcast is temporarily taken over by a new podcast that I'm doing with David Waumsley. It's called "The No Script Show", and we're getting back to the basics which we feel we've lost touch with, namely HTML and CSS. Over the years our reliance on tools like Page Builders mean that we've not kept up with the new technologies which are becoming available to us via the browser, HTML and CSS... and that made us sad! Sad because there's real power in what can now be achieved, and it's an exciting time, where CSS can do much of the heavy lifting which used to be the domain of Javascript. Does this mean that WordPress is not in view, not for me, but WordPress uses all-the-things we discuss, so they're tied together in so many ways! The hope is that you'll enjoy the podcast enough to subscribe to it and enjoy the podcast as we get into this new subject.

This Week in WordPress #282

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 8th January 2024.

356 - What's the state of teams in the WordPress space?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 13:00:00 +0000

The WP Builds Podcast episode #356 features an in-depth conversation with James Giroux, discussing the Team Experience Index survey by TeamWP. Key insights from the survey highlight areas for improvement in the WordPress community, emphasizing transparent leadership, communication, ownership, and continuous learning. Recommendations include fostering an inclusive culture and intentional recognition for team development. Have a listen to find out more...

This Week in WordPress #281

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 1st January 2023.

355 - David's return... A new podcast called The 'No Script Show'

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 13:00:00 +0000

So in episode 353 we said bye bye to David Waumsley. Well, now is the time to own up to the fact that David is not in fact going away! In my defence, David is moving away from the WP Builds podcast, as he's really no longer making much use of WordPress, but he's still in the website building profession. He's decided that he wants to make website without a framework, and therefore he's going to be working from with HTML and CSS and trying to follow along with the guidelines the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) lay out for us all to follow. With that in mind, no sooner had David stepped away from WP Builds, well, he was back in my inbox asking if I'd like to create an entirely new podcast with him about this 'new' (old?) approach of his to website building. Having loved every minute of the past seven years of content creation with David, I jumped at the chance, and so a new show was born, and we're calling it the 'No Script Show'. You can find it at noscript.show. So for the next six episodes which would have normally been myself and David, it's still going to be myself and David. Hopefully you'll get an understanding of what we're, and you never know, some of you might even subscribe to the show as well. After six weeks of this format, we'll go back to just WP Builds content, week after week. So here it is then... episode 1 of the No Script Show. I hope that you enjoy it.

This Week in WordPress #280

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 11th December 2023.

354 - How GREYD.SUITE is tackling website accessibility

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 13:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today, I have a conversation with Jakob Trost and Anne Bovelett, as we expore GREYD.SUITE, and its philosophy and commitment to website accessibility in the products they offer. Jakob tells us about GREYD's approach to website development, emphasising the company's dedication to providing a complete suite of tools for professional websites. The discussion revolves around GREYD's innovative "hub" for website management, which allows users to administer and manage multiple websites from a single interface, simplifying the process even when the websites are on different servers and WordPress installations. Anne joins in with her passionate advocacy for accessibility in web design. She shares her journey in making websites fully accessible, highlighting the prevalent misconceptions around accessibility and the ongoing work required to create inclusive digital experiences. Anne's vision of developing a plugin to guide users on accessibility levels and design alternatives is also discussed. This episode is a great testament to one company's journey towards better, accessible-ready, tools for website builders and developers. It's lovely to see a WordPress product which has gone 'back to the drawing board' to see if they can make this matter for them, and therefore you too!

This Week in WordPress #279

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 4th December 2023.

353 - Bye bye

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 13:00:00 +0000

It’s the last episode of our “Thinking the Unthinkable” series… and also David's last as a regular on WP Builds. We’ve saved the most “unthinkable” for the end which is: “Is it time to quit WordPress?”. It isn’t for Nathan, but for David it (sort of) is. He'll still use WordPress daily as his own local static site generator and code organiser, but he disabled Gutenberg and has stopped using almost all 3rd party software. As he's not going with WordPress’ new direction, it makes sense to make way for those who are. More on that in 2024! So this episode is done with a tear in our eyes, but we don't just cry, we get into the subject of why it's time for David to move on from his decades long obsession with WordPress, and what he's going to be doing next. What happened with WordPress for David to feel like there's better ways of making sites in the future?

This Week in WordPress #278

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 27th November 2023.

352 - Why email marketing is still alive: insights from Rytis Lauris of Omnisend

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Today, we're joined by Rytis Lauris, the co-founder and CEO of Omnisend, a marketing automation platform for online businesses. We discuss the enduring effectiveness of email marketing, the importance of owning your own content, and how Omnisend integrates with WordPress and WooCommerce to provide value for online sellers. Rytis explains how email automation can drive revenue and improve customer engagement, and emphasises the need for permission-based communication and personalised messages. He also shares insights on the growing importance of SMS marketing and the role of AI technology in streamlining marketing processes. With their innovative approach to automation and targeted campaigns, Omnisend is paving the way for businesses to effectively communicate with their customers and boost their online sales.

This Week in WordPress #277

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 19th November 2023.

351 - The one where the entire episode was created by AI

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today we're straying into the world of AI. Not in the way that everybody else does, with an intelligent analysis of the use of AI and tools to make your life easier. No that's too difficult for us. We've decided to pollute your podcast listening experience today with an episode made (almost) entirely with AI tools. Honestly, I'd give up here if I were you, but if you fancy a laugh, please feel free to continue. Do not write in complaining about the "hour of your life that you're never going to get back". We know, we had to make this thing! We input some fairly boilerplate text prompts into a variety of AI tools (you can find out which in the recording) and read out what they told us to say. No edits, no modifications, it's exactly what the AI thought would make a good podcast. Somewhat alarmingly, they're way better than usual (they're not I hope, I just added that in to be self deprecating). It's early days for AI, and so it's somewhat expected that the output of the AI models was going to be generic, and a little over-the-top, but in some cases it's impressive; the text often stays on-message and adds a certain je ne sais quoi.

This Week in WordPress #276

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 13th November 2023.

350 - Ymir: The future of serverless WordPress hosting with Carl Alexander

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000

In today's episode, we're talking about serverless WordPress with our guest, Carl Alexander, founder and developer of Ymir. As you will hear, Carl is very clever, and I'm out-to-sea with the topic under discussion! Carl is passionate about the concept of serverless technology, and is fully embracing it as a way to simplify server management for WordPress users. With serverless technology, Carl believes that users can upload their WordPress sites without having to worry about managing servers, updates, or security concerns. He views serverless technology as a game-changer, allowing users to focus on their content without the hassle of server management. As always, if you enjoyed the conversation leave a comment, and share it all over the place!!!

This Week in WordPress #275

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 6th November 2023.

349 - Is 20 years too long in web tech?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000

It’s the 19th episode of our "Thinking the Unthinkable" series and today's (ambiguous) topic is... "Is 20 years too long in web tech?". Full of our usual British cheerfulness, we are celebrating WordPress’s 20th birthday year with a title implying its potential demise. This episode is not about predicting the future of WordPress. It’s because we have never had a chat dedicated to why some web tech flourishes (as WordPress certainly did), and some die. We cover the following: The last 30 years of the web (gosh, it's a real adult now). Is growth and demise in tech a matter of luck and unpredictable? The fundamental web languages, and how they lasted. HTML and CSS are safe, aren't they? But... frameworks and CMS's are vulnerable. There's a lot more in this episode as well, so check it out...

This Week in WordPress #274

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 30th October 2023.

348 - How the Gato GraphQL plugin can accelerate your WordPress development

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Today on the podcast we have Leonardo Losoviz. Leonardo is an experienced developer and the creator of the Gato GraphQL plugin for WordPress. We'll be exploring the power of Gato GraphQL, its features, and how it could change the way we use WordPress. Leonardo highlights the power of GraphQL, a technology for retrieving data from a server. It can be used in WordPress to fetch data from the server and render HTML in the editor for interactive content creation. GraphQL offers advantages over the REST API, providing flexible querying and manipulating of data, such as retrieving metadata for personalised emails or duplicating and modifying blog posts. He also explains how his plugin builds on top of this foundation to enable WordPress to make use of this powerful technology. To help users get started and unlock the full potential of Gato GraphQL, Leonardo has created a section called "recipes" within the plugin and on the website. These pre-coded GraphQL queries serve as a learning tool, explaining how GraphQL works and providing tips for more complex tasks like translating posts. The recipes gradually increase in complexity, allowing users to grasp the full capabilities of the plugin over time. So, whether you're a WordPress developer looking to enhance your website's capabilities or a content creator searching for more efficient ways to manage and distribute your content, this episode is for you. Get ready to tap into the power of Gato GraphQL and unlock a new world of possibilities within WordPress.

This Week in WordPress #273

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 23rd October 2023.

