June is nearly over, and we’re all staying busy soaking up everything summer has to offer. Hopefully, you’ve already started making great memories this season, whether that means taking a family vacation to the beach or observing Juneteenth.
Of course, the WordPress community was as active as ever. Read on to learn about June’s happenings, news, and updates.
WordPress Releases in June 2023
After the release of WordPress 6.2 (“Dolphy”) on March 29 and the maintenance and security release (6.2.1) on May 16, WP developers continued to work diligently on the platform’s next major release.
Version 6.3
WordPress 6.3 entered Beta 1 on June 27, meaning core contributors are hard at work testing and solving bugs. This second major release of the year will pack many exciting updates, including:
- An enhanced Site Editor that focuses on content editing and design
- An all-new “Command Center” for easier navigation and command execution
- The continued evolution of blocks, including an improved Navigation block and possible new blocks for Table of Contents, Footnotes, and more
- More default patterns plus better pattern-creation tools
- Streamlined design tools
- Upgraded APIs
- And more! Get the full scope here
WordCamps: Recapping June 2023
June brought us several WordCamps — unbeatable opportunities to network with the community and learn more about WordPress.
WordCamp Europe
WordCamp Europe took place from June 8-10 in Athens, Greece, at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre. A wide range of speakers covered topics like accessibility, design, development, marketing, and security, while others led hands-on workshops. Hopefully, those who attended were able to stop by the WCEU Community Booth to make new connections.
WordCamp Cartagena
This WordCamp (June 10-11) unfolded in the beautiful port city of Cartagena, Spain. It was a fantastic opportunity for Spanish-speaking WordPress professionals to convene — while taking in views of the Caribbean!
WordCamp Montclair
June 24 brought us WordCamp Montclair in New Jersey. This one-day event was packed with valuable information and networking opportunities, including sessions like “Things Well-Meaning WordPress Developers Do That Hurts SEO in 2023” and “I Just Got This WordPress And Don’t Know How To Use It!”
Resource Spotlight
Podcasts and newsletters are two of the best ways to stay up-to-date on WordPress, gain insight from fellow WP professionals, and increase your platform knowledge. This month, we’re highlighting two outstanding resources:
WP Builds Podcast
WP Builds, hosted by David Waumsley and Nathan Wrigley, is a one-stop shop for WordPress news, career insights, troubleshooting, and more. The hosts bring in a variety of guests for in-depth discussions, so listeners get to hear from experts and entrepreneurs across all WP topics.
Episodes are released bi-weekly, including “This Week in WordPress” every Tuesday (for all the latest WordPress news). The podcast first aired in 2016, so there’s a large backlog of content to dive into.
Post Status Newsletter
Post Status offers a free weekly newsletter delivered straight to your email. Not only does Post Status publish the latest community news, but it also includes interviews, job postings, podcast episodes, webinars, and more. This newsletter is truly a treasure trove of WordPress information. Check out the archive of past editions so you’ll know what to expect, and be sure to follow @post_status on Twitter for real-time updates.
Community Member Spotlight – June 2023
Each month, we’d like to take a moment to highlight a valued member of our WordPress community. These outstanding individuals make our industry stronger every day.
Sarah Gooding
Sarah Gooding, a consultant, and freelance journalist, is a well-known figure in the WordPress community. She is an editor at WP Tavern and a contributor to WordPress and BuddyPress. Sarah is known for her WordPress journalism expertise and willingness to engage in challenging discussions to refine projects, businesses, and communities. You can find her on Twitter at @pollyplummer.
Fun fact: Did you know Sarah is a BJCP-certified beer judge? Cheers!
Until Next Time
July will be here before we know it. After an eventful and productive June, we’re sure there’s plenty more to look forward to in the WordPress community as the summer progresses. Stay tuned to find out!
