WordPress 7.1 has officially launched, bringing significant improvements to the platform. The release, named after jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams, introduces responsive styling, new blocks, and enhanced performance features for site builders and developers.

The update arrives shortly after WordCamp US concluded in Phoenix. The event drew 1,100 attendees who experienced temperatures of 111°F. Additionally, 425 contributors participated in Contributor Day, forming 26 teams focused on completing specific goals.

WordPress Profile Shortcuts and New Tools

WordPress now offers simplified profile access through w.org/@username shortcuts. This feature provides quick navigation to user profiles. However, the current implementation requires the @ symbol to function properly.

Matt Mullenweg introduced Piplets during his closing fireside chat at WordCamp US. These self-contained PHP files enable note-taking without databases or traditional hosting. The tool targets developers comfortable working in terminal environments. Piplets require 64-bit PHP 8.1 or newer to operate.

All WordCamp US presentations are available on YouTube for on-demand viewing. Local WordPress Meetup groups can organize viewing parties to watch the sessions together.

WordPress 7.1 Core Features

WordPress 7.1 ‘Mary Lou’ honors Mary Lou Williams, an influential American jazz pianist who recorded hundreds of albums. The release includes several notable improvements to the editing experience.

The highlight video showcases the main features in an engaging format. Furthermore, the WordPress 7.1 microsite presents featurettes through short videos that demonstrate key updates.

Release lead Anne McCarthy maintained a detailed decision log throughout the development process. The document explains why certain features were postponed. Real-time collaboration, React 19 integration, and Classic block removal were punted to future releases. Responsive styling received an opt-out option rather than being paused entirely.

Icon Registration API

Justin Tadlock demonstrated the new Icon Registration API on the WordPress Developer Blog. Developers can now register custom icon collections using wp_register_icon_collection(). The tutorial walks through creating a restaurant-themed icon set with 13 food icons.

The API currently has limitations. Only SVG, path, and polygon elements survive sanitization. Stroke attributes are removed during processing. Therefore, developers should focus on fill-based icons for optimal compatibility.

Ryan Welcher created a five-minute video covering the same API functionality. His tutorial shows how to register collections, load SVG folders, and render icons with wp_get_icon(). The sanitizer strips fill=’currentColor’ attributes. A function_exists() check prevents fatal errors on WordPress 7.0 sites.

Gutenberg 23.8 Performance Improvements

Gutenberg 23.8 delivers dramatic performance enhancements. Selecting all blocks in a 1,000-paragraph post previously took 16.8 seconds. The latest version completes the same operation in just 0.4 seconds.

Release lead Jon Surrell outlined additional improvements in Gutenberg 23.8. The update introduces shareable revision URLs and an in-editor code diff feature. Email notifications now alert users when someone mentions them in notes.

The release includes a proper default block for the empty canvas. Audio-to-Playlist transforms provide new content creation options. Developers gain access to inner block templates in registerBlockType() and public Calendar components in @wordpress/ui.

Responsive Block Styles

Jackson highlighted responsive block styles as the most significant update in WordPress 7.1. His 20-minute feature tour demonstrates 13 new capabilities. Hover and active states now work for buttons and navigation elements.

The Tabs block makes its debut in this release. The Icon block integrates with custom icon plugins. The Playlist block displays waveforms for audio content. An in-browser media editor simplifies content management. Query Loop includes a checkbox preventing posts from recommending themselves in related content sections.

Tools for Site Builders

Gina Lucia explored how WordPress 7.1 features integrate with the Ollie block theme. Responsive styling now exists in core functionality. Consequently, Ollie Pro’s Responsive Controls focus on column and grid stacking. The Class Manager extends beyond the new hover and focus states available for Button and Navigation Link blocks.

The Flexible Table Block plugin by Aki Hamano addresses cell merging functionality missing from the core Table block. Version 3.9.0 adds WordPress 7.1 support and improves accessibility through screen reader announcements. The plugin serves over 40,000 sites. Users can merge cells, style table elements independently, and set custom mobile breakpoints. Hamano serves as co-tech lead for WordPress 7.1.

Tabs Animation Enhancement

Elliott Richmond’s Tabs Animation plugin improves the default Tabs block behavior. WordPress 7.1’s Interactivity API toggles the hidden attribute abruptly. This plugin adds fade or slide transitions from four directions. Duration settings range up to 3000ms with five easing options. The lightweight solution uses only inline styles without JavaScript. It automatically disables for visitors who prefer reduced motion.

Development Tools and Resources

Ryan Welcher demonstrated WordPress Studio Code during a livestream session. He worked on a hockey team site template, encountering challenges with navigation, header sizing, and content width. The process required multiple rounds of adjustments using the Annotate feature. Two hours of work consumed 2.5 percent of his monthly usage limit.

WordPress Studio remains in beta testing. The agentic local development app welcomes feedback from developers. Gutenberg Times provides daily builds from the master branch for testing purposes. These builds are accessible through WordPress Playground without requiring local or server-based test sites.

A chronological index tracks WordPress Make Blog posts from teams involved in Gutenberg development. The resource covers contributions from Design, Theme Review, Core Editor, Core JS, Core CSS, Test, and Meta teams. Archives extend back to 2020 for historical reference.

Original Source: gutenbergtimes.com