347 - Who needs a Content Management System (CMS) anyway?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

It’s the 18th episode of our “Thinking the Unthinkable” series and our topic is "Who needs a Content Management System (CMS) anyway?" Have you noticed how you obsess about all the amazing things that you can do with your client websites? Imagine if they did this, or, you know what would double your revenue... you could do this. A few months after launch you realise that they're using none of the functionality that you painstakingly built! WordPress is a truly capable Content Management System (CMS), but do most of our clients really need it? Can they make use of all that's possible, or should we be pointing them towards other options, like static sites. We talk about our history with CMS's as well as when we think that WordPress is the 'best fit' for clients.

This Week in WordPress #272

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 16th October 2023.

346 - WonderSuite: simplifying the setup in WordPress for all users

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today we have Jason Cross. He's an experienced tech executive with a diverse background in the industry. Currently serving as the SVP of product at Bluehost / Newfold Digital, and he's been there for over a year and a half. He is responsible for overseeing their WordPress, commerce, and proprietary products across multiple global brands. Before joining Bluehost / Newfold Digital. The basic premise is this... WordPress website hosts experience quite a lot of customer churn, and so Bluehost are seeking to reduce this by delivering websites as efficiently as possible, aiming to keep users satisfied with their WordPress experience from the moment they first log in to their account. This endeavour is called WonderSuite, and later in the episode we unravel the wonders of WonderSuite (did you see what I did there!), a series of unique experiences curated to cater to the needs of agencies, professionals, and small business owners, irrespective of their WordPress familiarity.

This Week in WordPress #271

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 9th October 2023.

345 - Don’t make websites for friends and family

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

It’s the 17th episode of our “Thinking the Unthinkable” series and our topic is “Don’t make websites for friends and family”. Do I even need to explain this episode?!?! If, like David and I, you stumbled into working on the web, then it's likely that friends and relations played some part in getting your career off the ground. Back-in-the-day there were no 'pros' and clients were just after someone who had a pulse and knew how to turn a computer on to build their site. This was nice. Now, the industry is highly skilled and professional, so is there any space for someone to work for their friends when there's more 'legitimate' places to find work? We discuss this and more on the podcast today.

This Week in WordPress #270

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 2nd October 2023.

344 - Dan Knauss on why you should harden WordPress

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Today we're joined by Dan Knauss, a technical content generalist at SolidWP (formerly iThemes). The episode focuses on the importance of hardening WordPress websites for enhanced security. Dan discusses their approach to security, which includes targeted security measures rather than trying to cover every potential vulnerability. They emphasise the need for timely updates and advocate for working with a reliable host that provides hardware and software firewalls. Dan also addresses the limitations of traditional security plugins, referring to WordPress malware scanners as "fundamentally flawed" and proposing an external line of security through application firewalls. The conversation highlights the upcoming rebranding of iThemes to SolidWP and touches on their premium security product, Solid Security, which prioritises tried and tested features over added "bolt-ons".

This Week in WordPress #269

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 25th September 2023.

343 - Is browser interoperability a threat to page building?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 13:00:00 +0000

This is the 16th episode of our "Thinking the Unthinkable" series and I think we have come up with our catchiest title ever... “Is browser interoperability a threat to page building?" - truly inspirational! Remember the good old days when no two browsers renders anything in the same way? You don't? You're lucky! It used to be the case that all of the browsers went their own way. The result was a spaghetti of code, with little variations for each of the browsers. This was a waste of our time, but it also held back the innovation with HTML and particularly CSS, for a decade or more. Thankfully though, that's behind us, and the browser vendors seems to be speaking the same language. This means that in the future the browsers will do so much more, with far less complexity. How much of a threat are browsers to Page Builders? Find out today on the podcast…

This Week in WordPress #268

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 18th September 2023.

342 - Thomas J Raef on protecting your website. Security mini series 3/4

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 12:00:00 +0000

This is third of four podcast episodes related to WordPress security. It's the third of our four-part security mini series. Prior to that, the other episodes featured Calvin Alkan as well as Akshat Choudhary. This is Thomas from, we watch your website giving his impression of the state of WordPress security. I did the spiel before, but I'm going to do it again in order to not put anybody's noses out of joint and to make it as fair as possible. I recorded four episodes with Calvin, Akshat, Thomas, and in a future episode, Dan Knauss from SolidWP. They all have that chance to explain the malware madness as we'll get into a little bit later. How WordPress security plugins do or don't, depending on your point of view, protect your WordPress website. Thomas is giving his opinion today and we go into loads of ground. We talk about such subjects as security plugin, and cleanup processes, previous attacks, challenges, and vulnerabilities, security features, Thomas' expertise, protecting your WordPress by blocking IPs, the motivations of hackers, and so much more.

341 - Is the WordPress community overrated?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 12:00:00 +0000

This in the 15th episode of our "Thinking the Unthinkable" series. Today we are asking... is the WordPress community overrated? What have we done? This could be the end of this podcast! Let’s hope nobody thinks we are trying to speak for the community, or that we even have a clue what the community truly is! We explore the diverse perspectives surrounding the WordPress community. From debates on diversity and inclusion to the avoidance of political discussions, we navigate the complexities and challenges faced by this ever-growing community. We also touch on the recent issues surrounding the handling of diversity at the European WordCamp, causing tensions to rise among community members. We begin by examining the difficulties in defining and understanding the WordPress community, recognising its immense user base in America and the UK. We share our personal experiences and observations, shedding light on the ebb and flow of community engagement, facing issues of churn, and questioning whether WordPress will maintain its relevance in the future. We also discuss the impact of online confrontations and the perception of fragmentation within the community, analysing the role of media coverage in amplifying conflicts.

This Week in WordPress #267

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 4th September 2023.

340 - Akshat Choudhary on the utility of WordPress firewalls and malware scanners. Security mini series 2/4

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 12:22:19 +0000

This is second of four podcast episodes related to WordPress security. For the first time ever (well second time I suppose!) I feel like I need to add some context to the show notes so that you understand the context of what I'm doing here. A little while ago there was some news in the WordPress space about the merits of using plugins for securing your WordPress website. Researchers (see the previous episode for more on this) had discovered ways in which the effectiveness of the plugins might be compromised. There were several posts on social media which amplified the issue, making it harder to gain an understanding of what happened, and when. I decided to reach out to a number of people to get 'their side of the story'. Today you're going to hear from Akshat Choudhary from Blogvault and Malcare putting his case for why WordPress firewalls and scanners are useful.

This Week in WordPress #266

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 28th August 2023.

339 - Are web design clients only interested in what they can see?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000

It is the 14th episode of our “Thinking the Unthinkable” series. The idea for today's topic came from our last episode in which we were talking about the pros and cons of no code builders. Here we’re asking "Are web design clients only interested in what they can see?", but it could have been "Are web designers responsible for the growth in DIY sites?". We explore the evolving landscape of web design and the growing trend of clients taking a more active role in designing their own websites. We discuss the challenges of balancing client expectations, user experience, performance, and accessibility. We also touch on the rise of page builders and DIY website building, examining the potential consequences and legal implications for those who lack the necessary knowledge and skills in areas such as accessibility. On a side note, we're looking for sponsors for the upcoming Page Builder Summit in September, so if you're interested, be sure to reach out. Also, please note that there will be a week off next week, but rest assured, we'll be back with episode two of our security mini series then. As always, we invite you to subscribe to the WP Builds podcast and leave your comments on our website.

This Week in WordPress #265

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 14th August 2023.

338 - Calvin Alkan on the state of WordPress security plugins. Security mini series 1/4

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 13:00:00 +0000

his is first of four podcast episodes related to WordPress security. For the first time ever, I feel like I need to add some context to the show notes so that you understand the context of what I'm doing here. A little while ago there was some news in the WordPress space about the merits of using plugins for securing your WordPress website. Researchers (Calvin being one of them) had discovered ways in which the effectiveness of the plugins might be compromised. I'll leave the audio (and transcript) of the podcast to explain the technicalities here, but there were several posts on social media which amplified the issue, making it harder to gain an understanding of what happened, and when. I decided to reach out to a number of people to get 'their side of the story'. Also a first for this podcast, I set some ground rules for the interviews to take place: Each participant (there are four in total, one per episode) was told who the other guests were Each participant was told that their episode would not be published until all four recordings had taken place Each participant was told that their episode would be published in a random order What you're listening to today is the first of that random publishing schedule. The other three episodes will come out in the following weeks. This was done to ensure that the guests did not have. a chance to listen to the other participants episode, and therefore had. a chance to 'better prepare'. With hindsight, which was likely overkill as all the guests were very thoughtful and polite. They do in some cases mention rival products and describe areas where they think that errors were made in code and communication. That being said, there was no general sense of mud slinging that I detected. The guests are (in random order): Calvin Alkan - Snicco Akshat Choudhary - Malcare Dan Knauss - iThemes (now SolidWP) Thomas J Raef - We Watch Your Website I'm going to keep my commentary here to a minimum to avoid getting embroiled in the debate, but there's some additional information about what we cover in the show notes of the post.

