October 15, 2023 — In this workshop, learn how to adapt a shortcode-based plugin so that it also renders content in a custom block for use in the WordPress editor. The plugin will therefore no longer need to rely on the build-in Shortcode Block.

Starting with a scaffolded project, you will go on to build out a dynamic block that works with a CPT (Custom Post Type) and a CT (Custom Taxonomy). Learn how to use the hooks provided by the @wordpress/core-data package to pull content into the editor while also ensuring that the content is correctly rendered in the front-end. You will also learn how to use block attributes both in the editor and in the front-end.

You will learn how a dynamic block differs from a static block and the use cases for each.

If you already have, or are thinking of building, a plugin that uses a shortcode to render content, and would like to learn how to also render that content in a block, this workshop is for you.

July 26, 2023 — Styling blocks: empowering users with CSS custom properties

It’s important not to be too prescriptive when developing blocks, and to allow users to have as much control as possible over the look and feel of the blocks on their websites.

In this edition of WordPress Developer Hours we talk about CSS custom properties (also known as CSS variables) and look at how you can leverage them in blocks to give users more control over the styling and presentation of their sites.

First up, Michael Burridge presents a solution to a common problem, i.e. how to allow users to have control over the styling of inner elements in blocks which have complex markup. While it’s relatively simple to allow users to style a block at the root level, this presentation looks at how you can assign the values stored in block attributes to CSS custom properties and use them to apply user-defined styling to child-elements in both static and dynamic blocks.

Then, for the second presentation of the session, Justin Tadlock shows you how to integrate CSS custom properties into your block stylesheets that play nicely with themes. The technique used integrates block plugins and theme.json while still giving preference to user choice.

Whether you’re just starting out with block development or have built dozens of blocks already, this WordPress Developer Hours session is for you, and you’re sure to learn a ton.

April 3, 2023 — Join us for a discussion about migrating a shortcode or widget based plugin to blocks. Learn from your peers and from experts. This is also an opportunity to share any hurdles or pain-points you’ve encountered and discover how to overcome them.

February 15, 2023 — Developer Hours are informal discussions where WordPress developers can talk about a variety of related topics with both peers and experts.

In this session 12 developers talk about adding a block implementation of a shortcode or widget to an existing plugin.

Presentation Slides »

January 29, 2018 — In this talk, we’ll look at some of the problems and issues with responsive design and then we’ll look at how to get around these by developing a theme which is not just responsive but genuinely and entirely fluid.

The aim will be a theme where the layout remains consistent, proportional, reliable, and exactly as the designer intentioned, whatever the width of the viewport.