For “Cool Kids” Only

Stick around to the end to see an unbe-leaf-able trick for getting into the cinema for free.

In today’s edition:

• New ccTLDs unleashed: A special gift from .us to .you.
• WordPress 6.9 beta coming soon: The stretchy blocks are hung by the chimney with care and we can hardly stand the wait!
• FAIR 1.0 launches: Your plugins now come stamped, sealed, delivered… and yes, they’re yours.

Hot Off The Presses: What’s New?

We’ve all been there, right?

Looking at your past work can be a good reminder that code often ages like milk, not wine.

But the good news? Every “what the heck was I thinking?” moment is proof that you’ve leveled up.

Just keep going. Accept that you’re going to do stuff that might make Past You impressed, but will definitely make Future You facepalm. It’s just part of the process.

In the meantime, here’s what’s new in WordPress:

Who’s the FAIR-est Of Them All?

Federated and Independent Repositories just hit version 1.0, meaning you can finally trust the plugins you install… imagine that!

Now you can control your own trusted plugin hub, whether pulling from WordPress.org or independent FAIR sources, all while staying GDPR- and regulation-friendly.

Each package gets a cryptographic signature stamp of approval (think digital wax seal) and its own DID—Decentralized Identifier, not Dissociative Identity Disorder.

That means WAY more control over your software, plus plugin authors can publish without relying on centralized platforms.

Other FAIR-ly cool perks:

• Results powered by AspireCloud, now with a major search performance glow-up.
• Mini-FAIR Repo plugin to share plugins or themes straight from GitHub, GitLab, Gitea, or Bitbucket.
• Curated FAIR newsfeed bringing WordPress events right into your dashboard. Why leave your admin panel?

For the first time, all these pieces come together in one full stack, and the future of decentralized, verifiable package management looks… well, FAIR-ly bright.

👉 Read the official release.

👉 Install FAIR and give it a go!

The First Beta for WordPress 6.9 is Officially Less Than a Month Away!

*Ahem*

Alright chipmunks, ready to sing your song?

🎵 Release, Release time is near
Time to launch and time to cheer,
We’ve been good, but we can’t last
Hurry 6.9, hurry fast!

Want templates that walk the walk,
Me I want a streeechhyy block!

We can hardly stand the wait
Please, 6.9, don’t be late! 🎶

Beta 1 begins October 21st!

In the meantime, you can grab WordPress 6.8.3… and you probably should since it’s a security release that includes two fixes to patch data exposure and XSS vulnerabilities. Get your sites updated ASAP to make sure everything’s still locked down.

Also, Gutenberg 21.7 has entered the chat, and it’s sporting some snazzy new features, like Site Editor navigation commands that are available on all screens and an experimental Terms Query block.

New ccTLD, who dis?

Wanna show users your site is local and trusted?

We just took the next step in our secret world domination plan: four new country-code top-level domains!

New extensions you can now register:

• .com.au: For Aussie businesses that want to show they’re totally fair dinkum.
• .us: The official domain of the U.S.A., perfect for targeting American audiences.
• .net.au: Ideal for ISPs, network providers, and tech services Down Under.
• .nl: A trusted European extension, linked to the Netherlands.

These ccTLDs make it easier to connect with local audiences and signal to Google that your site targets a specific country, boosting local search rankings.

Not feeling these? We’ve got 267+ others, from classics like .com, .net, .org to quirky options like .mom, .fun, .bingo, or even .party.

Imagine the fun you could have with a .party website!

👉 Read the blog post.
👉 See all 267+ domain extensions

Mind Bloggling Facts & Stats

• Automattic hosted the 9th biannual TSNS on A8C 5k relay on September 25th, with 60+ runners joining from around the world. (Source)
• WordCamp Asia should target 60% regional speakers, says WPAPAC. The last two editions fell short, at under 40%. (Source)
• Like a Universal Translator built into your comms badge: WP World now lets you chat boldly in 130+ languages with people you couldn’t reach before. (Source)

Blogs & Resources You Shouldn’t Miss

“Am I responsible for SEO when I’m building a client website?” (Spoiler alert, if you want repeat business, the answer is yes.)

Kevin Powell asks, “Why don’t more people know how awesome CSS is!?!?”

Think your CSS is pretty slick? This code quality checker tool will give you an honest assessment.

Full speaker list for Enqueue in Sydney on November 28th just dropped. It’s been called the “best lineup of any WordPress event this year.” 👀

Get ready to spill the accessibili-tea: WP Accessibility Day will be live-streaming for free for 24 hours on October 15th. 🍵

Speaking of making your sites more accessible: Elijah Mills created this handy quick demo of the Block Accessibility Checks plugin.

Coffee Break Distractions

Nick… you want to attract the attention of “The Cool Kids”? The thing that made middle school unbearable?!? 😬

Shining a light on dark patterns: Caroline Sinders documents how companies make unsubscribing harder than breaking up with your clingy ex.

Nerd Project of the Month: Turning a Lego Game Boy into an actual working Game Boy.

Wapuu throws some shade at the Druplicon.

Damn… I’m really craving some Cake in a Jar right now.

Tammie Lister is celebrating Blocktober by building a new block every day with Telex. (ASCII Tetris is our fave so far!)

Meanwhile, Jeff Paul used Telex to build a playable version of Pong. (Why are re-creations of retro video games always the first thing we build with new tools?)

And finally…

A sneaking-in idea straight out of a cartoon.

Love this mix of nerdery and nonsense? Forward it to your favorite WordPress weirdo. 💗