This Week in WordPress #264

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 7th August 2023.

337 - No code is a lie

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000

So you've been building websites for a while now and you've got really good at it. You don't really touch the code, but that's okay, because the tool that you're using promised that you would never have to. Erm... how's that working out in reality? I'm guessing that if this question resonates with you, you'll be interested in the podcast today. Is it possible to have tools which really allow you to create good, working websites with none, zero, nada, ziltch, no code at all? We talk about whether true no code is possible, if it's something to be desired and the reliance you develop for a specific tool. Oh, and of course there's AI coming for your job as well! If you're creating WordPress websites with the assistance of tools, this podcast is for you.

This Week in WordPress #263

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 24th July 2023.

336 - Roman Axelrod on standardising web development workflows

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today we have Roman Axelrod, a web developer from Israel. Roman joins us to share his experience running a web development agency, and his journey into the world of WordPress. He discusses the challenges his agency faced when working with third-party freelancers who created inconsistent designs; the frustrations he felt and what he did about it. To tackle this issue, Roman and his team developed a dev tool that allows them to share style guidelines with freelancers and ensure consistency in design elements. The tool includes features for testing and ensuring accurate designs. We talk about what this tool can do, as well as the fact that Roman is open to having discussions with other like-minded people about the direction the tool might take. It's an interesting chat and you can leave a comment on the post as well as finding the links mentioned in the show.

This Week in WordPress #262

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 17th July 2023.

335 - Affiliate marketing is disingenuous

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the 12th episode of our 'Thinking the Unthinkable' series. Today we shall be squirming in our seats as we talk about whether 'Affiliate marketing is disingenuous'. Affiliate marketing has never been our thing, but with making content there has to be some way to pay for the time. Certainly we have earned some commissions from it via our individual content. I think it fair to say we have struggled with it and here we are questioning whether it is a necessary or unnecessary evil. Is it a useful way for WordPress product owners to make some additional income? Perhaps you think that it's a sleazy way for marketers to hype products which they don't believe in? Maybe it's both, or neither! Have a listen to the podcast, and then leave is a comment.

This Week in WordPress #261

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 10th July 2023.

334 - Building a platform: helping developers commercialise their projects

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today we have Vova Feldman, the founder of Freemius. Vova is an entrepreneur with a passion for software development. He was introduced to WordPress by accident. While working as a software developer in the Israeli intelligence and doing startups on the side, Vova created a SaaS product as a hobby. People started requesting a WordPress plugin for his product, which sparked his curiosity about the platform. Vova delved into WordPress and created his first plugin, realising the potential of turning his side project into a WooCommerce solution. This led to building a platform to help developers easily commercialise their own passion projects - Freemius, a platform that simplifies the process of bringing products to market. The conversation is varied, covering two quite different subjects, podcasting (Vova's new podcast) and Freemius. If you're interested in selling your WordPress product, this podcast is worth a listen.

This Week in WordPress #260

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 3rd July 2023.

333 - No one cares what your website looks like!

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000

It is the 11th episode of our “Thinking the Unthinkable” series, and today's thought provoking title is “No one cares what your website looks like!”. There’s a number of articles with this title and similar sentiment expressed by many UX designers and SEO’s. With limited ways to judge the abilities of a web agency, many clients are likely to approach websites as if they were a piece of work in an art gallery. This can see them getting ripped off. It is hard for us not to do the same. We know first impressions matter, and we are always searching for visual inspiration too. We get into how UX, SEO, branding, call to actions (and more) can influence the route that you might take when creating a website. Check out the episode...

This Week in WordPress #259

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 3rd July 2023.

332 - Transitioning from clients to products in WordPress

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today we have a lovely conversation with Derek Ashauer. He's been working with WordPress for many years, and has gone through a few changes during that time. I suspect that many of you will really identify with this podcast. The idea that you're a web developer, plugin / theme / block author, content creator etc. might suit you for a while, but perhaps you've had itchy feet from time to time. Derek certainly has! He started out building websites in decades ago, but for a variety of reasons this did not seem to be 'the thing' that he wanted to do year after year. And so, in 2013 he decided to turn his attention into plugin development. Success (whatever that means) always seemed to be a little further into the future. Although his Sunshine Photocart plugin was doing fine, it was not the end of the road. You'll hear Derek explain that he's not that comfortable with marketing, having a more self deprecating demeanour (he fits right in here). So this podcast is all about listening to a nice person talking about how to transition from being an agency, dealing with clients, to being a product owner. Just lovely!

This Week in WordPress #258

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 19th June 2023.

331 - Why pay full price when we have GPL clubs?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

This is the 10th episode of our "Thinking the Unthinkable" series and today's thoroughly unsavoury thought is “Why pay full price when we have GPL clubs?”. I think to put things in perspective we need a bit of history. We tend to think of GPL clubs as a bit shady, but you could also argue that they serve as an essential consumer rights movement within WordPress. Let's start in the year 0. In the beginning was the Word. A few millennia later in the year 2003 WordPress comes along. It would not exist without the freedoms of the General Public Licence as it was a folk of b2/cafelog. It's build on the GPL and this allows for free use of code which sits on top of WordPress. But is this fair to the developers? Is it fair your clients? Are we all going to end up with malware infected plugins and themes which will wreak havoc on our site, or should we just talk a breath, calm down, and realise that this is all just fine? Find out what we think on the podcast today.

This Week in WordPress #257

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 12th June 2023.

330 - Get lots for free with Maxi Blocks

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

On the podcast we have Christiaan Pieterse from Maxi Blocks. If you've ever dug into WordPress block packs / suites then it's quite likely that what you're going to hear about Maxi Blocks today will be quite familiar, except one important thing - the pricing model. More on that in a minute. Maxi Blocks has all the blocks that you typical website needs. I could list them all here, but just click the link above and you'll find them. There's containers, headings, images, maps, groups, icons, sliders, all-the-things so to speak. The thing that's different here is that way that they're pitching the product. Maxi Blocks is free. There is no feature that is locked away. You have access to every block, every setting inside those blocks, no functionality is hidden behind a pro option. So, you're thinking, well this product won't last long. They'll go through their cash, give away everything and run out of road. Not so fast! They do have a pro version, but you're going to be paying only for pre-built designs and patterns. If you're curious about blocks, take a listen to the podcast, check out the Maxi Blocks site, and tell us what you think of the product in the comments.

329 - Thinking the unthinkable (TTUT). Episode 9: WordPress is too expensive

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

This is the 9th episode of our "Thinking the Unthinkable" series and today's unpalatable thought is… WordPress is too expensive? We can dismiss this as insane ramblings straightway? It’s free! But, it can be expensive to do anything out of the ordinary, although Site Editing is changing that! Is WordPress a trap for the naive DIYer? Cheap start, but a longer term hidden costs in hosting and maintenance? Or is it still possible to build something decent but at a low cost? What about the freedoms that the GPL provides, and (dare I say it?) the websites that sell premium plugins for knock down prices? It's an interesting chat and we hope that you enjoy it!

328 - What to do when you begin to think that you're splitting up with WordPress

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 25 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Today on the podcast we have Arnas Donauskas, who is a Product Owner at Hostinger. He's on the show to talk about something that I'm sure that we've all felt before… that feeling of not being sure that WordPress is the project that it once was, that the future is not what you'd like, and how you can move on and work on the web with something else. This is a tough subject for a podcast called WP Builds! The name implies that we're here come what may! I guess that the title is a little bit of clickbait, and perhaps a better title would be more like 'how do you get your WordPress mojo back?' WordPress site building and growth can be challenging, and quite often people lose their motivation to continue, and this is what we address… getting back your inspiration and desire to use WordPress and be a part of the community that surrounds it. Having said all of that, we cover a lot of ground about this topic and a whole bunch of other topics too.

This Week in WordPress #253

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 23 May 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 15th May 2023

327 - Thinking the unthinkable (TTUT). Episode 8: Is open source a liability?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 18 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000

On this 8th episode of "Thinking the Unthinkable" we are asking “is ‘open source’ a liability? This was prompted by a 2021 incident. A zero-day attack called Log4Shell that affected major players like Microsoft and Cloudflare. It's a chat about risk assessment really. Lots of levels with WordPress’ LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, PHP and MySQL). It seems quite remarkable that WordPress has worked so well for 20 years. So how do we 'sell' free, open source solutions to our clients, when most of them are from a world in which you need to pay for all-the-things?

This Week in WordPress #252

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 16 May 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 8th May 2023.

