WordPress 6.4 Release Candidate 1 Now Available for Testing
WordPress 6.4 is one step closer to its official release with the availability of Release Candidate 1 (RC1) today. The development team has been working hard to bring several technical improvements to the upcoming release, including block hooks for dynamic blocks, improvements to template loading, changes to attachment pages, and more.
RC1 is now ready for another round of testing. There have been 40 additional closed Trac tickets since 6.4 Beta 4, dozens of GitHub commits, and commits specifically for the Twenty Twenty-Four theme.
While the flagship font library feature had to be postponed to the 6.5 release due to unresolved gaps in the Font APIs, WordPress 6.4 still offers a range of exciting new features and improvements. Some highlights include a new lightbox functionality, a redesigned command palette, expanded design tools, and a new default theme.
During the release candidate phase, the development team enforces a hard string freeze, which means no new strings can be added. This allows the Polyglots team to focus on translating WordPress 6.4 into different languages. At this point, only regressions introduced during this development cycle and expansions to the test suite can be addressed in the 6.4 milestone.
Theme and plugin developers are strongly encouraged to test their extensions against the release candidate. It is also advised for plugin authors to update the “Tested up to” version in their readme files to 6.4.
A second RC is expected to be released next week, and if everything goes according to plan, WordPress 6.4 will be officially released on November 7, 2023.
The upcoming release of WordPress 6.4 brings several exciting improvements that will enhance the overall user experience. One notable addition is the introduction of block hooks for dynamic blocks. This feature allows developers to easily extend the functionality of dynamic blocks by adding custom hooks. It opens up a world of possibilities for creating more interactive and dynamic content within WordPress.
Another significant improvement in WordPress 6.4 is the enhancements to template loading. This update aims to improve the performance and efficiency of loading templates, resulting in faster page load times. It will greatly benefit website owners and developers who rely on custom templates to create unique designs.
In addition, WordPress 6.4 introduces changes to attachment pages. These changes aim to improve the display and navigation of attachment pages, making it easier for users to view and interact with media files attached to their posts or pages.
One of the most anticipated features in WordPress 6.4 is the new lightbox functionality. This feature allows users to display images, videos, and other media files in a pop-up window, providing a more immersive and engaging viewing experience. It is a great addition for photographers, artists, and anyone who wants to showcase their visual content in a visually appealing way.
The redesigned command palette in WordPress 6.4 offers an improved user interface for accessing and executing various commands within the WordPress admin area. It streamlines the workflow for users, making it easier to perform common tasks and navigate through different settings and options.
Furthermore, WordPress 6.4 includes expanded design tools that empower users to customize their websites with greater flexibility. It introduces new design options, layouts, and styles that allow users to create unique and visually stunning websites without the need for extensive coding knowledge.
Lastly, WordPress 6.4 comes with a new default theme that showcases the latest design trends and best practices. The new default theme offers a modern and clean design, optimized for both desktop and mobile devices. It serves as a great starting point for users who want to create a professional-looking website quickly.
As the release date of WordPress 6.4 approaches, it is crucial for theme and plugin developers to test their extensions against the release candidate. This ensures compatibility and helps identify any potential issues that need to be addressed before the official release.
In conclusion, WordPress 6.4 is set to bring a range of exciting new features and improvements to the popular content management system. With block hooks for dynamic blocks, improvements to template loading, changes to attachment pages, and more, WordPress 6.4 promises to enhance the overall user experience and provide developers with powerful tools to create dynamic and visually appealing websites. Stay tuned for the second release candidate next week and mark your calendars for the official release on November 7, 2023.
