This post will be updated as more WordPress 3.2 information is revealed. Don’t forget to check back regularly and to spread-the-word by clicking on the “Tweet” or “Like” buttons at the bottom of this post!
It only seems yesterday that the world welcomed WordPress 3.1 and all its new features with much excitement and acclaim. This week, WordPress Developer Mark Jaquith revealed the plans for WordPress 3.2. Naturally excited, the team here at WordCast thought it would be best to help spread the good word about what to expect.
Key Features
Making WordPress lighter and faster
Google Chrome won significant browser-market segment – and became the browser-of-choice by WordCast’s editorial team – by realising the marketing the power of speed perception. It is this notion of speed perception that caused great celebration in the WordCast offices when WordPress 3.1 introduced a speedier linking capability.
The development emphasis for WordPress 3.2 will be making WordPress load and feel faster via: (1) possible inclusion of PHP lazy loading and patch to make the administration menu load faster by Core Developer of WordPress Andrew Nacin; (2) improvement of the dashboard speed by not doing async requests; and (3) FTP improvements by WordPress Developer Dion Hulse.
An addition dropping of support for outdated technologies will occur; more specifically:
- Finalization of the API for third party use and more flexibility;
- Investigation of “List Table XHR loading”;
- Requirement of PHP 5.2.4. Focus on “dropping the old” rather than “adding the new”; and
- Requirement of MySQL 5. Note: Do not change queries.
Distraction-free writing
WordPress already has a rough distraction-free writing option in its fullscreen offering. 2010 was the year that saw the rise of the distraction-free writing concept with the rise of OmmWriter and WriteRoom (see right), products that offer a writing experience outside the notion of simply tapping-on-your-keyboard.
The idea? To immerse yourself in an environment conducive to pure writing with the removal of all distractions. Any addition, such as ambient music, would be geared towards greater inspiration.
WordPress is evolving their writing capabilities into the inspired, experiential realm by incorporating the ideas and concepts of distraction-free writing to replace full screen editing similar to OmmWriter, WriteRoom and QuietWrite to make the writing experience more “lightweight and calming”.
Distraction-free writing by QuietWrite.
Changed-files-only upgrades
Changed-files-only upgrades from within the same major version (i.e. WordPress 3.2.1 to 3.2.2 etc.).
Additional Features
- Faster release cycles than WordPress 3.1
- Timelines and assignments for the development of WordPress 3.2 will be decided next week.
- Addition of a “use a real browser” nag for Internet Explorer 6 users if BrowseHappy is updated in time.
How You Can Contribute to WordPress
Excited about WordPress 3.2? We are. Development of WordPress however comes from the efforts of volunteers such as yourself.
Contributing to WordPress is surprisingly easy. If you want to know more WordPress Developer Dion Hulse gives us a run-down on how you can participate in WordPress’ thriving community and contribute to WordPress development.
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I’m absolutely looking forward to a lighter and speedier WordPress release. If Chrome can win market segment on perceived speediness and the public loving them for providing the rapid responsiveness in their application, more power to WordPress for realizing the value in perception.
You’re not the only one looking forward to the speed increase.
I am abundantly pleased with WordPress 3.1′s linking speed increase and can hardly wait for all the extra speed increases they will come with WordPress 3.2. The link speed increase in WordPress 3.1 was a small touch but it is all the cumulative small touches that result in a bullet.
The consequence? A much more pleasant writing experience.
I’ll give you an amen to that one Kym.
A lighter speedier WordPress would be awesome. I love the linking within 3.1, and that saves me so much time linking back to older entries and the like.
WP 3.1 was a great step forward, hopefully 3.2 is another great step forward