326 - James Giroux on workplace culture, team dynamics and leadership in WordPress companies

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 11 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today we have James Giroux and he's here to talk about a new project that he's set up called TeamWP. It's all about workplace culture, team dynamics and leadership in WordPress companies. We open up the conversation with a lengthy chat about the rich history that James has in the WordPress space. He's worked for lots of different companies in a multitude of different roles, some big, some small. He's had mixed experiences in these companies, feeling empowered and enabled in many roles, but also working in dysfunctional workplaces where he feels that his talents were not exploited to their fullest potential. Normally, the podcast guest's background would not be all that significant, but given the nature of the conversation today, it truly is. You see, the itch that James is trying to scratch with TeamWP is trying to figure out what a 'good' WordPress workplace looks like; what represents a 'good' company. Now James is not suggesting that he's got the answers to all these questions just yet. It's a work in progress, but TeamWP is on a mission to find out what all this means.

This Week in WordPress #251

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 09 May 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 1st May 2023.

325 - Thinking the unthinkable (TTUT). Episode 7: Designing in the browser is for amateurs

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 04 May 2023 12:30:00 +0000

It's the 7th in our “Thinking the Unthinkable” series where we attempt to rationalise controversial views on WordPress and web design? Today’s topic is… Designing in the browser is for amateurs. David thought this topic was about whether to use design software rather than jump in with a page builder or start amending a template. Nathan thought it was about how design tools are increasingly online and work in the browser leaving us not having to install software for our computer operating systems. We will cover both because more recently graphical tools that work in the browser are also capable of spitting out HTML code too. Please feel free to leave us a comment at the bottom of the post!

324 - Having a career in tech and WordPress with Fränk Klein

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today we have Fränk Klein, and he's here to discuss the important topic of making a career from using WordPress. Like any other career, in technology, there's really no replacement for knowledge. The more you know, the more likely you are to adapt to situations that arise. Some of those might be repetitive, but there's also the curve balls that life throws at you, and your knowledge can empower you when strange things happen. Fränk is all about acquiring new skills. Learning new things so that you can make yourself indispensable to the organisation that you work for. Fränk's premise is pretty simple… being better educated will give you a chance to earn more. We talk about how Fränk became a WordPress developer. What his framework is for moving through the software industry, what his current job market is like in the wider WordPress ecosystem. Essentially, the message from this podcast boils down to staying curious and keep learning as a priority.

This Week in WordPress #249

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 17th April 2023.

323 - Thinking the unthinkable (TTUT). Episode 6: If you use more than 10 plugins on a site, you are a cad and a scoundrel!

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the 6th episode of our "Thinking the Unthinkable" series where we attempt to rationalise controversial views on WordPress and web design. Today’s topic is, "If you use more than 10 plugins on a site, you are a cad and a scoundrel!" This is WP Builds humour for a chat about plugin strategy! We are sure most listeners will know plugins are only a method to deliver additional functionality to WordPress. They can be as complex as WooCommerce or as simple as the Hello Dolly plugin. As silly as it is to count the numbers, most of us are fascinated by what others use and are always reviewing the situation. So is there a sweet spot in the number of plugins you should use, and do you try to reduce plugin usage where possible? Find out what we think on the podcast...

This Week in WordPress #248

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 3rd April 2023.

322 - Why accessibility is so important and how you can do better with Nic Steenhout

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Accessibility is a topic which is getting much more attention these days, and rightly so. It's important for websites because it ensures that everyone, including people with disabilities and impairments in areas such as sight, hearing, motor difficulties, or cognitive limitations, can effectively use and engage with the website content. By making your WordPress websites more accessible, you're creating a more inclusive and welcoming online experience for all users, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. But how might you do that, and what are you looking for to improve the accessibility of the site that you're working on now? Nic Steenhout is an expert in this area and he's here to go through some things that need your attention right now.

321 - Thinking the unthinkable (TTUT). Episode 5: Website clients are impossible!

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the 5th episode of our "Thinking the Unthinkable" series, where we attempt to rationalise controversial views on WordPress and web design. Today’s topic is… Website Clients are Impossible! This could have been called "Web Designers are Impossible", as it’s about the sometimes tense relationship between those who commission websites and those who build them. Do we correctly set the expectations for our clients, or are we opening ourselves up to criticism because they're not at all clear on how our process works? Are we working with "the client always knows best" model, and does this really give them what they need? Should we rather explain to them we're the expert and they should jolly well listen every time we speak? It's a fun conversation and no doubt there's going to be a lot of food for thought!

This Week in WordPress #247

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 27th March 2023.

320 - Javier Casares on WP Vulnerability, the API / project for WordPress vulnerabilities

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Today, it's all about WordPress security and what you can do with the WP Vulnerability API / project. In the podcast you're going to meet the wonderful Javier, and I thought that I'd let him take over the show notes, as he wrote such wonderful notes prior to our chat. So… over to Javier… Hello, I'm Javier, and I'm around the Internet since 1994. In 1997, I created my first website, and in 2005, I created my first WordPress (with WordPress 1.5). Today we are talking about WPVulnerability.com, a project focused on democratizing WordPress security information. This project is a 100% open and free API, for access by any WordPress user, with the sole purpose of improving the security of a site, thanks to this information. Although is an API, with some colleagues, we created the WPVulnerability plugin, that checks your site looking for vulnerabilities and showing them in the Site Health section. Find out more by checking out the podcast.

This Week in WordPress #246

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 20th March 2023.

319 - Thinking the unthinkable (TTUT). Episode 4: Do we even need WordPress?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 13:00:00 +0000

This seems a little odd, 'Do we even need WordPress', given that we're a WordPress podcast. But, there's actually quite a lot to be said here. Both David and I have been using WordPress for years (David, quite a bit longer), and perhaps it's time to think about whether WordPress is always the right choice for our website building projects. If the site is a simple brochure site that's really never going to get updates, is WordPress really the right option? After all, you'll be needing to maintain the website, patch for security, update themes and plugins, when all that you really needed were a few lines of HTML, CSS as perhaps some JavaScript. David's been exploring taking his sites more in the 'static' direction lately, and whilst you can do this with WordPress and some plugins, David's finding the joys of writing his own HTML and getting back into what the w3c have to say. It's a fun chat and something that you might not have looked at closely, so go and have a listen and leave us a comment.

This Week in WordPress #245

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 13th March 2023.

318 - Rob Howard on what they're doing at MasterWP

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Deal Alert: Get 10% off MasterWP Workshops using the coupon code 'wpbuilds10' - it's valid until 15th April 2023. On the podcast today, we have Rob Howard. No, not the film director, but the one from MasterWP. If you've not heard of MasterWP before, then you're missing out as they're on a mission to create a heap of WordPress related content. They've got workshops, tutorials, a fast-growing blog and a podcast! The podcast today is in (more or less) two halves. First up, we chat about the community that Rob and his team are trying to build up in the WordPress space. Then we talk about the MasterWP workshops, and how they're creating workshops and courses on a very regular basis. It's an interesting chat with Rob, and I hope you enjoy it!

This Week in WordPress #244

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 6th March 2023.

317 - Thinking the unthinkable (TTUT). Episode 3: Page Builders are the scourge of the internet!

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 13:00:00 +0000

So, there's no denying that WordPress Page Builders have taken the community by storm over the last decade. Whether you use them or not, they're popular, and dare I say it, used on more WordPress sites than site not using a Page Builder? But, as the title of this episode says, are they the scourge of the internet? We chat about this topic from a whole variety of different angles. Do they typically add bloat to the HTML that we output? Do they offer clients a poor, and inconsistent, experience? Are they difficult to scale up for larger projects? Do they keep up with the technologies that modern browsers are introducing? Do they devalue our profession? There's a lot there, right? And there's a lot more in the podcast to get your teeth into. Check it out.

This Week in WordPress #243

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 27th February 2023.

316 - Kevin Geary talks about Automatic CSS

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Some of us love working with CSS. It's fun, pretty easy to learn, and gets the job done. Others… not so much. It's boring, hard to master, and you end up doing things incorrectly all the time! Over the years, there's been many attempts to make CSS easier to write and work with… literally dozens. Today on the show we have Kevin Geary, the founder of Automatic CSS (ACSS), which is a utility framework for WordPress page builders. Its aim is to make modern CSS available for all to use, and to implement this inside of the tools that you're already using - Page Builders, and to grow the number of page builders which they support. Currently, they cover Oxygen and Bricks, but hope to grow to cover Gutenberg, Zion Builder and Cwicly. The idea is that they do a lot of the heavy lifting for you, so that much of the regular work that you might have to create right at the start of a project is taken care of. We get into what the project can do and how it can save you time. What can it control and how 'heavy' it is, or isn't?

This Week in WordPress #242

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 20th February 2023.

315 - Thinking the unthinkable (TTUT). Episode 2: A.I. will kill us!

