With the dust settling after the excitement of the WordPress 6.3 release, September 2023 set the stage for the next significant evolution: WordPress 6.4. As Beta testing kicked off, the WordPress project focused on refining user experience and enhancing performance across the platform.
Gutenberg 16.6 introduced powerful design updates, and developer blogs explored emerging APIs and hooks. While the community worked behind the scenes, new tools and themes continued to gain traction, making this a crucial transition month in the WordPress roadmap.
Mergers, Acquisitions, Investments
Matthaus Klute Acquires Social Link Pages Plugin
On September 25, 2023, Matthaus Klute announced the acquisition of the Social Link Pages plugin on WordPress.org. Known for his contributions to lightweight and user-focused WordPress solutions, Klute took over the plugin intending to refine its codebase, improve its UX, and expand its customization options.
With over 4,000 active installations, the plugin is often used as a Linktree-style alternative for social media bio links. This acquisition signals a renewed commitment to making minimalist tools more powerful and scalable in the WordPress plugin ecosystem.
WordPress Core Updates
WordPress 6.4 Beta 1 was released, introducing new features and improvements to enhance the user experience. The final release was scheduled for November 7, 2023.
Other WordPress News
- Gutenberg 16.6 was released, bringing updates like block hooks (auto-inserted blocks) and enhanced design tools for various blocks
- The WordPress Developer Blog highlighted new functions and hooks, including
wp_admin_notice()for standardized admin notices.
Security Alerts & Plugin Vulnerabilities
No significant security vulnerabilities were reported in September 2023.
Industry Trends & Insights
The WordPress community focused on refining the editing experience and preparing for the upcoming 6.4 release, emphasizing performance and usability enhancements.
Theme of the Month
Kadence
Kadence gained recognition for its lightweight design and extensive customization options, making it a preferred choice for developers and designers.
Plugin of the Month
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)
ACF remained a powerful tool for developers, enabling the creation of custom fields and enhancing the flexibility of WordPress websites.
Agency of the Month
Seahawk Media continued to provide exceptional WordPress services, including custom development, SEO optimization, and white-label solutions.
Host of the Month
Flywheel
Flywheel stood out for its user-friendly managed hosting services, offering features like staging environments and daily backups tailored for WordPress users.
Founder of the Month
Courtney Robertson – Open Source Advocate & Educator
For September 2023, we recognize Courtney Robertson, a prominent contributor to the WordPress Training Team and advocate for open-source education. As a Developer Advocate at GoDaddy Pro and co-representative on the WordPress Community Summit planning team, Courtney played a vital role in advancing learn.wordpress.org initiatives and curriculum planning during this period.
Her contributions in September were especially impactful in shaping inclusive learning pathways for developers and non-developers alike through the Training Team’s GitHub project. Courtney’s ongoing work exemplifies leadership in both education and community development within the WordPress ecosystem.
Looking Ahead to October 2023
The WordPress community anticipated the release of WordPress 6.4, with continued focus on enhancing the editing experience and introducing new features to empower users.