WordPress 6.8 Beta 1 Is Here

The first beta of WordPress 6.8 is here! This release brings performance improvements, security enhancements, and a better editor experience. However, do not install this beta on a live website. Instead, test it in a local environment or a staging site.

WordPress 6.8 Beta 1 – Now Available for Testing!

How to Test WordPress 6.8 Beta 1

Help improve WordPress by testing this beta version. Here’s how you can get started:

1. Use the WordPress Beta Tester Plugin

   • Install the WordPress Beta Tester plugin.
   • Activate it and select “Bleeding edge” → “Beta/RC Only” stream.

2. Download the ZIP File

   • Manually install WordPress 6.8 Beta 1 using the Beta 1 ZIP file.

3. Update via WP-CLI

   • Run: wp core update --version=6.8-beta1 (WP-CLI guide).

4. Test in WordPress Playground

   • Instantly try the beta in your browser using WordPress Playground.

📅 Final Release Date: April 15, 2025
🛠 Your feedback helps ensure a stable and polished release!

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Why Your Testing Matters

WordPress thrives on community contributions. Whether you’re a developer, designer, or casual user, your feedback is invaluable.

• Report Bugs: Share issues in the Alpha/Beta Support Forum.
• Advanced Bug Reports: Submit detailed issues via WordPress Trac.
• Check Existing Issues: Review open 6.8 milestone tickets before reporting.

📢 New to testing? Join the #core-test Slack channel and follow Make Core for guidance.

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What’s New in WordPress 6.8 Beta 1?

This update refines existing features while introducing key improvements in performance, security, and usability.

1. Editor Enhancements

• Data Views: A new, easier way to manage posts, pages, and media.
• Query Loop Block: Now includes an option to ignore sticky posts for cleaner layouts (Issue #68036).
• Style Book for Classic Themes: Preview typography, colors, and blocks in themes using theme.json or editor-styles.css. (Appearance > Design)

2. Speculation Rules API Integration

WordPress 6.8 now supports the Speculation Rules API to prefetch links on hover, improving page load speed.

• By Default: Conservative prefetching for optimized performance without overloading the server.
• Customization: Developers can modify behavior using filters (Trac #62503).

3. Security Upgrades

• Bcrypt Password Hashing: Replaces outdated MD5, significantly strengthening security (Full details).
• Security Bounty Doubled: Earn rewards for reporting vulnerabilities between March 4 – April 15 via HackerOne.

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Known Issues & Caveats

• Upgrading from WordPress 5.1 or Earlier May Fail: Due to changeset r59803, testing upgrades from older versions is currently paused.
• Gutenberg Features Merged: Includes updates from Gutenberg 19.4–20.4. Read the What’s New in Gutenberg updates.

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Next Steps Before Final Release

• Follow the WordPress 6.8 release cycle for updates.
• Explore 230+ resolved Core tickets in this release (Full list).

🎉 Beta 1 Haiku

March winds shift the tide,
Hands unite in open source;
WordPress moves ahead.

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Explore More

🔹 WordPress Documentation
🔹 Gutenberg 20.4 Highlights
🔹 Five for the Future

📅 Stay tuned for Release Candidate 1 (RC 1) on March 25! 🚀

🚀 WooCommerce Has a New Look! Here’s Why It Matters

WooCommerce just unveiled a brand-new logo, and it’s more than just a design update—it signals an exciting evolution for the platform! But what does this mean for businesses, developers, and store owners?

🔹 Discover the inspiration behind the rebrand
🔹 Learn how this change reflects WooCommerce’s future vision
🔹 Find out what’s next for WooCommerce and how it impacts you

👉 Read the full story here: Did You Know WooCommerce Changed Its Logo?

Stay ahead of the curve and see how WooCommerce is evolving! 🚀