Major New WordPress Update

The highly anticipated WordPress 5.0 officially launched on 6th December 2018, delivering substantial changes to the widely used website platform. This latest update marks one of the biggest transformations in WordPress’s history, particularly with the introduction of the new Gutenberg editor.

Why WordPress 5.0 Is Exciting

One of the reasons we love working with WordPress is its commitment to evolution and innovation. As an open-source platform, WordPress benefits from both the expertise of its dedicated development team and contributions from a global network of developers creating themes, plugins and design tools. The WordPress 5.0 release brings all of this together, presenting users with Gutenberg—a powerful, block-based editor designed to simplify and enhance content creation.

However, with any major update, especially one as significant as this, we recommend taking a few precautions before diving in.

WordPress 5.0: Update with Caution

There’s been much excitement around this update and understandably, many users are keen to experience the new features. WordPress has released several beta versions of 5.0 since October, but with the full version now available, you may be wondering if you should update immediately or wait for any early issues to be addressed.

Our recommendation? As with all major updates, it’s best to wait a few days or even a couple of weeks before installing. Allow time for any immediate bugs or compatibility issues to be ironed out in subsequent minor releases, particularly if your site relies heavily on third-party plugins.

What’s New in WordPress 5.0?

The star of this release is, without a doubt, the Gutenberg editor. Gutenberg is a block-based editor that allows you to design content in a modular way, meaning each section of your post or page can be individually edited and moved around. This editor transforms the way users interact with their site content by introducing a more visual, flexible approach.

Here’s a quick overview of the major changes:

Block-Based Content Layout: Gone are the days of a single content box. Instead, Gutenberg introduces individual blocks for each type of content (e.g., text, images, video, etc.), which you can arrange and edit as you like. Think of it as building with virtual LEGO bricks—intuitive, customisable and easy to use, even if you have minimal experience with content management.
Improved Design Flexibility: With Gutenberg, you can add and adjust blocks to achieve your ideal layout. For users without extensive design knowledge, this update offers newfound creative freedom, while those more familiar with web design can enjoy even greater customisation.
Reusable Blocks: For businesses creating consistent content across their site, Gutenberg lets you save blocks to use again elsewhere, saving time and ensuring design consistency.

Compatibility Considerations

While Gutenberg is promising, remember that the power of WordPress lies in its extensive library of third-party plugins and themes. Some plugins and themes may not yet be compatible with Gutenberg, which could cause site errors or disrupt functionality. If you rely on custom plugins or a unique theme, be cautious and check for compatibility before updating.

How to Check Compatibility

Review Plugin and Theme Compatibility: Visit the plugin and theme repositories to check if updates for WordPress 5.0 have been released.
Test in a Staging Environment: If possible, test WordPress 5.0 on a staging site first. This gives you the chance to observe any issues without affecting your live site.
Back Up Your Site: Before updating, back up your site to ensure that you have a recovery point in case anything goes wrong. WordPress updates are generally stable, but it’s best to take precautions with an update of this magnitude.

Not a Fan of Gutenberg?

If the new editor feels like too much of a change, you’re not alone! For those who prefer the classic editor, WordPress has released the Classic Editor Plugin, which will restore the familiar editing environment. The plugin is supported until 2022, giving you time to adjust and gradually adopt Gutenberg if you choose.

What’s Our Advice?

Don’t rush the update. With all major updates, it’s wise to wait and see if there are any bugs or minor issues reported by early adopters. In most cases, initial releases are followed by a few minor updates to fix unexpected problems and improve stability.
Make a full site backup. Before any major update, it’s essential to back up your entire site. This will protect you from potential data loss or downtime in case of any complications.
Consider waiting until the New Year. With WordPress 5.0 launching in December, many businesses are busy with holiday campaigns and promotions. To avoid disruption, you may want to schedule the update for a quieter time—especially if your site is an essential tool for sales or customer engagement over the festive season.