Each WordPress release celebrates an artist who has made an indelible mark on the world of music. WordPress 6.9, code-named “Gene,” honors the American Jazz pianist Gene Harris. A piano veteran, self taught at the age of six, Harris infused mainstream jazz with elements of soul, blues, and gospel, creating a warm, signature sound that is both elegant […]
WordPress 6.9 Release Candidate 3
The third Release Candidate (“RC3”) for WordPress 6.9 is ready for download and testing! This version of the WordPress software is under development. Please do not install, run, or test this version of WordPress on production or mission-critical websites. Instead, it’s recommended that you evaluate RC3 on a test server and site. Reaching this phase of the release […]
WordPress 6.9 Release Candidate 2
The second Release Candidate (“RC2”) for WordPress 6.9 is ready for download and testing! This version of the WordPress software is under development. Please do not install, run, or test this version of WordPress on production or mission-critical websites. Instead, it’s recommended that you evaluate RC2 on a test server and site. Reaching this phase of the release […]
WordPress 6.9 Frontend Performance Field Guide
This post is the latest in a series of updates focused on the performance improvements of major releases (see 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, and 6.2). WordPress 6.9 is the second and final major release of 2025. It includes numerous improvements to the performance of loading pages on the frontend: Scripts: improve script loading performance by adding […]
WordPress 6.9 Release Candidate 1
The first Release Candidate (“RC1”) for WordPress 6.9 is ready for download and testing! This version of the WordPress software is still under development. Please do not install, run, or test this version of WordPress on production or mission-critical websites. Instead, it’s recommended to evaluate RC1 on a test server and site. WordPress 6.9 RC1 can be tested […]
FAIR and Patchstack Build Security MVP at CloudFest USA Hackathon
This story was produced in collaboration with Mark Szymanski and Adam Weeks. Check out Mark’s full interview with the CloudFest USA Hackathon leads. Real-time security labeling for WordPress plugins and themes is one step closer to reality. At the first CloudFest USA Hackathon in Miami on November 4, contributors from the FAIR Package Manager project, Patchstack, and several […]
Real-Time Collaboration Flagged for WordPress 7.0 Amid Ongoing Technical Challenges
WordPress is moving closer to Google Docs-style collaborative editing. In an update on Phase 3 of the Gutenberg roadmap posted this week, Automattic-sponsored contributor Anne McCarthy revealed real-time collaboration has been flagged for “possible inclusion” in WordPress 7.0, expected in 2026. Work is currently underway to “extend and improve” the experimental implementation of the feature… Source
Letters of Protest Fail to Stop ‘Managed WordPress’ and ‘Hosted WordPress’ U.S. Trademark Bids
The WordPress Foundation’s bid to trademark “Managed WordPress” and “Hosted WordPress” in the United States remains on track for registration after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently reviewed evidence showing the phrases have been widely used across the hosting industry for more than a decade — and decided it wasn’t enough to refuse them. The applications… […]
WordPress 6.9 Beta 3
WordPress 6.9 Beta 3 is available for download and testing! This beta version of the WordPress software is still under development. Please don’t install, run, or test this version of WordPress on production or mission-critical websites. Instead, you can evaluate Beta 3 on a test server and site. WordPress 6.9 Beta 3 can be tested using any of […]
State of the Word 2025 Set for San Francisco, Coinciding With WordPress 6.9 Release
WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg will deliver this year’s State of the Word in San Francisco on December 2, the same day WordPress 6.9 is set for release — a first for the project, turning the keynote into both a reflection and product launch. This year’s address will feature Mullenweg’s keynote alongside “special guests,” demos of WordPress 6.9, a […]
