July 2019 was all about quiet progress in the WordPress ecosystem. No major release grabbed attention, but important work happened behind the scenes to improve performance, stability, and future readiness.
The community kept moving forward with strong momentum. From global WordCamp growth to better accessibility and rising security awareness, the platform continues to evolve in meaningful ways.
In this edition, you will find the key updates that truly matter. Core improvements, industry shifts, security alerts, and standout tools are shaping WordPress right now.
WordPress Core Updates
This month focused on steady progress across core development, with no major release but consistent improvements behind the scenes.
The work laid a strong foundation for upcoming updates and better overall stability.
- Overall Progress: Focus remained on preparation and refinement, ensuring smoother performance and readiness for future releases.
- 5.3 Development Kickoff: Early planning for WordPress 5.3 began, setting direction for upcoming features and improvements.
- 5.2 Maintenance Work: Contributors worked on bug fixes and issue resolution to stabilize the current version.
- Editor Improvements: Enhancements improved block speed, responsiveness, and overall editing experience.
- Block Directory Exploration: Initial discussions introduced the concept of installing individual blocks directly from the dashboard.
- Site Health Enhancements: Updates continued to improve visibility into system performance and configuration.
Other WordPress News
July brought a mix of community updates, safety concerns, and efforts to make WordPress easier for everyone to use. The focus remained on growth, inclusion, and user safety.
- WordCamp Asia Announcement: The first WordCamp Asia was announced, planned for February 2020 in Bangkok. This opened the door for a large community event in the region.
- WordCamp US KidsCamp Initiative: WordCamp US added KidsCamp and free childcare. This made it easier for people with families to attend and take part.
- WordCamp Europe Growth: WordCamp Europe in Berlin was the largest to date, with over 2,700 people from 97 countries. It showed how fast the community is growing worldwide.
- Malvertising Campaign Alert: A security issue was identified in which attackers used ads to redirect users to scam pages. This reminded site owners to keep plugins updated and stay careful.
- Theme Accessibility Push: The team began working to make all themes easier to use for everyone, including people who use assistive tools.
- Gutenberg Accessibility Improvements: Many issues in the block editor were reviewed and fixed to help users who rely on screen readers. This made editing content more comfortable for all users.
Security Alerts and Plugin Vulnerabilities
July highlighted several serious plugin issues that affected many websites. Vulnerabilities were found in popular plugins such as Ad Inserter, NextGEN Gallery, and GiveWP, exposing risks including code execution, data leaks, and database access. At the same time, ongoing threats like malvertising campaigns and malware from unsafe themes continued to target outdated sites.
These updates were a strong reminder to keep plugins and themes up to date at all times. Using trusted sources, avoiding nulled files, and regularly checking for security patches can help prevent most of these risks.
Industry Trends and Insights
July reflected a phase of steady growth and adjustment across the WordPress ecosystem. The focus stayed on scaling, improving performance, and adapting to ongoing changes in how websites are built.
- Market Growth: WordPress continued to lead the CMS space, powering a large share of websites, while WooCommerce strengthened its role in eCommerce.
- Hosting Shift: Larger hosting companies began acquiring smaller providers, signaling a move toward more structured, scalable services.
- Gutenberg Adoption: The block editor saw mixed adoption. Many users tested it, but some still preferred older editing methods.
- Performance Focus: There was a clear push toward faster, mobile-friendly websites with improved load times.
- Tech Upgrades: More users moved to newer PHP versions, improving both performance and security across sites.
Theme of the Month: Astra
Astra continued to stand out for its lightweight design and fast performance. It is built to load quickly, which improves both the user experience and search rankings.
The theme offers deep customization without slowing your site down. It works well with the block editor and popular page builders, making it easy to create different layouts. With ready-made starter templates and strong WooCommerce support, it fits blogs, business sites, and online stores with ease.
Plugin of the Month: FastPixel
FastPixel gained attention for its simple approach to website speed optimization. It helps reduce load times without requiring complex setup or technical knowledge.
The plugin handles key performance tasks, such as caching and file optimization, in the background. This makes it useful for site owners who want faster pages without spending time on manual tweaks. It works well for both small websites and larger projects that need consistent performance.
Agency of the Month: Seahawk Media
Seahawk Media remained a strong player in the WordPress services space. The agency focuses on development, site management, migrations, and ongoing support for businesses of all sizes.
Its WordPress-first approach helps deliver reliable and scalable solutions. With global teams and strong hosting partnerships, Seahawk supports both small businesses and large clients looking for long-term growth and stability.
Host of the Month: Bluehost
Bluehost remained a widely used hosting provider, especially for WordPress users starting out. It offers a simple setup process, making it easy to launch a website quickly.
The platform provides stable performance, built-in security features, and one-click WordPress installation. Its user-friendly dashboard and affordable plans make it a practical choice for beginners and growing websites alike.
Founder of the Month: Oliver Schlöbe (WP Reset)
Oliver Schlöbe is the creator of WP Reset, a widely used plugin that helps developers quickly clean, reset, and manage WordPress sites. His work focuses on making development faster and less stressful, especially when testing themes, plugins, or new features.
WP Reset became popular for its simple approach and powerful tools that save time during site setup and troubleshooting. Oliver’s focus on practical solutions has made his plugin a go-to choice for developers seeking greater control and efficiency in WordPress projects.
Looking Ahead to August 2019
August 2019 will keep the momentum going with a strong focus on core stability, Gutenberg improvements, and better performance practices.
Expect more progress toward upcoming releases, smoother editing experiences, and a clear push toward modern standards, such as PHP upgrades and stronger security. Overall, WordPress will continue to evolve with practical updates that make building and managing sites faster, safer, and easier.