Make WordPress Core·6wPHP-only block registration
WordPress now supports PHP-only block registration, allowing developers to create simple blocks without any JavaScript. By calling register_block_type with the new autoRegister flag and a render_callback, blocks automatically appear in the editor. The editor also auto-generates Inspector Controls sidebar UI for supported attribute types, making it easier to build server-side-rendered blocks with minimal setup.
WordPress Developer·5wWhat’s new for developers? (March 2026)
WordPress 7.0 is approaching RC1 (scheduled March 19, 2026), with Beta 3 now available. Key highlights include real-time collaboration (RTC) using HTTP polling and CRDT via Yjs, AI provider packages (OpenAI, Google, Anthropic) integrated through a shared php-ai-client interface, and visual in-editor revision tracking with color-coded overlays. Other notable additions: new WP-CLI wp block and ability commands, phpMyAdmin support in wp-env Playground runtime, PHP-only block registration, pseudo-element support in theme.json, ContentOnly pattern editing mode, a new Icon block with SVG registration API, gallery lightbox image navigation, and expanded text-align block support. Several Dev Notes have been published covering the Interactivity API changes, DataViews/DataForm updates, navigation overlays, and more.
Make WordPress Core·4wCustom CSS for Individual Block Instances in WordPress 7.0
WordPress 7.0 adds a new `customCSS` block support that lets users apply custom CSS directly to individual block instances from the post or site editor. Previously, targeting a single block required a two-step workaround involving custom class names and the global CSS field. The new feature adds a Custom CSS input in the block inspector's Advanced panel, gated by the `edit_css` capability. CSS is stored in the block's `style` attribute under a `css` key, and at render time a unique hash-based class is generated and scoped using `:root :where()` to ensure proper cascade order after Global Styles. The support is enabled by default for all blocks, with an opt-out via `block.json`. Several core blocks like `core/freeform` and `core/html` opt out by default. Plugin and theme developers using server-side rendering should ensure their block's outermost tag is a standard HTML element.
Make WordPress Core·3wIntroducing the AI Client in WordPress 7.0
WordPress 7.0 introduces a built-in AI Client — a provider-agnostic PHP API that allows plugins to send prompts to AI models and receive results through a consistent interface. The entry point is wp_ai_client_prompt(), which returns a fluent WP_AI_Client_Prompt_Builder object. It supports text generation, image generation, speech, video, and multimodal outputs. Plugin developers can specify model preferences, perform feature detection before showing AI UI, and handle errors using standard WP_Error conventions. The architecture separates a provider-agnostic PHP SDK from a WordPress-specific wrapper. API keys are managed via the Connectors API, and WordPress Core ships without bundled providers — instead relying on official provider plugins. Migration guidance is provided for developers already using the php-ai-client or wp-ai-client packages.
WP Mayor·4wDiscovering Quill CRM: A Self-Hosted WordPress CRM With WhatsApp Marketing Built In
Quill CRM is a self-hosted WordPress plugin that centralizes customer data, sales pipelines, and multi-channel marketing (email, SMS, WhatsApp) in one place. It integrates natively with popular WordPress plugins like WooCommerce, Gravity Forms, LearnDash, and LifterLMS, storing all data in your own database. Key features include drag-and-drop visual pipelines, lead scoring, website visitor tracking, A/B testing, and WhatsApp Business API support — a rare capability among WordPress CRMs. Pricing starts at $69/year for a single site with unlimited contacts across all tiers, plus lifetime license options.