March 18, 2019 — WordPress 5.0 introduces a new block editor called “Gutenberg” and if you’re a WordPress developer, you need to know how to build blocks. This talk is for developers who have already created basic blocks and are ready to build more complex blocks and to migrate legacy shortcodes as well as meta boxes to blocks.

This talk will cover using modern JavaScript development tools including webpack for WordPress block plugins. We will look at constructing block interfaces out of Gutenberg components, creating your own components that can be shared between the editor and the front-end and using WordPress’ Redux-like state management.

Presentation Slides »

January 22, 2019 — We now think in blocks, this is the new “WordPress way”. In this talk you will learn how to build a block. We will cover creating a user interface in the new “Gutenberg” UI system, saving data and displaying it in the front-end. If you’re wondering what it means to build a custom block or extend a core block, this is for you.

This is a talk aimed at intermediate to advanced developers, who already know JavaScript somewhat deeply. Think of it as a getting started guide to a new way of working with WordPress that we’re just getting started learning how to work with.

Presentation Slides »

January 11, 2019 — WordPress 5.0 introduces a new block editor called “Gutenberg” and if you’re a WordPress developer, you need to know how to build blocks. This talk is for developers who have already created basic blocks and are ready to build more complex blocks and to migrate legacy shortcodes as well as meta boxes to blocks.

This talk will cover using modern JavaScript development tools including webpack for WordPress block plugins. We will look at constructing block interfaces out of Gutenberg components, creating your own components that can be shared between the editor and the front-end and using WordPress’ Redux-like state management.

December 11, 2018 — WordPress 5.0 introduces a new block editor called “Gutenberg” and if you’re a WordPress developer, you need to know how to build blocks. This talk will get you started.

You will learn, what Gutenberg is and when you should create your own blocks. Then we will cover how to load CSS and JavaScript files for blocks, how to create blocks with static content and editable blocks. This talk is aimed at developers familiar with JavaScript.

July 15, 2018

February 16, 2018 — WordPress has grown from blogging tool, to flexible CMS to an application platform. As the web development world embraces micro-services, how does WordPress, which is normally implemented as a monolithic solution fit in and evolve? In this talk, I will look at what makes WordPress a good choice for application development, as well as where it is lacking. To put these questions in context, this talk will be framed around a case-study of a hybrid web app, built using WordPress and other tools including VueJS, Laravel and Amazon Web Services.

December 20, 2017 — I had a great time interviewing Josh. We have run across each other a few times since we first met at WCUS 2015.

We talk about WCUS 2017 and his presentation which can be found at WordPress TV – https://wordpress.tv/2017/12/10/josh-pollock-five-attitudes-stopping-you-from-building-accessible-wordpress-websites/

Josh has been spending time working with the Gutenberg Editor and creating plugins.

We discuss the pros and cons of big WordCamps versus smaller WordCamps.

He is a big proponent of the WordPress Community and always has time to help people.

One thing that I neglected to tell Josh. This is the 70th interview that I have done since June of last year.

Thanks Josh!

December 10, 2017 — This talk will be given in a room that is specifically designed – as mandated by law – to be accessible to those with disabilities. Like our physical spaces, the web has accessibility standards too, but we don’t always take those seriously, as we’re not always legally required to do so.

We’re not all accessibility experts, but our job is to put valid HTML on a page. If 18.7% of the population can’t use what you create, are you doing your job? In this talk, we will look at attitudes that hold us back from creating web experiences for everyone. The point isn’t to complain, but to move paste these assumptions towards better understanding and to start learning. This talk isn’t being given by an accessibility expert, and you don’t have to be one to attend it, either. We’re here because we want everyone to be able to consume the HTML we generate.

October 8, 2017 — WordPress now includes a full featured REST API with default routes for content and the ability for plugins to add additional routes. This provide new ways to read and write data on your WordPress sites that is perfect for use with JavaScript-driven interfaces, apps and more. But do you know what exactly what is available and how to use each route?

Every WordPress site is unique, so every site’s REST API will be different. In this talk you will learn how to use route discovery to learn the answers to each of these questions, for every site.

Presentation Slides »

October 6, 2017 — WordPress has grown from blogging tool, to flexible CMS to an application platform. As the web development world embraces micro-services, how does WordPress, which is normally implemented as a monolithic solution fit in and evolve? In this talk, I will look at what makes WordPress a good choice for application development, as well as where it is lacking. To put these questions in context, this talk will be framed around a case-study of a hybrid web app, built using WordPress and other tools including VueJS, Laravel and Amazon Web Services.