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#247- New Visual Theme Builder, Community Grieves, Cloudflare Global Outage

Issue #247   |   November 25, 2025   |   Reading time: 18 mins

Hello!

This week on The WP Week Newsletter, we cover the release of WordPress 6.9 RC2, community mourning Zeel Thakkar, call for mentors for Campus Connect, Mosaic, the upcoming visual theme builder, new projects, and more.

Don’t forget to subscribe and listen to the podcast version of this newsletter, where you can hear more details and discussions about these topics and more.

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See you next week!

Team WP-CONTENT.CO

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🗣️TALK OF THE TOWN

On November 18, 2025, a database permission change caused a Bot Management feature file to double in size. The oversized file exceeded system limits, crashing Cloudflare’s core proxy and producing widespread HTTP 5xx errors. Key services including the CDN, Workers KV, Access, and Turnstile, were disrupted.

📰  WORDPRESS & AROUND

All the updates around WordPress and its closely related technologies

The first version of the WordPress AI Client SDK has been released, providing a unified, WordPress-native way for plugins and themes to interact with multiple AI providers through a single API. It includes a prompt builder, centralized credential management, and WordPress-compatible HTTP handling.

  • WordPress 6.9 Release Candidate 2 released: The second Release Candidate (“RC2”) for WordPress 6.9 is ready for download and testing. This release also addresses all issues reported against PHP 8.5. The upcoming version will also feature updates to the HTML API and the first version of the new Abilities API is also launching in WordPress 6.9, introducing a unified, discoverable way for plugins to expose and integrate their functionality.
  • WordPress 6.9 Source of Truth: Gutenberg Times has published the Source of Truth that allows the community to get the latest information about the upcoming changes and new features in WordPress 6.9 quickly.
  • WordPress Community Team opens call for mentors for Campus Connect:  Mentors guide 3–5 student organizers with about 2 hours of weekly support, offering feedback, problem-solving, and event planning advice. Applicants should have prior WordPress or event-organizing experience. Selected mentors receive training, ongoing support, and a WordPress.org badge. Applications are open until December 15, 2025.
  • WooCommerce 10.4: Pre-release updates: WooCommerce 10.4, releasing on December 9, 2025, will introduce accessibility improvements in emails and product carousels, standardize HPOS Datastore caching, numerous block optimizations, and much more.
  • Attackers actively exploiting critical vulnerability in Post SMTP plugin: A critical flaw in the Post SMTP WordPress plugin (versions ≤3.6.0) lacked authorization checks, allowing unauthenticated attackers to view email logs, including password-reset emails, and use them to take over any account, even admins. The vulnerability has been actively exploited since Nov 1, 2025, but it was patched in version 3.6.1, which users should update to immediately.

🔧 TIP OF THE WEEK
Build Themes as Modules, Not Templates

When building WordPress themes, don’t cram everything into page.php or single.php. Instead, break the theme into component-based partials:

– /components/hero.php
– /components/card.php
– /components/testimonials.php
– /components/flex-section.php

You can then connect them with ACF Flexible Content (if ACF is used), so the admin can rearrange sections without developers touching code.

This gives you:
– Reusable blocks
– Cleaner code
– Faster future development

💵 INVESTMENTS, ACQUISITIONS & PARTNERSHIPS

👥 COMMUNITY NEWS

Updates and News from the WordPress Community

The WordPress community mourns the sudden passing of Zeel Thakkar, a dedicated contributor and organiser for WordCamp events in Ahmedabad and Asia. Known for her passion, community leadership, and contributions to WordPress releases and training, she inspired and supported many others in the tech space.

