Open Channels FM is launching a new video news show called Open Channels News, starting July 27th. It's a quick, five to ten-minute program covering various open source topics, available live and on YouTube.

GiveWP is the most popular fundraising and donation tool on WordPress, powering over $500 million in donations. It integrates with Akismet to ensure that spammy or potentially fraudulent submissions get filtered out. Recently, some Give users saw an unusually high level of false positives on their […]

WordPress 7.1 Beta 1 is ready for download and testing! This beta release is intended for testing and development only. Please do not install, run, or test this version of WordPress on production or mission-critical websites. Instead, use a test environment or local site to explore the new […]

In this episode, Bob and Cami discuss how AI is reshaping web design, offering tips on using AI tools effectively, educating clients, and adapting workflows for better efficiency in the digital space.

Transcript [00:00:19] Nathan Wrigley: Welcome to the Jukebox Podcast from WP Tavern. My name is Nathan Wrigley. Jukebox is a podcast which is dedicated to all things WordPress. The people, the events, the plugins, the blocks, the themes, and in this case, the risks of legacy PHP in WordPress and […]

Today, I'm joined by Milan Petrović, and the podcast is focused on the impact of PHP versioning in the WordPress ecosystem, emphasising the risks of running outdated PHP and the security and performance benefits of PHP 8.x. We get into the challenge of supporting legacy code versus urging progress […]

InMotion Hosting joins Open Channels FM Podcast as a sponsor, offering reliable hosting with great support. They've been a solid choice for over 25 years. Check them out!

Hostinger AI Agents is a customized AI tool suite designed to help small business owners launch and/or grow their businesses. It contains seven "advisors," each specializing in a different topic area. In this Hostinger AI Agents review, I'll walk you through two experiments I ran with the service […]

In this episode, Adam and Aaron discuss evolving web security in the AI era, emphasizing proactive strategies, layered defenses, and the vital role of hosts in protecting websites against modern threats. Secure your online presence!

August 16-19, 2026 | Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Arizona WordCamp US 2026 returns for another year, this time in Phoenix, Arizona, for four days, August 16 to 19. It comes at a moment of real energy for WordPress, as artificial intelligence reshapes everyday workflows, the business of […]

In this Open Web Conversations episode, host Anne Bovelett chats with lawyer Carlo Piana about open source software's legal challenges, AI's impact on coding, and the importance of proper licensing and attribution.

In episode 132 of the Gutenberg Changelog podcast, host Birgit Pauli-Haack and guest Ellen Bauer explore the latest updates within the WordPress ecosystem. The conversation centers on the releases of Gutenberg 23.4 and 23.5, the recent WordPress 7.0.1 maintenance update, and the strategic roadmap […]

Hi there, After a four-week break — courtesy of a sciatic nerve with strong opinions — I’m happy to be back in by office chair and in your inbox. There is plenty to catch up on. Beyond the updates on the new WordPress and Gutenberg versions, you’ll find stories below from WordPress […]

David Snead, director of the Secure Hosting Alliance and a long-time Internet policy leader, shares his perspective on the complexities that emerge when technological solutions like age verification are implemented in the digital infrastructure space. Dave’s reflection highlights how the push for […]

Otter Blocks 3.2.0 is now live, bringing AI that builds full sections and pages, a redesigned AI writing toolbar, AI form autoresponders, a completely rebuilt Design Library, a new Content Slider block, more reliable forms, and full WordPress 7.0 support. This release focuses on the slowest part of […]

AI assistants like Claude Code, Cowork, and ChatGPT are incredible productivity boosters, and if you wished that you could connect these AI tools with WordPress directly, then you’re not alone. Lately, I have been using WordPress MCP by WPVibe to let my AI assistant manage… Read More » The […]

HTML and XML are markup languages based on plaintext files. This means that any given character could be part of a syntax form (a tag, a comment, a character reference, etc…) or it could be representing itself the way it reads in the file literally. <tag>&middot; Text […]

WordPress 7.0.1 is now available. As the first maintenance release of the 7.0 cycle, it’s strictly a bug-fix release: every included ticket addresses either a regression introduced during 7.0 development or an issue intentionally deferred at the end of the cycle. The release ships fixes for 17 […]

WordPress 7.0.1 is now available! This minor release includes fixes for 31 bugs throughout Core and the Block Editor, addressing issues affecting multiple areas of WordPress including the block editor, admin ui, and media. For a full list of bug fixes, please refer to the release candidate […]

Tech feels wild and unpredictable, yet super empowering. Success now hinges on broad awareness and curiosity, not just deep specialization. Embrace the chaos.

