Monthly WordPress Roundup: July 2024

Welcome to the WordPress Roundup, your monthly digest of the latest news and updates from the WordPress community.

We bring you essential WordPress developments for all experience levels each month, keeping you informed about the latest core updates and upcoming releases.

Whether you’re a seasoned developer, a dedicated site owner, or launching your first WordPress site, these updates promise to enhance your site-building experience by making it more seamless and powerful. You’re a vital part of our community, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

We’ll also spotlight plugins and themes that elevate your site, highlight important community events and notable contributions from WordPress developers, and share tips to keep you ahead in this ever-evolving ecosystem.

This month’s edition examines Ollie Pro, the Create Block Theme plugin, the upcoming WordPress 6.7 release, and more. Let’s dive in!

Ollie Pro

Ollie is the theme that will elevate your site-building experience, and Ollie Pro gives you access to even more. Imagine combining the power of the block editor with the finesse of professionally designed patterns—Ollie Pro does just that and then some. Ollie isn’t just another theme; it’s your new secret weapon for creating stunning, customizable websites with unparalleled ease.

What makes Ollie Pro stand out? It’s all in the details. The enhanced Pattern Browser is a prime example, offering instant access to a wealth of meticulously crafted design patterns. Whether you want a sleek, minimalist look or something more intricate, the Pattern Browser lets you build it faster than you can say “block editor.”

But it’s not just about speed; it’s about giving you the freedom to express your vision without the usual headaches. Ollie Pro’s customization options are robust yet intuitive, offering you the tools to tweak every detail until it’s perfect. This theme will help you simplify the complex, putting professional-grade design within reach of anyone, regardless of their technical expertise.

Ollie co-founder Mike McAlister recently announced Ollie Pro’s impressive milestone of $10,000 in subscriptions within the first month. Community engagement, transparent communication, and prioritizing user feedback were critical to this success. These elements have driven its early success and will shape its growth.

Ollie Pro is a complete design solution. It seamlessly blends aesthetics and usability and is perfect for those who value form and function. With Ollie Pro, you’re crafting an experience, not just building a website.

Create Block Theme

If you’re not ready for a premium block theme like Ollie Pro, consider an alternative: downloading a free theme and using the Create Block Theme plugin to build your custom site. Start with a solid foundation and let the plugin guide you through designing, customizing, and refining every detail.

The Create Block Theme plugin simplifies development, allowing you to create, edit, and manage themes from your WordPress dashboard. You can generate new themes, clone existing ones, and export customizations as standalone themes. It streamlines the process, making it accessible to beginners and experienced developers.

This approach gives you complete control over layouts, color schemes, and typography, making it easy to tailor your site to your vision. Even for beginners, the plugin is user-friendly and accessible, turning the design process into an enjoyable experience.

Opting for this route saves money and enhances your understanding of WordPress themes, giving you the power to maintain and update your site independently. A free starter theme such as Powder Zero paired with the Create Block Theme plugin offers a perfect blend of creativity and practicality, making it a smart and empowering choice.

WordPress 6.7

With WordPress 6.6 released on July 16, users are now looking forward to the next major update. The upcoming WordPress 6.7 release, slated for November 12, 2024, promises many exciting features and improvements. This version enhances user experience and performance with significant updates to the block editor and site health tools.

Expect a streamlined interface, improved navigation, and new block patterns that simplify the design process. Additionally, performance optimizations will ensure faster load times and smoother interactions, which are crucial for maintaining user engagement and satisfaction.

A highlight is the expanded customization options, providing greater design flexibility. WordPress 6.7 will empower users with more control and efficiency, making creating and managing stunning websites more effortless than ever.

Another exciting addition is Twenty Twenty-Five, the new default theme. Built as a block theme, it aims to minimize CSS, configure styles through theme.json, and make it editable via Global Styles. The theme development team is working closely with Gutenberg contributors to enhance design tools in the block editor to achieve this goal.

Other bits

WP Engine’s acquisition of NitroPack, a leading site performance optimization solution, marks a significant step toward a faster web. This strategic move integrates NitroPack’s advanced speed-boosting technologies with our robust platform. 

The partnership aims to deliver unparalleled site performance, enhance user experiences, and drive better business outcomes. We aim to revolutionize website speed and efficiency, paving the way for a more dynamic and responsive web.

Several exciting WordCamps are set to take place around the globe in August. WordCamp Cape Town kicks off the month on August 1-2. Mid-month, WordCamp Rio de Janeiro and WordCamp Minneapolis/St. Paul will take place on August 16-17 and August 16, respectively. Toward the end of the month, WordCamp Cebu and WordCamp Lira are set for August 24, followed by WordCamp Bogotá on August 30-31.

The WordPress Developer Blog has published three new insightful articles. Building a Card Layout with a Hover Reveal Effect offers a step-by-step guide to creating engaging card designs with interactive hover effects. 

15 Ways to Curate the WordPress Editing Experience provides practical tips to enhance and streamline the WordPress editing workflow. Mixing and Matching Styles, Colors, and Typography in WordPress 6.6 explores creative techniques for combining design elements to achieve stunning visual results in your WordPress projects.​

That’s it for this month. Stay tuned as we watch the development of WordPress 6.7 unfold and inch closer toward WordCamp US.