Bryan Veloso

Category: Software

  • What’s Coming in WordPress 7.0: A Look at the New Features and Improvements

    WordPress has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a blogging platform. With every major release, it continues to evolve into a more powerful and user-friendly content management system. As we look ahead to WordPress 7.0, set for release later this year, the core team has announced some exciting new features that promise to enhance both the user and developer experience.

    Here’s a breakdown of what’s coming in WP 7.0 and why it matters.

    Full-Site Editing (FSE) Gets Smarter

    While Full-Site Editing was introduced in previous versions, WP 7.0 will refine and expand its capabilities. Expect:

    – Smarter block-based theme tools
    – Global style variations that make switching between designs seamless
    – Improved template browsing and creation directly from the Site Editor
    – Enhanced navigation block customization, finally matching the flexibility of traditional menus

    These updates are designed to give both designers and non-coders greater control over site appearance—without needing to touch PHP.

    Performance Boosts

    Performance remains a top priority, and version 7.0 introduces several under-the-hood improvements:

    – Improved object caching, especially for REST API responses
    – Enhanced lazy loading for images and iframes, reducing page load times
    – A new defer” attribute added to script loading for better Core Web Vitals
    – Database query optimization in multisite setups

    Whether you’re running a blog or a WooCommerce store, these enhancements will help your site run faster and smoother.

    Block Editor Enhancements

    The Gutenberg editor gets a significant upgrade with:

    – New blocks: Table of contents, image comparison, progress bar
    – Block-level revisions, letting you revert changes to individual blocks
    – Improved drag-and-drop functionality and block locking to prevent accidental edits
    – Better accessibility and keyboard navigation throughout the editor

    The block editor continues to mature into a more intuitive page builder, closing the gap with premium solutions.

    Better Security and Access Control

    Security updates in WordPress 7.0 include:

    – Role-based block access, so certain blocks can be hidden from non-admin users
    – Tighter REST API permission checks
    – Support for passkeys as a login method
    – Continued work toward Core auto-updates by default, reducing risk on neglected installs

    Security-conscious users will appreciate these thoughtful additions.

    Plugin and Theme Developer Improvements

    For developers, WordPress 7.0 brings:

    – New interactivity API for building dynamic blocks without React overhead
    – Script module support type=”module”
    – Better block style registration and tooling in the theme.json
    – Early support for PHP 9.0 compatibility checks

    These improvements not only modernize development workflows but also lay the groundwork for future innovation.

    Multilingual Support on the Horizon?

    One of the most requested features—native multilingual support—is finally getting traction. While full support may not land in 7.0, early groundwork is being laid. Expect:

    – Language switching APIs for developers
    – Basic language context awareness in block themes
    – UI components that will make it easier to build multilingual plugins

    It’s a strong hint that core multilingual capabilities may be included in future 7.x releases.

    WordPress 7.0 isn’t just about adding flashy features—it’s about refining the experience, improving performance, and moving closer to a modern, decoupled CMS. Whether you’re a blogger, developer, or agency, this release is shaping up to be one of the most impactful updates in recent memory.

  • Matt vs WP Engine: Open-source ethics versus commercial enterprise

    Matt Mullenweg’s frustration with WP Engine seems to stem from two key issues: WP Engine’s monetization practices and its contribution to the WordPress community. His criticisms are centered on the fact that WP Engine, while profiting heavily from the WordPress ecosystem, allegedly doesn’t support or contribute enough to its open-source foundation. This is important because WordPress is built on a collaborative, open-source philosophy, and Mullenweg likely sees WP Engine’s approach as undermining those values.

    However, WP Engine argues that they are acting within the bounds of open-source usage, suggesting that they have the right to use WordPress’s trademark without additional licensing fees. They also push back on Mullenweg’s claims, asserting that they provide significant value to users and that their business practices are in line with the expectations of their customers.

    From Mullenweg’s perspective, his stance could be seen as reasonable if you consider the long-term sustainability and fairness of open-source projects. He may see WP Engine’s actions as detrimental to WordPress’s community-driven spirit, especially when a commercial entity profits without contributing back. However, calling WP Engine a “cancer” might be viewed as overly harsh, particularly when many WP Engine customers feel satisfied with the services they provide .

    In essence, the reasonableness of Mullenweg’s actions depends on one’s perspective on open-source ethics versus commercial enterprise. If you value strict adherence to open-source principles, Mullenweg’s stance may resonate. However, if you view WordPress as a platform open to free-market usage, WP Engine’s approach might seem justified.

  • Top 3 useful AI tools for your daily needs

    1. Google assistant: Google assistant is a virtual assistant developed by Google that allows you to interact with your Android or iOS device using natural language voice commands and provides information and services based on the user’s request. It can be used for various tasks such as setting reminders, managing calendar events, making phone calls, playing music, and more.

    2. Siri: Siri is an AI-based virtual assistant developed by Apple Inc. It allows users to interact with their iOS devices using natural language voice commands. Siri can be used to set reminders, check the weather, and get directions.