Thirteen years ago today, I received my very first props for contributing to WordPress Core. If my WordPress contribution journey were a person, it would now be a teenager. It’s pretty wild to think about, but I’ve now been contributing to the WordPress project in some way for a third of my […]

Lights! Camera! Action! Todd Spangler at Variety writes: Automattic’s ‘Code for the People’ Documentary Is a Rallying Cry for Users to Fight for the Open Internet, from the NYC premiere last week. I’m looking forward to the San Francisco premiere of the documentary, and then tomorrow […]

Transcript [00:00:19] Nathan Wrigley: Welcome to the Jukebox Podcast from WP Tavern. My name is Nathan Wrigley. Jukebox is a podcast which is dedicated to all things WordPress. The people, the events, the plugins, the blocks, the themes, and in this case, building trust and collaboration in the […]

Today on the podcast, the conversation focused on cross-industry collaboration to improve security and abuse response in the hosting industry. We talk about the Internet Infrastructure Forum (IIF), a platform-agnostic initiative aiming to facilitate real-time intelligence sharing among hosts, […]

Це есе також доступно українською. Listen to Volodymyr read his own story aloud. “Listen… the birds are already singing,” said Danylo — a Ukrainian I’d met at a previous WordCamp — as we were wrapping up the last hour of the WCEU afterparty in Krakow. […]

BuddyPress 14.5.0, 12.7.0, and 11.6.0 are now available. These are security and maintenance releases that include two security fixes, along with a number of compatibility improvements, bug fixes, and code modernization updates. We strongly recommend updating your sites as soon as possible. […]

Insights into the DevRel role's importance, explore endless API possibilities, and consider the balance of digital freedom, cost, and usability in today’s tech landscape.

Ever wanted to build an AI support agent for your WordPress website or WooCommerce store? Imagine customers asking a question at 2 a.m. and getting an instant, accurate answer, pulled straight from your own help docs, website content, and custom private SOPs. Plus, it can… Read More » The post […]

Hostinger has gone from standard web host to web host with the works. In this Hostinger review, I’ll take an in-depth look at its traditional web hosting plans alongside its increasingly growing portfolio of business and developer tools.

This auspicious 250th Independence Day, I find myself thinking of what Om wrote in iAMerican when he became a US citizen in 2013. On a globe, America is a landmass, a country. In an immigrant’s heart it is a belief that future is almost always better. It may not be perfect and it is certainly […]

It’s quite surreal to type that WPBeginner turns 17 years old today! I’m incredibly grateful to have the support of such an amazing community of website owners, small businesses, and web professionals. YOU are the best part of WPBeginner! Like every year, I will take… Read More » The post […]

In ecommerce, it’s not just about the tech but how it helps merchants grow. Open source can offer control and adaptability, especially with platforms like Woo and WordPress.

On the podcast today we explore the WordPress Credits initiative, and its strategic importance in integrating young talent into the WordPress ecosystem through structured university programs. We discuss the alignment of the program with modern workforce demands, the benefits for businesses in […]

Transcript [00:00:19] Nathan Wrigley: Welcome to the Jukebox Podcast from WP Tavern. My name is Nathan Wrigley. Jukebox is a podcast which is dedicated to all things WordPress, the people, the events, the plugins, the blocks, the themes, and in this case how WordPress Credits bridges education […]

Insights on community support, decision-making, starting new projects, and the importance of agency reputation in hosting. Engage and share!

Companies depend on open source software. Supporting the projects that support your business shouldn't be treated as charity; it should be part of sustaining the infrastructure, ecosystem, and user trust your products rely on. The post Open Source Support Can’t Depend on Charity appeared first on […]

AI is evolving super fast, boosting productivity but also causing burnout and a loss of human touch. We need to balance tech with authentic human insights.

In this episode we’re chatting about a topic that matters to everyone in the WooCommerce world and beyond: how OSS communities can come together to market themselves more effectively.

On June 23, around 40 students from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), Louisiana Tech University, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette were celebrated in Chicago as the first cohort to receive the AI Leaders Micro-Credential through AI Leaders, the nation’s first workforce-focused […]

In the first half of 2026, conversations on AI's impact, WordPress 7.0 launch, and the importance of the open web emerged. Key themes included rethinking work, community, and embracing uncertainty.

