Really Simple SSL Plugin Adds Free Vulnerability Detection

Really Simple SSL, a popular plugin used on more than five million sites for installing SSL certificates, handling website migrations, mixed content, redirects, and security headers, has added a new feature in its most recent major update. Version 7.0.0 introduces vulnerability detection as part of a partnership with WP Vulnerability, an open source, free API created by Javier Casares with …

Blocknotes App Runs WordPress Natively on iOS, Now in Public Beta

Blocknotes is a new experimental app that runs WordPress natively on the iPhone. It was created by WordPress core committer Ella van Durpe and is powered by WordPress Playground, a project that runs the software in the browser without a PHP server. “WordPress’ ecosystem can now run anywhere – desktop, mobile, web, even fenced ecosystems,” WordPress Playground creator Adam Zieliński said, sharing a …

WordPress Confirms 8 Pilot Events to Launch the Next Generation of WordCamps in 2023

In May 2023, WordPress’ Community Team announced that it would be evolving the WordCamp format to promote adoption, training, and networking for professionals, leaving the flagship events to focus more on connection and inspiration. This major shift opens the door for more experimentation through varied formats. In a recent update, the team shared that progress on the discussions has generated …

Automattic Donates €20,000 to Fund Next Phase of Drupal Gutenberg Development

Drupal Gutenberg, the Gutenberg module for Drupal that was created by a Norway-based agency called Frontkom, has received a €20,000 donation from Automattic to fund the next phase of development. The module was one of five projects, selected from 35 proposals, that was granted funding during the DrupalCon Pitchburgh innovation contest. The winners were announced as part of Dries Buytaert’s State of Drupal …

WordPress Accessibility Day Secures Nonprofit Status for Annual Event, Calls for Speakers and Sponsors

WordPress Accessibility Day, an independent 24-hour virtual conference, will return in 2023 – this time under an official non-profit status. The first edition of the event was hosted in 2020 by the WordPress core Accessibility Team. They wanted to manage it independently of the WordPress Foundation in order to reserve the option to do things like pay speakers for their time …

WordPress.org Enables Commercial and Community Filters on Plugin and Theme Directories

During the 2022 State of the Word, Matt Mullenweg announced a plan to add new “Community” and “Commercial” taxonomies for the theme and plugin directories that would help users more quickly ascertain the purpose of the extensions they are considering. Shortly after the announcement, instructions were published for theme and plugin authors to opt into the new taxonomies. The new …