Stick around ‘til the end for a pug in a rug…
In today’s edition:
- Why the world’s biggest physics lab made the leap to WordPress.
- You can now customize your “Next” button. Use this power wisely.
- Accessibility docs are finally getting the overhaul they deserve, and you can help!
Hot Off The Presses: What’s New?
Top of the mornin’ to ya, ladies and gentledevs!
May the code rise to meet you, may your plugins never conflict, may the cache clear cleanly on the first try, and may your updates never break the site and until we meet again may the CSS hold you in the palm of its hand.
Hope you’re all ready to jump right into what’s new in WordPress!
June Dev Roundup: Sassy, Moody, Customizable ✨
Let’s be honest: half the battle of being a WordPress developer is just keeping up. The other half? Explaining to clients why Gutenberg doesn’t do that yet.
Since 6.8 was released in April, a lot has happened in WordPress that’s worth checking out! Here’s a quick run-down of what’s fresh off the commit logs:
Gutenberg now has a little more Sass 💅
Gutenberg 20.9 updated to the modern Sass module system, which is a welcome upgrade that’ll keep the codebase up to date with Sass standards. Watch out though: the package requires Dart Sass to compile and legacy Sass compilers like Ruby Sass and LibSass are no longer supported.
Fade to Awesome 💨
Ever wished that users navigating your website would get a smooth, fade-out animation between pages – like the legendary PowerPoint presentations you used to make in school? Check out this new plugin announced by the Core Performance team.
“Thank you, next!” ➡️
You can now customize the text for the “next” and “previous” buttons when using the Guide component in your project. Great for building sites in different languages, or for adding cheeky alternatives like, “Let’s Gooo…” and “Ooops, Go Back!”
The full scoop on what’s recently dropped, straight from the core team:
See what’s new →
CERN’s Big Bang Migration
We always knew the universe was expanding. We just didn’t expect it to include over 1,000 new WordPress installs from the home of the Large Hadron Collider and casual discoverer of the Higgs boson.
Yes, that CERN, aka the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is officially migrating its websites from Drupal to WordPress.
CERN’s official announcement →
So why the shift?
CERN found Drupal had become too complex and difficult to maintain. WordPress, on the other hand, offered improved usability, better accessibility, and the benefits of an actively developed, ever-evolving platform.
Translation: it’s easier for scientists (and the rest of us mere mortals) to use, and it empowers content creators without requiring a PhD in front-end dev.
The new CERN WordPress platform is already live for production use and you can find more about the migration plans here.
This isn’t just a migration, it’s a gravitational shift. And if WordPress is the CMS of choice for the folks unraveling the secrets of the universe, it’s safe to say it’s fit for anything we can throw at it.
TL;DR: WordPress just got a cosmic thumbs-up from the birthplace of the web. We love to see it.
Better Accessibility Docs are Coming to WordPress!
You know that moment when you’re trying to build something accessible in WordPress… and the docs feel like a scavenger hunt designed by someone who’s maybe never even used a screen reader?
Good news: the WordPress community is finally tackling it.
At WordCamp Europe 2025 Contributor Day (shoutout to everyone who was there in Basel), accessibility legends Rian Rietveld and Joe Dolson launched a brand new initiative to overhaul WordPress’s accessibility documentation.
Here’s what’s coming:
- The Accessibility Handbook is moving to GitHub (hell yes, version control!)
- Practical, real-world examples will be added (because theory is nice but code is nicer)
- The community will be surveyed on what’s missing, confusing, or just plain broken.
- Starting from November, they’ll be inviting more devs to roll up their sleeves and get to work.
In short: the project is about making accessibility accessible, for devs, designers, and anyone trying to do the right thing without losing their will to live in outdated docs.
It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes effort that doesn’t make headlines… but should.
Want to follow the project (or better yet, contribute)?
→ Here’s the official kickoff post
→ Fill out the survey here
Mind Bloggling Facts & Stats
- Automattic hired its first software developer 20 years ago, in June 2005. That’s the same year the first YouTube video was uploaded, and the iPod Shuffle dropped. Feel old yet? (Source)
- Speaking of old things… As of July 2025, the WordPress Security Team will no longer provide security updates for versions 4.1 through 4.6. After all, over 99% of WordPress installations run on a more recent version. So, unless you’re running a museum of internet archeology, you’re probably safe. (Source)
- As of today, there are 92 bug fixes on Make WordPress Core that have been marked as “good first bugs” for newbie contributors to cut their teeth on when getting started. They’re well-contained, straightforward to solve and won’t lead you down a 47-browser-tab rabbit hole – hopefully! (Source)
Blogs & Resources You Shouldn’t Miss
Coding with AI is fun, until you remember users exist. (Just ask Brian Coords)
WordCamp organizing: 90% chaos, 10% caffeine-fueled miracles. Leo’s got the scars to prove it.
A story of resilience, purpose, and showing up, Stacy’s episode on Seriously, Bud will leave you inspired.
Kurt & Toby ask: Are we building the future… or just faking it till we break it?
Testing doesn’t have to suck. Ryan shows you how to automate the boring bits.
Inclusivity isn’t a checkbox, it’s a mindset. A thoughtful must-read for WordPress builders.
This interactive explainer by Brendan Bycroft walks you through how an LLM works – in a fun visual that actually makes sense.
Coffee Break Distractions
Reddit: Come for the memes and the cynical comments, but only if you’ve had your eyeballs verified.
Deborah Butler made a “Waiting Room” that’s a retro-themed fever dream with plenty of fun easter eggs.
Speaking of waiting times, here’s a relevant XKCD.
Not a designer? Not a problem. This tool makes your site look like you have taste.
WordPress is on TikTok now? We’re one dance away from “💅 hot girl dev tips.”
Nathan Wrigley’s worried about AI’s uncanny ability to get things wrong with confidence.
The fried egg is back by popular demand.
And finally…
Found this interesting? Forward it to someone who you think might also love it! 💗