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000

We asked ChatGPT the question "could artificial intelligence (A.I.) kill the web design industry?". This is what we got back... "It is unlikely that artificial intelligence (A.I.) will completely kill the web design industry. While A.I. and automation tools may be able to handle certain aspects of web design, it is unlikely that they will be able to fully replace the creativity and problem-solving skills of human web designers. Web design involves more than just technical skills; it also requires an understanding of user experience, branding, and visual design principles. These are areas where A.I. may not be able to fully replace human designers." Did you read all of the words like 'unlikely', fully replace' in that sentence? We're doomed! Seriously though, there are going to be some pretty radical shifts in how we build websites in the years to come and some of that shifting will be to do with A.I. and the abilities it brings to bear. Find out what we think in the podcast this week.

This Week in WordPress #241

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which began Monday 6th February 2023.

314 - Imajinn adding images to your website with AI

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000

So this is all about AI, so buckle up as it's all the hotness! It's not the usual AI hotness though, because this podcast is not about ChatGPT and how it'll likely break the world. No, this is about how you can use AI to create works of art for your WordPress website, or for any reason, in fact. I interviewed Josh Dailey and Aaron Edwards, who have a service called Imajinn. It's an AI for creating images and there's a WordPress plugin which allows you to do all the magic in the WordPress admin, which is nice. We spend some time at the start getting to know Josh and Aaron and their background in the WordPress space, which, as you'll hear, is really rather extensive. We then move onto the fascinating subject of how AI art is actually created. I've got to say that I'm pretty blown away with how it all works. It's basically guessing pixel-by-pixel what should come next. It all starts with a prompt, and then the AI tries to work out what the next layer of pixels should be, and it keeps spreading out like this until it decides that it's done enough. Think ripples on a pond. Hey presto, instant (almost) artwork! Is this scary or just the best thing ever? Listen to the podcast and leave a comment to tell us your thoughts.

This Week in WordPress #240

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 30th January 2023.

313 - Thinking the unthinkable (TTUT). Episode 1: Certified

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the very first episode in our sparkling new series that we are calling "Thinking the Unthinkable", or TUTT for short, which I quite like! Here we challenge ourselves to answer (or at least rationalise) provocative statements or critical opinions of WordPress and our glorious website building profession. We are gently easing ourselves in with today’s topic, which is… "Website builders should be certified" (like - what proper professionals are)! By "certified" we mean officially recognised as possessing certain qualifications or meeting certain standards. Not legally declared insane and committed to a psychiatric institution. What might this look like? What should be included? Do we even need anything like this? Is there anything in WordPress trying to tackle this? Listen to the podcast and tell us what you think.

This Week in WordPress #239

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 23rd January 2022.

312 - Zach Swinehart on how to get more done, aka being more productive - Part 2

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 13:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today we have Zach Swinehart in the second of an, unexpectedly, two-part episode. We talked for so long that I decided it was best as two episodes instead of a really long single episode. You really need to listen to episode 310 of the podcast before this one, so go do that now if you have not already! We start off today where we left off last time, with my addiction to email and whether I could conquer that, then moving on to talk about Zach's framework for Deep Work which is step by step guide to helping you to get your concentration back in a world that's constantly trying to steal your attention. Zach was kind enough to write his own show notes for this episode and so rather than reinvent the wheel, you'll find them by heading to the podcast page.

This Week in WordPress #238

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 16th January 2023.

311 - Summing up the WP Builds 'WordPress Business Bootcamp'' series

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the last episode (sigh) in our Business Bootcamp series. Over the last year, we have been attempting to question everything we know about building WordPress sites and running a web design businesses. We looked at the entire process, from meeting our first client to helping them to support their site. We’ve tried to contrast approaches by looking at the traditional project (waterfall) where we are hired to build the finished (website) "product", and an agile approach, where we will try to use online SEO and UX data gathered, to iteratively improve the site as an ongoing collaboration with the client. Here we have set ourselves a few questions in an attempt to sum up what we have learned over this series and, more generally, our time in the website building industry. It's been a fun ride!

This Week in WordPress #237

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 9th January 2022.

310 - Zach Swinehart on how to get more done, aka being more productive - Part 1

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 13:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today we have Zach Swinehart in the first of an (unexpectedly) two-part episode. We talked for so long that I decided it was best as two episodes instead of a really long single episode. "Productivity hacks" feel a bit like snake oil to me at this point. We've all heard a million of them and they never seem to work. Today's episode should affect your productivity. It's not a "weird productivity tip that your doctor does not want you to know about". Instead, it's a fundamental approach that we can take to our work as designers and developers to prioritise high-quality focus on the right stuff. Zach is going to go deep on the concept of "strategic deep work" and how you can leverage it to really get meaningful results in your freelancing business. Whether you're a soloist freelancer or you're trying to scale your agency, you'll get something out of this episode.

This Week in WordPress #236

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 2nd January 2023.

309 - Traditional v Agile

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 14:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the penultimate episode in our Business Bootcamp series. Usually, this is where I write... "where we relearn everything we know about building WordPress sites and running a web design business from start to finish". But if you are joining us now, you probably need to go back a year to season one! We are on Season 5, which is the last in this Bootcamp series and is about what happens after the website build. This is episode 5. Today we are talking about Future Proofing (our tech based business and maybe our clients’ sites). We're supposed to be talking about Traditional (Waterfall) v Agile, but as you'll hear we get slightly derailed and go off piste for quite a bit of the podcast, which is fun! We cover: Reduce or embrace dependencies? Should we offer long term support? What kind of efforts do we put into making sure that we're keeping our knowledge and skills up to date? Check it out...

This Week in WordPress #235

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 12th December 2022.

308 - Up your WooCommerce game with Barn2 plugins

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 13:00:00 +0000

So we have Katie Keith on the podcast today to talk about what they're doing over at Barn2 plugins. First off, we tackle the history of the company, and importantly, why they have such a peculiar name! We then get into their journey into the WooCommerce space and how that's enabled them to grow into the small, but mighty team that they are today. We then list out some of their more popular plugins and Katie explains what each one does and when you might need to deploy it. Lastly, we get into acquisitions. The WordPress space has been literally full of them over the last couple of years and WooCommerce plugins have been fairly popular 'buys' for some of the bigger players. Katie talks about this and how they wish to stay the course and keep the business going nuder their own steam.

307 - Upselling services

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 13:00:00 +0000

So you're in the business of selling WordPress websites? If you are in that business, then I can guarantee you that there's more money to be made than just getting the site done and then moving on. Today it's all about the upsells that we might offer. We go through a list of things that we've tried in the past, some of which were profitable and easy to do, others of which were hard and lost us money. It's a lottery to be honest! Things that one person excels at, others might be loathed to do. Website hosting, email hosting, design, custom development, social media, content creation, SEO, optimisation... I could go on. In fact, I (we) do in the episode today. Have a listen and then head over to the post and leave us a comment.

306 - Application & database hosting at Kinsta

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 13:00:00 +0000

So in the last episode of the WP Builds podcast we were talking about how WordPress hosting has changed. Today it feels like more of the same. Kinsta has been offering managed WordPress hosting for years, and has built up a good business on top of the world's most popular CMS. Well, time and tide wait for no one, and Marcel Bootsman plus Maciek Palmowski are on the podcast today to explain about how they've got a new offering, which is not specifically about WordPress at all. So what have they got then? Application & database hosting is what they've got. Did you not see the title of the podcast?!?! What does that mean? It means that you can now host pretty much anything on the Kinsta platform; you're no longer restricted to WordPress. If you can imagine it, you can now host it with them. What does this mean for the future of the company and their current WordPress customers? Find out in the podcast.

This Week in WordPress #232

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 21st November 2022.

305 - How hosting has changed

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another in the Business Bootcamp series where we relearn everything we know about building WP sites and running a web design business from start to finish. Today we're talking about the way that hosting has changed over the years. In much the same way that you look at a website from 1999 and wonder how that was ever allowed to exist, the same is true for the technology stack that is hosting our WordPress websites. Perhaps, back in the day, you ran servers of your own in your office or house. You then likely moved to something like shared hosting and a VPS. Now we've got managed WordPress hosting companies and cloud services which allow to spin up servers in an instant with just the resources we need. Add to that the interest in headless WordPress, and well, we've got a show on our hands and plenty to talk about.

This Week in WordPress #231

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 14th November 2022.

304 - Steve Burge on running PublishPress and buying other plugins

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 13:00:00 +0000

I love a good story, and that's what we've got for you today. It's Steve Burge from PublishPress. Steve's had a long history working with open source software, and, as you'll hear, he's not going anywhere. The conversation kicks off with a bit of background about Steve. We talk about his journey with a whole variety of FOSS tools such as Joomla, Drupal, Magento and WordPress. I know this journey well, as perhaps do many of you. There was a time when there really was a no clear 'winner' in the open source CMS market. Many of the platforms were experiencing growth and there was no hint that any one solution would grow to dominate in terms of market share. Given that the landscape had so many popular choices, Steve decided he was going to create a business around serving them all, and so OS Training began. We learn about how Steve tried to grow the business, and ultimately why he moved on to pastures new. We then get into the things that Steve's involved with now, namely PublishPress and MetaSlider, which is a new acquisition. All in all then, this is a lovely conversation with a very thoughtful developer. I hope you enjoy the podcast.

