WordPress Gutenberg Update: What you need to know

How is Gutenberg different from the current way of editing in WordPress?

Currently, the WordPress editor revolves around an existing knowledge of shortcodes and HTML. On previous versions of the platform, your content existed inside one HTML file, and updates and changes were done via coding shortcodes and embeds etc. Editors were required to have a good understanding of coding to create passable sites in WordPress.

The Gutenberg update seeks to replace this with a building block system that allows editors to add more advanced features and options with ease. This block system is similar to the page builder system as it gives personalized tool kit with the building blocks to create a functional and superior website. Users can also create their own personalised blocks and save and reuse them for future projects.

The Gutenberg update was designed to simplify the building process and common formatting elements such as shortcodes, plugins and widgets. Ultimately, it is designed in the hopes that it will allow builders an easy way to insert rich content into WordPress.

Where has this update come from?

The Gutenberg update is a competitive reaction to Wordpress competitors Wix and Squarespace. Their growing popularity and ease of access make them a big draw for website building and coding beginners. Skeptics of the update have suggested that it is a direct answer to Wordpress’ less specialised competitors and is an injustice to what the platform is really capable of. Although it faces some criticism, the update is still in it’s testing phase and has time to debug the system.

Conclusion

It seems that the Gutenberg update has great intentions around improving the building process. It is rooted in a desire to provide a baseline platform for all creators to use, regardless of experience or knowledge. Of course, more experienced WordPress users and builders can utilise the update to make their building process quicker and more convenient.