There has been a lot of excitement about the OmFest idea. If you’d like to attend or contribute, please fill out this form as soon as possible so we can gauge the type of venue we need. Update: ThankYouOm.com from Michael Galpert pulls together all the tweets, Instagram posts, and blog posts […]

Email isn’t dead. Sure, email marketing might not work for everyone, but it’s still crucial for many businesses and personal communication.

Yesterday, my best friend and brother from another mother, Om Malik, passed away. They say that blood is thicker than water, and what we had was way thicker than blood. — Bob Weir Om’s request was for a small family prayer ceremony. In mourning, that will be all there is. In […]

Messaging is emerging as the universal interface for interacting with technology, simplifying complex tasks into straightforward communications akin to texting, thereby enhancing productivity and reducing technical barriers in digital engagement.

Transcript [00:00:19] Nathan Wrigley: Welcome to the Jukebox Podcast from WP Tavern. My name is Nathan Wrigley. Jukebox is a podcast which is dedicated to all things WordPress. The people, the events, the plugins, the blocks, the themes, and in this case, how WordPress education programs are […]

The podcast focused on the rapid growth of educational initiatives in the WordPress community over the past eight months. We talked about the development and distinctions among three primary programs: the WordPress Credits Program (university-level, contributions for academic credit), Campus […]

In this episode, Bob Dunn recaps six months of key themes, highlighting the surge in AI discussions, ongoing debates about the open web, and WordPress's enduring relevance, while embracing honest dialogue.

Ongoing challenges in decentralized social networks, emphasizing the need for practical solutions and immediate usability for developers and users.

A throwback from 2007: a local Bay Area a cappella group called The Richter Scales made a Webby Award-winning viral video about how that bubble felt. Hat tip: Toni.

Mercantile, the official swag store of the WordPress project, has a newly redesigned storefront with a catalog that now sits front and center, and a design tuned to hold up across a wide range of screen sizes. There are also small touches, like automatically selecting a variant when only one is in […]

AI transforms developer workflows, causing cognitive overload and blurring work-rest boundaries. Establishing intentional breaks is crucial to maintain balance and prevent burnout.

In honor of Father’s Day, I wanted to add to the two quotes from my Dad’s obituary, “Seven days without chicken made one weak.” and “If you fail at raising your children, nothing else mattered.” with another saying he had. Ain’t no hill for a stepper. If you’d like to learn […]

PowerPoint makes us stupid. — Gen. James N. Mattis of the Marine Corps, the Joint Forces commander Classic 2010 NYT We Have Met the Enemy and He Is PowerPoint.

A typography savant on staff had spent a month designing link underlines (literally just lines) that were more visually pleasing than Chrome or Safari’s defaults. On Tuesdays, engineers stayed late at the office, fixing design imperfections over dinner. One of them began a 2,500-word post about […]

I’m sorry I couldn’t be there in person, but I was so excited to watch the Midjourney Medical launch from afar. This is a really big deal. David Holz, one of the most underrated pioneers in AI, has taken money from making cat pictures to build a full-body ultrasound scanner that can give you […]

Applications are now open for the 2026 Kim Parsell Memorial Scholarship, which supports one active WordPress contributor who identifies as a woman and has not previously attended WordCamp US. The scholarship helps make it possible for a community member with financial need to join WordCamp US 2026 […]

Bob Dunn has launched a blog commentary and a weekly series, "Open Tabs." Do the Woo is now an independent podcast. Updates include a redesigned homepage, new episode features, and a newsletter format change.

This post recaps how the WordPress project’s five Global Partners — Jetpack, WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Bluehost, and Hostinger — supported community events during the first half of 2026. Across more than a dozen regional the first WordPress Developers Day, and a growing network of WordPress […]

In this episode, hosts and guests share diverse perspectives on AI's rise, touching on its potential, challenges, and how it's reshaping industries and human interaction.

Transcript Nathan Wrigley: Welcome to the Jukebox Podcast from WP Tavern. My name is Nathan Wrigley. Jukebox is a podcast which is dedicated to all things WordPress, the people, the events, the plugins, the blocks, the themes, and in this case using AI everywhere at rtCamp. If you’d like to […]

In this episode of the WP Tavern Jukebox podcast, the conversation focused on agency growth, lessons from rtCamp’s journey, and the changing agency landscape due to AI. We discussed the importance of hiring complementary skill sets when starting an agency, and the necessity to niche down for […]

Today the podcast focuses on the unique openness and camaraderie of the WordPress community, particularly through volunteer experiences at WordCamp events. A key theme under discussion was how involvement in such communities combats loneliness and provides a sense of belonging and purpose, whether […]