This Week in WordPress #230

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 7th November 2022.

303 - Monitoring websites for clients

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another in the Business Bootcamp series where we relearn everything we know about building WP sites and running a web design business from start to finish. Today we are talking about 'Monitoring websites for clients'. Relationships with clients after a traditional project rarely end with the site going live. Those who take an agile approach will not have clients continuously responding to user behaviour changes. What should we be monitoring for clients? There's more to this than you might think! And we get into a lot of the tools that we've tried before to make all of this happen. There's a full list in the show notes.

This Week in WordPress #229

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 31st October 2022.

302 - Eric Karkovack on the merits of canonical plugins in WordPress

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 13:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today we have Eric Karkovack. He's been in the WordPress space for ages and contributes in a whole variety of ways. I've been wanting to get him on the show for ages, but our calendars kept colliding, until today! We talk about two, not related, subjects. The first is WebP images, and the second is canonical plugins. You might not have heard of WebP images, but they're all the rage! They are / were a project which came out of Google, and their intention was to create a new image format which would create images of high quality, but of a smaller file size. They've not yet made it into WordPress Core. Why is that? We also talk about 'Canonical Plugins' which is a proposal (see the links below in the show notes on the website) to increase the footprint of what WordPress can do, without increasing the footprint of what WordPress can do. That makes sense, right?!?! These canonical plugins would offer some pretty essential features, they would be tested thoroughly with WordPress Core versions, would receive frequent updates and therefore would have kudos; they're more or less guaranteed to work out of the box. Eric and I get into this all as well...

This Week in WordPress #228

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 24th October 2022.

301 - Maintenance

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

We all do maintenance for our WordPress website clients, right? But what do you cover and what does a client expect? That's the basis of the podcast today... There are many things that you 'could' cover, but many things that perhaps don't want to. Perhaps you know that you're not a security expert, or that configuring your server is a little out of scope. So how do you decide what's in and what's out? Also, we're in an era of 'no-code'. Clients are constantly being bombarded by messages saying that you can have a website which you can build yourself with no experience. How does this play into the equation of what a client will expect from you? Solutions like Wix and Squarespace make this promise a reality and it's no doubt a conversation that you're going to need to combat at some point. Join us on the podcast today to see what we think about this and what we've done in the past...

This Week in WordPress #227

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 17th October 2022.

300 - Rethink what WooCommerce Subscriptions can do with the Subscription Force plugin

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

It's no secret that the world is adopting the model of subscription pricing. If you're my age, then you remember a time when almost nothing was based upon subscriptions. The technology simply made it impractical; there were no credit cards, the internet did not exist, and you just didn't see examples around you. Fast forward (a few decades!), and now they're everywhere. The banking / payments systems have all been built to make this trivial to set up and deploy to the entire world over the internet. WooCommerce has a plugin called WooCommerce Subscriptions which will allow you to get started, but it's limited in what it can do. Enter Subscription Force, a new WordPress plugin which will put your subscriptions on a different level. You can do so much with this, truly. Today we interview Marius Vetrici and Andrei Haret, who are behind Subscription Force to hear what it's all about and how it works.

This Week in WordPress #226

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 10th October 2022.

299 - When the client turns web designer (although we hardly talk about that)

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

With all these no code options, do you find your clients are becoming experts and no longer needing you? We try (and fail) to talk about this today and end up going on about JAMStack instead! It's a serious point though. Page Builders and Gutenberg have opened up the website creation process to a whole new audience, and it brings into question what we do as WordPress web developers / builders that make us worthwhile. What can you say to the client to make you seem like value for money in a time when 'affordability' is more important than ever, and when many of the tasks that used to be 'out of scope' for non-technical users, is not possible in an easy-to-use interface? Go listen...

This Week in WordPress #225

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 3rd October 2022.

298 - Make your website voice enabled, with Convoworks

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

So voice enabled home are now a thing. It's pretty likely that if you don't have a voice enabled device now, you will at some point in the near future. You speak, and they respond. It's pretty cool. But you might have noticed that there are limits to what they can do, and there are ways you learn to speak to these devices to get the best out of them. It's a bit like how you use Google. You don't type in ordinary language; you use Google specific language. What if it were possible to have the capabilities that voice enabled devices bring to the internet to a WordPress website? That would be cool, right? It would be, but the downside is that it's really rather hard to make all of this work, and that's where Convoworks steps in. They've got a GUI to make the job of doing all of this as easy as possible. Tihomir Dmitrović is on the podcast today to explain how it works, when you might use it and how it can benefit your website. Check it out.

This Week in WordPress #224

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 26th September 2022.

297 - Dealing with changing staff and new management

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

What happens when your client suddenly has new staff members that you need to interact with? It might be a really smooth transition with nothing to worry about, but it might not. Old relationships may need to be rebuilt, and common understandings and goals about the website might need to be reworked. It's even possible that your communications were not written down and you suddenly need to think about the entire project once more with new staff. What if you just don't get along? What can you do then to ensure that you don't lose the client? What can you do to keep things working for you both? We have some ideas for you on the podcast today. Go listen...

This Week in WordPress #223

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 19th September 2022.

296 - Gutenberg, FSE, Block Themes (Variants), Blocks, Rich Tabor on the whole lot

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

So if you've kept up with the latest developments in WordPress then you'll have heard the words / phrases 'Gutenberg', 'FSE', 'Block Themes', 'Blocks' and a lot more. You'll also likely have heard of our guest on the podcast today, Rich Tabor. He's been in the WordPress space for many years working in the theme space, but now he's shifted over to all the 'new things', and is making waves. He's got some monumental projects on the go (see the links on the WP Builds post for this episode), and is on the podcast today to talk about where WordPress is at right now and what he's hoping for in the future. It's a lovely interview with a very thoughtful guest, and if you're trying out the 'new WordPress things', or are just looking for a reason why you should, then this episode is for you!

This Week in WordPress #222

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 12th September 2022.

295 - Website documentation and support

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another in the Business Bootcamp series where we relearn everything we know about building WordPress sites, and running a web design business from start to finish. We are on Season 4 which is a short season looking at training clients. Today we are talking about website documentation and support. When we hand over a website, are we obliged to support it into the future, or can we just hand it over and be done with it? If we are going to support it, is there some standard of documentation we need to provide? Paper based, videos, in-person. I suspect that we've all got different ways of handling this, so check out the podcast to see what we do. BONUS, it's a short episode and you'll be done with it in no time!

294 - How might we fix the WordPress notifications problem?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

If you've used WordPress for any length of time and use plugins, it's highly likely that you've seen notifications in the backend which you did not expect. Perhaps they were ads, or upsells for things which are already installed. WordPress notifications serve a purpose. They are there for a very good reason, to notify you of things that you ought to be aware of. You just published a post. Something needs updating. That kind of thing. But not all the notifications that we see are the kind that you might call 'essential' or 'useful'. This goes back to the fact that the WordPress notifications system was not really designed to be used in the variety of ways that ingenious developers have been able to use them. It's a bit like cookies. They we created to maintain state on a website, and then developers figured out a whole raft of other uses for them, some of them somewhat undesirable. The system was created and then it was warped and reused in alternative ways. So it is with WordPress notifications. Brian Coords is on the podcast today to talk through his thoughts on the WordPress notifications systems and how it might be improved so stop its true purpose being misused.

293 - Understanding the client’s training needs

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another in the Business Bootcamp series where we relearn everything we know about building WordPress sites, and running a web design business from start to finish. We are taking contrasting approaches to getting our new businesses running and our first client’s site built. Today we're talking about what you, or don't do when handing over the site in terms of training. Do you prepare reams and reams of documents which carefully outline the ways to achieve all-the-things, and hand it to them in a big binder? Do you make videos for the client so that they can see what they need to do? Perhaps you react after the fact and wait until the client comes to you with specific queries, which you answer one at a time? Or maybe, just maybe, you don't do much at all and hope that the client figures it all out for themselves and leaves you alone to get on with the next website? Whatever it is, we'd love for you to listen to the podcast and then leave us a comment about how your process differs or aligns with ours.

This Week in WordPress #221

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 15th August 2022.

292 - Why WPCodeBox should be in your WordPress plugin lineup

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today we have WPCodeBox plugin developer Ovidiu Maghetiu, and he's here to explain how it works and what it can do, and it can do... a lot! WPCodeBox is turning out to be one of those plugins that you know that you're going to use for years to come. What I really like about this plugin is that it's a conduit for your imagination. Many plugins offer you a pathway for achieving a particular task. You use it to achieve one or two things. WPCodeBox is designed to be an empty container which you fill up with your (or other peoples) ideas. It's all about snippets at its heart. You can add snippets for PHP, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, SaaS to your website and in many cases reduce the plugin footprint as a result. Check out the podcast to find out more...