    3. Alexa: Alexa is an AI-based virtual assistant developed by Amazon. It can be used to play music, control lights and other smart home devices, set alarms and reminders, and more. Alexa is also integrated with many third-party services, allowing users to have access to a wide range of services.

  • WooCommerce: Add a product to cart automatically based on another product’s variation ID

    If you want to add a product to your cart based on another product’s ID or variation or a configurable product, then this code snippet might help. Was searching how to do this until I found one in Stack Overflow. The function is based on the first code example on this website post:
    https://www.tychesoftwares.com/how-to-automatically-add-a-product-to-your-woocommerce-cart-in-3-different-scenarios/

    Basically, that code adds a specific product to cart based on the item’s category. So If added a product from category XYZ, then another item, a free one or not, will also be added to your woocommerce cart automatically.

    But what if you want to add a product based on the options selected on a configurable product / variable product. Then the code below will help do exactly what you need

    function bv_atc() {
    if ( sizeof( WC()->cart->get_cart() ) > 0 ) {
    foreach( WC()->cart->get_cart() as $cart_item_key => $values ) {
    $a = array(10,20,30);
    $b = array(40,50,60);

    if( in_array( $values['variation_id'], $a ) ) {
    WC()->cart->add_to_cart(1);
    } else if ( in_array( $values['variation_id'], $b ) ) {
    WC()->cart->add_to_cart(2);
    } else {
    //if you want to do something else like adding a random item, do it here.
    }
    }
    }
    add_action( 'woocommerce_add_to_cart', 'bv_atc', 10, 2 );

    Just add the code snippet to your functions.php and replace the values in the array. In my array I have two sets of items. Each item will add a different product to cart.

    Just add more if conditions if you have other items that you want to be added to your cart based on the selected variations of a specific product.

    Credits to Shaikh at Stackoverflow:
    https://stackoverflow.com/questions/68077784/check-if-this-variation-id-exists-in-cart-then-add-another-item-to-cart

  • Better late than never! Just upgraded to WP 5.7!

    Yep, I do manual updates and I recently updated this WP blog to the latest version, which is 5.7. On a user’s perspective, nothing seems to be new as I’m using the classic editor. I hate the Gutenberg editor and they have a new one now, it seems like Gutenberg, but an improved one.

    Automattic also said that the dashboard has a simplier color palette. But I didn’t notice any significant difference. Only the button seems to be using a lighter blue color compared to the blue color before.

    As you can see in the screenshot below, nothing’s really new.

    Looking forward for more WordPress updates in the future. For now, I’ll still be using the classic editor. It’s simple, it’s clean, and it’s classic. No other drag and drop gimmicks, just plain old text and plain old code. You can actually do whatever you want with no code bloat vs dnd page/post editors.

  • Error Reference: invalid certificate csr (ZeroSSL)

    If you’re renewing your SSL and selected autogenerate CSR and it’s always invalid, then you’re just encountering a temporary error.

    I always get this “An error occurred. Please try again or contact support. (Error Reference: invalid certificate csr)” when renewing my Let’s Encrypt Certificate via ZeroSSL.

    If you Paste your own generated CSR or manually generate CSR, it still doesn’t work.

    Only issue here is that it’s a temporary error.

    Just try it again later. Retried it after an hour via ZeroSSL dashboard, then it’s now working. Didn’t do anything to make it work. Just be patient and retry later.

  • Third Party Smart Plugs in Alexa App / Amazon Echo stopped working

    Since December 2020 last year, third party plugs such as GoSund Smart Plugs connected via Smart Life or Go Smart App through Amazon Alexa Skills stopped working.

    You need to disable the skill then re-ensbled it again via the Alexa App to make it work. It works for a few days or minutes, then it will become unresponsive again.

    Relinking, uninstalling then reinstalling the app will fix it temporarily then it will become unresponsive again.

    GoSund or Alexa support will just suggest the common troubleshooting methods that I mentioned. So if you encountered the same issues as I am, then just do the basic troubleshooting methods I mentioned.

    There’s no absolute fix yet. I suggest if you’re new to Alexa / Amazon Echo devices, just buy the official smart plugs. My official Amazon smart plug didn’t stop working when all else aren’t working.

    Third party smart plugs still work via their respective apps. It just doesn’t work seamlessly via voice commands through Alexa.

  • Third Party Smart Plugs in Alexa App / Amazon Echo stopped working

    Since December 2020 last year, third party plugs such as GoSund Smart Plugs connected via Smart Life or Go Smart App through Amazon Alexa Skills stopped working.

    You need to disable the skill then re-ensbled it again via the Alexa App to make it work. It works for a few days or minutes, then it will become unresponsive again.

    Relinking, uninstalling then reinstalling the app will fix it temporarily then it will become unresponsive again.

    GoSund or Alexa support will just suggest the common troubleshooting methods that I mentioned. So if you encountered the same issues as I am, then just do the basic troubleshooting methods I mentioned.

    There’s no absolute fix yet. I suggest if you’re new to Alexa / Amazon Echo devices, just buy the official smart plugs. My official Amazon smart plug didn’t stop working when all else aren’t working.

    Third party smart plugs still work via their respective apps. It just doesn’t work seamlessly via voice commands through Alexa.