Nathan Wrigley interviews Austin Ginder about recent WordPress plugin supply chain attacks. Austin explains how attackers are acquiring legitimate plugins, inserting malicious code or update mechanisms, and compromising thousands of sites. AI tools have enabled Austin to detect these issues and […]

Nathan Wrigley interviews Luke Carbis about the evolving challenges in the WordPress plugin ecosystem, including the surge in plugin submissions fuelled by AI, difficulties with plugin discoverability, and potential marketplace reforms. Luke shares ideas like different WordPress.org-account […]

You know what... free LMS plugins for WordPress are surprisingly good this year! You really don't need to spend a cent to build a fully working online course, and this post proves it. The post These Free LMS Plugins for WordPress Don’t Trick You Into Paying (Honest Comparison) appeared first on […]

Nathan Wrigley interviews Leo Losoviz, focusing on translating WordPress sites using AI-powered tools, including his Gato AI Translations for Polylang plugin. They cover the evolution from manual, costly translations to efficient, high-quality AI solutions, the legal and business cases for […]

PPOM v27.0.0 update introduces a new template library, live product preview, WooCommerce block cart support, variation-based conditional fields, a rebuilt builder UI, performance improvements, and 30+ bug fixes for faster, easier product customization. The post PPOM v27.0.0 Update: Template […]

The best free learning management system (LMS) for WordPress is Masteriyo. With that said, there are other free LMS options that have particular strengths and lend themselves well to specific use cases. In the remainder of this post, I'm going to break down five of the best free choices available […]

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley and Matt Schwartz continue their discussion about how WordPress agencies can harness AI. They cover practical applications like connecting AI to agency documentation, implementing guardrails with MCPs, using AI for internal tools and QA, and the evolving impact on […]

If you have used Neve Theme for a while, you already know about starter sites. Pick a template, import it in one click, and you have a real starting point instead of a blank page. The sections are already there. The layout decisions are already made. You just bring the content and the client. […]

Nathan Wrigley and Matt Schwartz discuss the evolving impact of AI on WordPress agencies, focusing on how AI can streamline agency processes beyond just building websites. They explore the importance of revisiting workflows, creating AI vision documents, leveraging AI for proposals, internal […]

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Robby McCullough, co-founder of Beaver Builder, about the evolving landscape of WordPress page builders amidst the rise of AI. They reflect on Beaver Builder’s 12-year journey, discuss initial skepticism toward page builders, and the recent surge in […]

WordPress 7.0 is shaping up to be one of the most significant releases in recent years, or simply the most ambitious rebranding of what WordPress thinks it is.

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Malcolm Peralty from Pressable, about his tech and WordPress career, experiences with Drupal and Acquia, and his current role as a technical account manager. They discuss Pressable’s hosting services, their focus on optimising WordPress performance, and […]

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Anne Bovelett, about the economic and human impact of web accessibility in WordPress. They discuss how improving accessibility offers significant SEO, traffic, and revenue benefits, referencing research showing up to a 23% increase in organic traffic and […]

Creating charts just got a whole lot easier. A lot of tools have been rushing to add AI just to keep up. We took a step back, understood exactly where AI could make the biggest difference for Visualizer users, and then we shipped it. No shortcuts. No gimmicks. Just a thoughtful update that […]

Elliot Richmond discusses his 20+ years with WordPress, from early b2 days to founding a successful pizza delivery business powered by WordPress and WooCommerce. He shares plans for a pizza plugin and licensing model, and explains his new partnership with Automattic, creating educational […]

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Zach Stepek about the evolving nature of partnerships in the WordPress ecosystem. Zach shares his journey through various tech roles, his discovery of WordPress, and his passion for WooCommerce. They discuss the interconnected roles of agencies, product […]

In this episode of WP Tavern Jukebox podcast, Nathan Wrigley chats with Simon Pollard about the changing landscape of WordPress Meetups and community events. Simon reflects on the vibrant pre-pandemic community, its sudden decline during COVID-19, and the ongoing struggle to rebuild momentum. The […]

In this WP Tavern episode, Nathan Wrigley explores the CloudFest Hackathon, an event bringing together open source enthusiasts to collaborate on innovative projects in just three days. Carole Olinger, the Hackathon lead, details the organising process and project selection, talking about cross-CMS […]

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Rob Ruiz, current maintainer of WP Rig, a free WordPress theme development toolkit and starter theme. Rob Ruiz shares his journey from designer to theme developer, discusses the benefits of WP Rig for both beginners and agencies, and highlights how it […]