This Week in WordPress #220

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 8th August 2022.

291 - The launch

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

290 - Using no code solutions as your superpower

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

This Week in WordPress #219

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 25th July 2022.

289 - Legal stuff

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000

This Week in WordPress #218

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 18th July 2022.

288 - The importance of making your website accessible

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000

So on the podcast today we have Amber Hinds and she's here to use her expertise to explain how and why WordPress websites need to be accessible. It's a really important topic at the moment. There seems to be a groundswell of understanding that the web really does need to be made available to all, and that means thinking about all the people who might be visiting your site. So that's people who are using screen readers, people consuming videos who are hard of hearing, and so much more. We talk about what accessibility is and what comes under its purview. Is it something that you need to do under law or is it something that you can leave until later? There's a lot more to this than meets to eye, and it's well worth a listen if you're new to all this, or if you've already started your accessibility journey.

This Week in WordPress #217

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 11th July 2022.

This Week in WordPress #216

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 4th July 2022.

286 - Living the life that working in tech can allow

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000

This Week in WordPress #215

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 06:00:00 +0000

285 - Performance testing during the build

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another in the Business Bootcamp series where we relearn everything we know about building WP sites and running a web design business from start to finish. We are on the third episode of Season 3 where we are looking at The Technical Build. And today we are discussing 'Performance testing during the build'. Here we are primarily thinking about front and back end technical performance, but we will also touch on things related to the design technical issues too. So what things do we do to test performance and what tools have we come across to help with this vital job. Find out by listening to the podcast.

This Week in WordPress #214

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 20th June 2022.

284 - Strattic and Elementor talk about the recent acquisition

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

So I'm going to keep this brief, as this podcast was a little bit of a scoop, which we don't often get! Last week it was announced that Elementor (the page builder) had bought Strattic (the headless hosting company). I thought that this was an interesting purchase and I wanted to know more. Very quickly I was able to get hold of the co-founder of Strattic, Miriam Schwab, and Amitai Gat, the product organisation lead at Elementor. This episode is all about this recent news. How did it come about? What's in it for both parties? What happens next? It would be good to point out that the day after this episode was recorded, the news of Elementor laying off some employees broke, but as this had not yet happened, this is not covered. Go check out the podcast...

283 - The web designer’s tech stack

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

The web designer’s tech stack. We last talked about the website building platform we might use for this project. Here we are widening this and look at the basic essential hardware and software we might need to start our business. So it's all the 'stuff' that you have around you, both physical objects like a computer and a phone, as well as the software that you might be using. When you get into it, it's pretty amazing just how much stuff there is that you 'need'. Way more than I thought. It's also interesting what you don't need; either because it's not essential, or because it got replaced over time with something else. It's a fun episode, and if any of the things that we discuss resonate with you, please leave a comment on the site...

This Week in WordPress #213

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 6th June 2022.

282 - Put dynamic content on your website with the If-So plugin

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

This Week in WordPress #212

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 06:00:00 +0000

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 30th May 2022.

281 - Choosing our website building tools

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

This Week in WordPress #211

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 31 May 2022 06:00:00 +0000

280 - Need some design inspiration? Try Extendify's pattern collection

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 26 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

So you've tried Gutenberg, and you might like to or you might not! But one thing that you cannot really argue about is that it's got some room for improvement. During the last few release cycles there's been more and more talk about block patterns and how they're going to make WordPress website building more straightforward. Block patterns are a collection of blocks that have been built and saved away for future use. So think about a typical use case, you have a hero section of your website that you might use over and over again. You build it one time, adding in a variety of blocks, and once you're happy, you save it and then later you can add it into any other part of your website with the click of a button. But here's the problem. The block editor is still a little but, how shall we say it... fun to use. It's got some quirks and you might not find it as easy as you'd wish to get pixel perfect patterns. Step in Extendify. They have a suite of pre-made block patterns which you can use. It's really all about making life simple. They're all built on top of WordPress Core blocks so there's no lock in and you can use them to learn how to build your own block patterns.

279 - Design Aesthetics

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 19 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Another episode of the WordPress Business Bootcamp where we try to go right back to the start and unpick the process of building sites for clients. Today we're on to the tricky subject of 'Design Aesthetics'! Aesthetics affect a brand's credibility and perception. The look and feel is probably the thing that first hit us first and is most important to our clients. But the problem is that aesthetics are subjective, there is no agreed way to deliver such things and we have to find some way to avoid design by committee (the client seeking outside parties) or the loudest voice winning without reference to the overall goals. So how we might do this is the subject of the podcast today. Remember that there's a dozen other episodes in this series prior to this, but we'd love to get your thoughts on this one... tell us where you get your inspiration and how you handle this with your clients.

This Week in WordPress #209

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 17 May 2022 06:00:00 +0000

278 - Builderius, a new and innovative way to create your WordPress website

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 12 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

So there's loads of WordPress tools out there that will help you create your WordPress websites. Chances are that you've tried out a few and have some favourite which you use most of the time. New tools are coming out all of the time and this episode is about one of those new tools... Builderius. I can already here you starting to sigh. You're thinking that there's no need for another tool, there's already too many and they all do pretty much the same thing. Well Volodymyr Denchyk is here to try to explain why Builderius is different. And, well, he's got a point. This is not a Page Builder like you might have used before. It's more... what's the word... technical. It needs more from you, the website builder, and it return it promises that it'll give you almost unlimited possibilities back. It's it point, click, drag and save? No. Does that mean that it's not worth looking at? Also, no. I think that it's got a place, especially if you want to make everything exactly as you want it. So, a technical episode, but well worth a listen. I just love it when new things like this come along.

This Week in WordPress #208

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 10 May 2022 06:00:00 +0000

This week's WordPress news for the week commencing Monday 2nd May 2022.

277 - User Experience and User Interface

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 05 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

This Week in WordPress #207

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 03 May 2022 06:00:00 +0000

276 - Creating online courses fast with Wishlist Member's new Courses add-on

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

This Week in WordPress #206

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0000

This week's WordPress news for the week commencing 18th April 2022.

275 - Creating a brand

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another in the Business Bootcamp series where we relearn everything we know about building WordPress sites and running a web design business from start to finish. We are on Season 2 where we are looking at The Design Process. Today we are discussing "Creating a brand". With so much to take in, we needed to split the subject up into seven, easy to understand, sections. So take a listen to the podcast and hit up the comments if you think that we missed anything.

This Week in WordPress #205

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0000

This week's WordPress news for the week commencing Monday 11th April 2022.

274 - How you can make your website have a smaller carbon footprint

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

When I drive my car, I'm highly aware of the impact that my driving is having. I can hear the engine rumble, I can smell the gases that are coming from the exhaust. I know for a fact that this is not good for the environment. I'm burning energy and it's causing pollution. When I'm browsing the internet, this is the environmental impact that I'm feeling... nothing. Literally zero. I almost never connect the fact that my browsing and the websites that I create have an environmental impact. My computers are shiny, my phone screen has rounded edges and looks really nice. How could they possibly do any damage to the environment, and even if they did, my part is so small that it does not matter... right? Perhaps not. The statistics tell another story, and it's not something that we can be complacent about. Today I'm chatting with Marco Berrocal from Green Geeks, which is a WordPress website host which has a focus upon hosting with the impact on the environment at the forefront of their offering. We talk about what we can do to reduce our internet carbon footprint and how we can build websites which cause less pollution.

This Week in WordPress #204

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0000

This week's WordPress news for the week commencing Monday 4th April 2022.

273 - How do we get our website copy?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today we continue our WordPress Business Bootcamp series. Now we're trying to figure out "How do we get our website copy?". It's a thorny issue and I'm pretty certain that this problem has held up one or other of your website builds in the past. Who should create the content that goes on the site? Should it be you, a professional copywriter, an SEO expert or perhaps we leave that to the client and just place Lorem placeholders in until they're ready? The problem though is that the text is really crucial for the success of a website, and therefore it's crucial to get it right. Not only will Google like it, but the way that your site looks, the structure of it all hangs on how the words fit in the overall design that you've decided upon. So listen to the podcast as we discuss this topic and leave some feedback...

This Week in WordPress #203

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0000

This week's WordPress news for the week commencing Monday 28th March 2022

272 - Sell digital products with Lemon Squeezy

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 12:00:00 +0000

On the podcast today we have JR Farr and Gilbert Pellegrom from a new platform called Lemon Squeezy. Lemon Squeezy is a SaaS based platform with a WordPress integration. Which enables you to sell digital products online? So things like PDFs, eBooks, software licensing... anything you can think of really. If it's possible to package it up and sell it directly on your website, Lemon Squeezy is here to help with that. It makes running a digital products business easier by taking away some of the boring tasks. Check out the podcast...

This Week in WordPress #202

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 06:00:00 +0000

This week's WordPress news for the week commencing Monday 21st March 2022.

