Proposed Schedule for WordPress 2024 Major Releases
WordPress Executive Director Josepha Haden Chomphosy has recently unveiled a proposed schedule for the major core releases of WordPress in 2024. While the dates are not yet finalized, they have been strategically planned to avoid major holidays and WordPress events. The proposed schedule includes three major releases: WordPress 6.5 in March, WordPress 6.6 in July, and WordPress 6.7 in early November.
Focus on Collaboration Features
The previous release, WordPress 6.4, marked the conclusion of Phase 2 of the Gutenberg project, which focused on Site Customization. However, WordPress 6.4 primarily extended existing features in the block and site editors, while also exploring initial aspects of Phase 3, which centers around Collaboration. In 2024, the upcoming releases will fully embrace collaboration features.
Chomphosy stated, “Given that 2024 will hold a bulk of the work for Phase 3, I expect that 6.5 and 6.7 will be focused on those Collaborative features. I would like to propose that 6.6 be held specifically for maintenance and general polish of the software (as was wished for earlier this year).”
Feedback and Suggestions
Chomphosy has invited feedback on the timing and focus of the planned releases. One suggestion came from WordPress core committer Pascal Birchler, who proposed swapping the focuses for WordPress 6.5 and 6.6. This suggestion was made considering the uncertainty surrounding the readiness of Phase 3 work for WordPress 6.5. It also aligns with the features that were not included in the previous release.
Typography Management Features in WordPress 6.5
WordPress 6.4 had to postpone the implementation of typography management flagship features, which are now expected to be included in WordPress 6.5. These features include a Font Library and server-side @font-face CSS generation and printing. The Font Library will enable users to browse a library of fonts in the admin, similar to managing media. It will not be dependent on the activated theme but will be an extensible library for plugin developers.
Ongoing Discussion and State of the Word Address
The discussion regarding the 2024 releases is still ongoing in the comments section of the post. WordPress users can also look forward to learning more about what’s coming in the next year during Matt Mullenweg’s State of the Word address. The address will be broadcast live from Madrid on December 11, 2023.
Conclusion
WordPress users can anticipate an exciting year ahead with the proposed schedule for the major core releases in 2024. With a focus on collaboration features, WordPress aims to enhance the user experience and provide more tools for users to work together seamlessly. The feedback and suggestions from the WordPress community will play a crucial role in shaping the final releases. Stay tuned for more updates and announcements during Matt Mullenweg’s State of the Word address, where further insights into WordPress’s future direction will be shared.