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley speaks with Jonathan Desrosiers about tying WordPress releases to flagship community events like WordCamps. They discuss the logistical challenges, especially around scheduling, international holidays, and global contributor coverage. The conversation explores the […]

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Matt Cromwell about Matt’s new agency, Roots and Fruit, which is aimed at helping WordPress product businesses grow sustainably. They discuss shifts in the WordPress ecosystem, the importance of focusing on the entire product experience (not just code), […]

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Russell Aaron about the little-known WordPress admin page “options.php.” Russell Aaron explains what the page does, displaying and allowing edits to the entire wp_options table, and discusses its usefulness and risks. They cover why it exists, who can […]

In this episode, Miriam Schwab discusses her journey in the WordPress space, from running an agency to founding Strattic, which was later acquired by Elementor. Now serving as Elementor’s Head of WordPress, she shares insights on Elementor’s growth, their careful approach to major updates, and […]

In this episode of WP Tavern, Nathan Wrigley chats with Charly Leetham about her journey as a digital nomad using WordPress. Charly shares how evolving technology allowed her to build a flexible, location-independent tech support business. She discusses the freedoms and challenges of living on the […]

Themeisle Services is your access to an expert team of WordPress pros who can cover everything from building your site, optimizing it, improving its SEO, and keeping it safe from hackers. The post We’re Now Fixing WordPress Sites (Because Someone Has To) – Introducing Themeisle Services […]

In this episode of the WP Tavern Jukebox podcast, Nathan Wrigley and Marc Benzakein reminisce about the early days of the internet, sharing personal stories from dial-up and BBS boards to today’s always-connected world. They discuss how internet use shifted from a niche hobby for tech enthusiasts […]

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Corey Maass about how AI tools have transformed web development, especially for client projects. Corey Maass shares his ever-changing tech stack, the impact of AI on productivity and creativity, and how tools like Claude Code and Copilot are saving time […]

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Brian Coords, Developer Advocate at WooCommerce, about his career path, WooCommerce’s recent rebranding, and its approach to developer relations. They discuss how WooCommerce balances its open source ethos, support challenges, and global reach, as well […]

In this episode of WP Tavern, Nathan Wrigley talks with Muntasir Sakib about the crucial importance of marketing in the WordPress plugin ecosystem. Muntasir shares insights from his experience growing popular plugins and discusses how product success today depends not just on great development, but […]

In this episode, Johanne Courtright chats with Nathan Wrigley about her journey in WordPress development, focusing on enhancing the block editor (Gutenberg). She discusses her project, Groundworx, which adds features and custom blocks tailored for agencies and advanced users, such as improved […]

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Topher DeRosia about the impact of doing things in public within the WordPress community. Topher shares how openness, community involvement, and generosity have shaped his career and personal life, reflecting on organic reputation and the balance between […]

Here's what most people don't know: updating existing content crushes writing new posts from scratch. It's faster, it ranks quicker, and Google actually rewards it. But doing it manually? That's hours of checking facts, analyzing SEO, reviewing Search Console data, and rewriting paragraphs. The […]

You know that feeling when your content isn’t performing like it should, but you can’t quite figure out why? We built FreshRank.ai to fix that. FreshRank will analyze your content to deliver actionable insights that improve user experience, engagement, and rankings. How it works Drop in your […]

If you use WordPress, then you know how bloated and disorganized your WordPress Media Library can become over time. Fortunately, there are plugins that address this exact problem. In this post, we'll introduce you to some of the best ones and we'll explain how they can help you keep your media […]

Looking for the best image optimization plugin for WordPress? To help you choose, we went hands-on with five popular options and ran our own tests. See the results of these tests here.

Most people trying to build anything on top of WordPress would rather not empty their wallets while doing so. Building an LMS solution - or an online course platform - is not any different. I know that feeling well. You want to set up lessons, quizzes, and then actually sell your course without […]

Your site is slow. People leave. Google shrugs. You tweak your theme, compress your images, scream into the void. Still slow… The problem might be your cache plugin, or rather the cache plugin you're not using yet.

Neve has long been considered one of the top ten WordPress themes in the official WordPress repository. It consistently gets high ratings and is active on hundreds of thousands of websites. It's obvious that many people like it, but does that mean it's a good choice for you? In this review we peel […]

A few days ago, the annual WordCamp Europe meetup took place in the picturesque city of Basel, Switzerland. The biggest announcement from the event was the new FAIR Package Manager - but what exactly is it? In this article we dive into the details, including Matt Mullenweg's reaction when asked […]