271 - How do we structure our clients' websites?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another in the Business Bootcamp series where we relearn everything we know about building WordPress sites and running a web design business from start to finish. We're on series 2, episode 2. "How do we structure our clients' websites?" We're trying to figure out which parts of a website does our client really need from the outset. There's hundreds of things that we can do, but as the budget is tight, what are the things that we're going to suggest that the client implement to get the most from this fledgling site? Do they need something specific in the header? What about lead magnets or landing pages? Which pages are essential at the start and how are we going to measure the success of what we're building over time? There's a lot in here, and it may be that you've in a habit of doing things in a certain way, and this conversation might make you stop and have a rethink about the structure of your clients' websites. Go listen...

This Week in WordPress #201

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 07:00:00 +0000

This week's WordPress news for the week commencing Monday 14th March 2022

270 - Make your website international with WPML

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 13:00:00 +0000

So your WordPress website is up and running. You're growing. The website is getting noticed. Wonderful. You add in some products as well, and it keeps growing. Even more wonderful. Then you hit a wall. The language barrier. Your site has reached the natural boundaries of who can access the content on your site because it's only in your native language. This is fine, if that's the only audience you ever want to reach. But why would you do that? One of the best parts of an online business is that it's not constrained by geography. Anyone, anywhere in the world can see your site. But can they read it? Today on the podcast we talk about the WPML plugin for WordPress and how it can make your site international; translated for all the world to consume. Go listen to the podcast...

This Week in WordPress #200

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 07:00:00 +0000

This week's WordPress news for the week commencing Monday 7th March 2022

269 - What does a web design process look like?

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another in the Business Bootcamp series where we relearn everything we know about building WordPress sites and running a web design business from start to finish. We're on Season 2, Episode 1, and it's all about what the whole web design / build process might look like. As is so often the case we're wearing many, many hats in the work that we do, and that's really what this episodes emphasises. How to we set the expectations, get the designs, understand the mood, decide upon sources of traffic, think about SEO, agree on colours and fonts. See, I told you you'd need many hats! We cover what we've done in the past and what we think might work for us going forward in our WordPress website businesses. Have a listen to the podcast...

This Week in WordPress #199

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 07:00:00 +0000

This week's WordPress news for the week commencing Monday 28th February 2022

268 - What is the HeroPress Network with Cate and Topher DeRosia

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 13:00:00 +0000

WP Builds is all about the WordPress community, but we're not alone in that. There are many places that you can hang out to find out what's going on, news updates, product launches and stories about members of the community. HeroPress is one such place, and it's been putting out great content about members of the community for years. Today on the podcast we have Cate and Topher DeRosia, the founders and curators of HeroPress as they talk about their plans to expand so that you can find all the WordPress content your heart desires in as few places as possible. It's a lovely episode with a couple of really excellent members of our community. Go have a listen...

267 - Where’s the next client coming from? - Series 1 / Episode 6

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 13:00:00 +0000

To stay in business, you need to keep working. That usually means more clients. But where does this never ending conveyor belt of clients come from? What can you do to avoid gaps in your work roster? There's no magic bullet, and likely there's disappointment along the way. But you'll get into a pattern of gaining work at some point, but it's good to discuss some of the things that we've tried before. Find out what they might be in the Podcast today...

This Week in WordPress #197

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0000

This week's WordPress news for the week commencing Monday 14th 2022

266 - Why do people hack websites? With Robert Abela

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 13:00:00 +0000

So today we're talking about security, but not what you might expect. This episode is not about the features which are in a WordPress security plugin. This is about the very nature of hacking and the issues that face us all online. What do people do hacking at all? It's a pretty reasonable question! It's now simply assumed that the internet can be a dangerous place; your details could be stolen, your website could be hacked. But why? What's in it for the hackers? Robert Abela is on the podcast today to discuss this and many other topics, and it's a really interesting chat? What security posture should you adopt based upon what you do. It's somewhere between 'do nothing' and 'live in a bunker'! What software is out there which might be worth looking into for all your security needs, and what resources does Robert recommend if you discover that you're curious to learn more? Check out the podcast...

This Week in WordPress #196

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0000

This week's WordPress news for the week commencing Monday 7th February 2022

265 - Have we set the right expectation? - Series 1 / Episode 5

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another in our Business Bootcamp series. It’s the series where we relearn everything we know about building WordPress sites, and running a web design business from start to finish. Presently, we are on Season 1 (where we look at what needs to happen) before the build. Have we set the right expectation? Nathan and David are taking different routes to get our invented businesses going and our client’s website up. In this episode we tackle how you might get your client expectations set up, and what those expectations might be. This includes things like what points typically cause friction in a web project, how can we effectively gather content, what channels of communication are we going to use, how will we handle revisions, and the worst of them all... clients just ghosting us. It's an interesting chat and we cover a lot of ground. Go check out the podcast.

This Week in WordPress #195

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0000

This week's WordPress news for the week commencing Monday 31st January 2022

264 - Automate all your workflows with Buddy Works

Nathan Wrigley — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 14:00:00 +0000

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264 – Automate all your workflows with Buddy Works

Interview with Maciek Palmowski, Luke Pasisz and Nathan Wrigley

So this is one of those episodes where you might learn something completely new. Buddy Works (often just called Buddy) is a great tool for saving you some real time, and who does not want more time?

So there’s a ton of different things that you do over and over again. No matter what business you’re in, there’s always going to be repetition. Most of us specialise in something so that we can offer that skill to the market. We have done the same thing many times so that we can become an expert at something.

What you quickly realise when you’ve done something a few times is that you now know how to do. You might describe your skill level like this… “I could do that in my sleep”.

But you can’t do that in your sleep, can you… because, erm… you’re asleep! But someone, or something, else could.

Bakers don’t do all the mixing by hand, because someone invented the mixer. Soon you won’t have to do all the driving during that cross-country trip, because someone invented the self-driving car. And web professionals don’t need to all the myriad complex, dull, repetitive, time-consuming [insert your own reason here], because someone invented Buddy Works!

Buddy Works is a tool which allows you to create complex pipelines. You’ve got a job that you feel is not really the best use of your time? Buddy Works will take that job from you and do it repeatedly. It will not get bored and complain, and you will be happier!

I will not lie to you. It’s not like Jarvis in the Avengers. You don’t get to just ‘think’, “mmm… I’m fed up with this task. Will you please take it off my hands and do it?”. You’re going to have to learn how Buddy Works works (I like that sentence)!

So, introducing Maciek Palmowski and Luke Pasisz. They’re here to explain what Buddy Works can do and how you get started.

The best way that I can describe this is… it’s like Zapier but for all the things that you might use to build websites and SaaS solutions. It connects over 130 different services so that you don’t need to learn the ins and outs of them all. You just need to know what you want to do and how to achieve that in their easy-to-use UI.

This all comes under the umbrella term of CI / CD (continuous integration, continuous delivery/deployment), and it’s more than just automation. It can do deployments, testing, converting sites to static, running backups and a lot more.

Given the complexity here, there’s little point in me trying to describe the many scenarios in which Buddy Works might save you some time. You can use the links below to explore, or, better yet, listen to the podcast to hear it!

We talk about what Buddy Works is, how it came to be, what’s on the roadmap, what you can achieve with it as well as the all important pricing.

Useful links:

You can look at how Buddy can work with WordPress:
https://buddy.works/wordpress

This is their landing page related to WordPress:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYUqFoJvK94

Here’s an excellent overview of what can be achieved in Buddy:
https://buddy.works/guides/pipelines-in-continuous-development

This article explains how pipelines work:
https://buddy.works/tutorials

there are a lot of interesting articles here as well:
https://buddy.works/guides

https://buddy.works/

https://buddy.works/pricing

https://buddy.works/wordpress

https://buddy.works/guides/pipelines-in-continuous-development

https://buddy.works/guides

Maciek’s Twitter handle:
@palmiak_fp

This Week in WordPress #194

Nathan Wrigley — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0000

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This Week in WordPress #194

This week’s WordPress news for the week commencing 24th January 2021

Another week, and we’re bringing you the latest WordPress news from the last seven days, including…

There’s a whole new version of WordPress… 5.9 and it brings some ground breaking new options.
What is a Block Theme and how can you start to work with them?
If you’re offering your clients Care Packages, what do you include in them? MainWP might have some thoughts for you with their 2021 survey.
There’s a real Groundhogg day, and it’s later this week. A one day event to help you get inspiration for your agency.
Google has abandoned FLoC, but is the replacement any better?

There’s a whole lot more than this, as there is each and every week, and you can find all that by scrolling down and clicking on the links!

This Week in WordPress #194 – “Groundhog’s are real!”

With Nathan Wrigley, Kathy Zant, Tiffany Bridge and Bet Hannon.

Recorded on Monday 31st January 2022.
If you ever want to join us live you can do that every Monday at 2pm UK time on the WP Builds LIVE page.

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