Visual Blueprint Builder

Lately, we’ve been getting the Visual Blueprint Builder ready to join the Official WordPress Playground Tools. We had hoped to make this move last month, but the year-end holidays caused a bit of a delay. But hey, sometimes life surprises us, right? In the meantime, we’ve added a few exciting updates and have more on the horizon!

• We’re using WordPress data forms for setting up blueprints.
• There’s now a picker to browse and select plugins and themes hosted on WordPress.org.
• We’re working on allowing you to import and open blueprint JSON files (still a work in progress).
• You’ll soon be able to explore and import blueprints from the community with a new gallery picker (also a work in progress).
• Plus, we’re enhancing the UI/UX for creating new blueprints to make it even more user-friendly!

We’re eagerly looking forward to migrating the Builder to the Playground Tools repository and continuing our journey of development. Isn’t it exciting to see how far we’ve come? Stay tuned for more updates!

BlaBlaBlocks

Remember the trusty old BlaBlaBlocks? We’ve shared bits and pieces about it over time. While we might have seemed quiet, we’ve been anything but idle! We’ve been diving deep into the world of Block Editor and Full Site Editing, all in the name of crafting personalized editorial and publishing experiences for our clients. It’s been a journey of exploration and innovation, and along the way, we’ve embarked on two exciting projects.

Slider Block

Sliders—they’re everywhere, right? Yet finding one that’s just right can feel like a quest for the perfect cup of coffee! They’re either too restrictive or too overloaded, making them awkward to use. That’s why our amazing dev team has been rolling up their sleeves to craft a slider block that truly hits the sweet spot. It feels just right, like finding that perfect pair of shoes. We’ve started using and testing it on a few of our projects, and we’re excited to share that this block will soon be open-sourced and available on the WordPress Plugin Repository.

Text 2 Speech

Imagine having a tool that lets users listen to text read aloud—how convenient, right? We recently had a client who wanted just that, and our talented developers crafted a proof-of-concept plugin to make it happen! By using the browser’s Speech API, this nifty plugin gives users the ability to hear text through a special block. While the Speech API is a solid start, the results aren’t perfect yet. But don’t worry! We’re planning to integrate it with powerful cloud services from Google and Amazon to enhance the experience. Right now, it’s still in the experimental phase, but we’re excited about the prospect of open-sourcing it and sharing it on the WordPress plugin repository. With our dynamic and youthful team on the case, we’re looking forward to bringing even more exciting developments to this project!

State Of Word 2024

Every year, gathering for a watch party to catch the State of the Word feels like a cherished tradition. It’s our way of diving deep into the WordPress world, learning where things are headed. This year was extra special! Ajit, from our team, attended the event in Tokyo, soaking up knowledge firsthand. He brought back insights and wisdom from fellow WordPress enthusiasts. Isn’t it exciting to see where our beloved platform is going?

The FSE Warriors

In November, we teamed up with a fantastic design agency from the UK for an exciting collaboration. Our mission? To help them smooth out their WordPress Full Site Editing (FSE) workflow using the Block Editor and to bring nine stunning websites to life on WordPress VIP. Our talented team rolled up their sleeves and transformed Figma designs into pixel-perfect websites. Can you believe it? In just eight weeks, our FSE warriors turned nine designs into reality! This journey was a wonderful learning experience for all of us, allowing us to fine-tune our FSE workflow and update the handbook we’re crafting. What an adventure it was!

From the Watercooler

Our team is overflowing with coffee enthusiasts, and their passion is contagious! Around the watercooler, lively conversations are brewing about everything from crafting the perfect cup of coffee to selecting the finest coffee beans. They’re diving into the world of bean grinders and exploring the wonders of the Aeropress, French press, and espresso maker. It’s like we’ve got a squad of pro baristas on a mission!