WordPress 5.9 Beta 4 Fixes 20 Bugs, Polishes Workflow for Switching to a Block Theme – WP Tavern
WordPress 5.9 beta 4 was launched this week with fixes for 20 bugs since beta 3. There are a number of vital adjustments to notice on this launch relating to how the WordPress admin will direct customers who’re exploring block themes.
Previous to a repair in beta 4, it was doable for customers to switch to a block theme within the Customizer. This has been modified in order that customers will see a banner notifying them that the block theme is incompatible, in the event that they attempt to change throughout the Customizer. Right here’s the commit message:
Beginning in 5.9, block themes are usually not suitable with (don’t assist) Customizer; quite, they use the Web site Editor. Viewing put in themes in Customizer, this commit provides an overlay message to alert customers and provides them a strategy to activate the block theme. Clicking on the “Activate” button prompts the block theme and redirects again to the Look > Themes interface, the place the consumer can then enter the Web site Editor for personalization.
Non-block themes are usually not affected by this variation and proceed to work in Customizer.
Having themes work solely within the web site editor or the Customizer, relying on which they assist, is more likely to be a complicated workflow for customers when testing themes. This incompatibility message and redirection is critical however not preferrred for the long run. Streamlining the customization workflow will rely upon how shortly the WordPress group is ready to produce and undertake block themes.
Some testers additionally reported that the Web site Editor doesn’t enable customers to edit or preview non-active block themes. The preview solely works with energetic themes. This isn’t essentially a bug however quite a characteristic that must be mentioned for the longer term. A ticket is open within the Gutenberg repository, recommending the implementation of a Dwell Preview for non-active block themes.
Featured patterns from the sample listing needs to be displayed beneath Patterns within the the block inserter, however for some motive this wasn’t included in 5.9. It has been backported in beta 4.
This beta additionally provides a filter that permits builders to disable the login display screen language switcher, which is a new feature coming in 5.9.
The discharge staff has decided {that a} fifth beta won’t be obligatory, as of yesterday’s core dev chat. The revised 5.9 release schedule has RC1 transport on January 4, 2022, and the official launch on January 25.
