The updates for the beta of the new WordPress editor Gutenberg now seem to be coming thick and fast, as a new version of the beta was also released last week. The community is also talking about the phenomenon of the 'German Bubble'. And WordCamp Nederland will be making a comeback in 2018.
Gutenberg updates come one after the other
The second beta update for the new WordPress editor Gutenberg was released last Friday. It brings some useful new features, but primarily serves to standardize the code and optimize the user interface. And indeed, the new features for authors make working with Gutenberg even faster and more intuitive. However, important publisher functions, such as the integration of SEO plugins, are still missing.
Let the 'German bubble' burst!
In his latest blog post, Felix Arntz addresses what others have already observed: The 'German Bubble' of the German WordPress community is almost impossible for non-Germans to penetrate. What Arntz means by this is the fact that Germans tend to keep to themselves - and thus to their comfort zone - even at international WordCamps. This tends to exclude community members who speak other languages.
Arntz appeals for WordCamps to be seen less as a class reunion of the German bubble and more as an international community event. The comments in the article suggest that some Germans welcome this approach. This includes Caspar Hübinger, for example. And even those who have nothing against the 'German bubble' per se criticize the fact that we Germans rarely switch to English as soon as someone non-German joins us. Perhaps things will go better at WordCamp Europe in Belgrade in 2018. Even if we Germans are "just a funny bunch" 😉
WordCamp Netherlands is coming back
Next year there will probably be another WordCamp Nederland. In March 2017, the application for a WCNL was rejected because the WordPress Community Support had decided that there should only be city-based WordCamps. Regional WordCamps such as WCUS and WCEU are exempt from this rule. This rule has now been relaxed, but the comeback of WordCamp Nederland is subject to conditions. The organizers may already start planning, but there must first be three city-based WordCamps in the Netherlands before WCNL 2018 can take place.
More news at a glance
Gutenberg feedback call
How is your experience with the beta version of the Gutenberg Editor? The test team actively encourages feedback and suggestions for improvement.
WordCamp Europe 2017 balance sheet
WCEU 2017 in figures: 1900 participants, 24 percent no-show rate, 45 organizers, 221 volunteers, 42 speakers, 32 sponsors and 3 media partners.