  • WordCamp Asia 2026 opens Call for Contributor Stories: Organizers are inviting community members to share their personal stories about contributing to WordPress. Anyone in the community can submit a brief text or audio/video piece, in any language, highlighting their experiences. Selected stories will be showcased on the event’s website and social channels, with submissions open until 1 December 2025.
  • WordPress.com offering free custom site this Black Friday: WordPress.com is offering a Black Friday special where new Business plan customers can get a professionally designed five-page website built for them at no extra cost, plus 10% off the plan. The offer runs from November 17 to December 1, 2025, and includes a free domain for the first year, access to premium tools, and full ownership of the finished site. Also, WordPress.com is celebrating its 20th anniversary and is inviting users to share what they’ve built.
  • PHP 8.5 released: The latest release adds a built-in URI extension, Pipe operator, persistent cURL share handles, and so on.
  • DesignSetGo 1.2.0 released: The latest update adds a new breadcrumbs block with Schema.org markup, table of contents with auto-detection, modal/popup block with accessibility built-in, and several security and performance improvements.
  • ACF Pro 6.7 Beta 1 released: The release introduces Inline Editing for ACF Blocks, letting editors update content directly in the block preview with no extra code required. The feature supports two modes (Text Editable and Toolbar Editable), can be enabled automatically or manually, and works with most field types except complex repeaters. This beta release is available to PRO users for testing on development environments before the full release.
  • Perfmatters 2.5.3 released: This version introduced a new Code Snippets (BETA) feature for managing PHP, JS, CSS, and HTML directly in the plugin, now set as the default Code tab view. Other updates include moving header/body/footer scripts to Global Scripts, UI style tweaks, CSS selector exclusion for the GeneratePress mobile menu, and so on.
  • WP Social Ninja 4.0.0 released: The update introduces a redesigned UI, guided onboarding, customizable platform visibility, a new Custom Source feature for importing reviews from any platform, bulk actions, dark mode, simpler chat setup, and major speed improvements powered by Vue 3.
  • An experimental clone of the Plugins Directory: Amadeu Arderiu on X posted about the experimental clone of the plugins directory with AI-powered search, plugin comparisons, insights, and related plugin suggestions.
  • AI Services plugin updated with two new models: The two new models are Gemini 3 and Nano Banana Pro.
  • WooCommerce is officially coming to Ollie Pro: Mike McAlsiter announced on X that hundreds of Woo patterns will soon arrive to the Ollie theme and will be closely integrated with Ollie Pro extensions like Menu Designer, animations, and dynamic data.
  • Telex now works as a creative workspace: As highlighted by Jamie Marsland, Telex now allows users to install plugins, themes, and content.
  • Miruni shutting down on December 1st 2025: The tool that allows users to automate website feedback and edit requests directly in WordPress with AI is nearing closure, and all subscriptions are being canceled automatically, with no action required from users. The team expresses gratitude to everyone who supported the product and reflects proudly on the impact it had helping teams simplify and streamline website feedback.
  • Another milestone bagged by Patchstack: Oliver Sild announced that over 1000 WordPress plugins and themes use Patchstack as their official security point of contact and managed VDP provider.
  • Wholegrain marks 10 years of BCorp progress: Wholegrain reflects on its own journey since certifying in 2017 from launching the Website Carbon Calculator and joining 1% for the Planet to strengthening ethical screening and employee-led policies. Looking ahead, the company is focused on advancing digital sustainability, supporting the Better Business Act, and continuing to grow as a purpose-driven team centred on people and the planet.
  • 20i achieves the highest PC Pro score across all categories: 20i has been named Best Web Host in the 2025 PC Pro Awards for the third year in a row, earning an exceptional 99% customer service score, the highest across all award categories and industries.
  • Rocket.net Managed WordPress Hosting is now available in India: The team has expanded its managed WordPress hosting to India, giving users local deployment for faster performance through a data center directly peered with Cloudflare.
  • Charitable has introduced a donor leader board: Charitable Pro has introduced a new Donor Leaderboard feature that publicly highlights top supporters to boost engagement, inspire friendly competition, and increase donations.
  • Block Theme Cheat Sheet for WordPress by Elliot Richmond: The cheat sheet is a curated quick-reference guide featuring core blocks, template structures, key theme.json options, commonly used actions/filters, and a troubleshooting section based on real issues and fixes.
  • Equalize Digital expands accessibility course library with course on selling accessibility for digital professionals: The course, How to Position & Sell Accessibility Offers, taught by COO Chris Hinds, the course provides a proven framework for creating profitable accessibility packages, explaining ROI, handling objections, and closing higher-value contracts. It includes 28 video lessons, worksheets, real-world examples, and covers everything from offer creation to pricing and contracts. The course is available now for a one-time fee of $147.
  • Yoasie Runner game by Yoast: Yoasie Runner is a simple jump-and-dodge web game where the farther you go, the higher your score. Each day, the top scorer wins a prize, and all players are entered into daily raffles for items like Yoast SEO Premium, Yoast SEO AI+, LEGO sets, and more.
🚀 NEW PROJECTS
  • Media Data WordPress plugin: Created by Justin Tadlock, the plugin allows users to display image, audio, and video metadata fields—EXIF, ID3, and more right inside the WordPress block editor.
  • Introducing Mosaic: An upcoming visual theme builder developed by Nextendweb, and the beta version is now available. The team is currently looking for beta testers.
  • All new IvyForms: A new form builder that offers an intuitive, one-screen drag-and-drop interface, real-time previews, and ready-made templates.
  • Introducing Growfund:  A new donation and crowdfunding Plugin that offers a visual campaign builder, flexible donation options, global payments, analytics, and complete branding freedom.
  • All new Commandify: A command-palette plugin that lets you navigate, search, and manage your site instantly using a simple Cmd/Ctrl + K interface. It streamlines workflows by enabling quick access to pages, content actions, plugins, users, and maintenance tasks.
  • WP Compat Scanner: The plugin created by Lax Mariappan, scans your installed plugins for compatibility issues with specific WordPress versions.
  • Password Less Login: This plugin prrovides a passwordless and OTP-based login system for WordPress websites. It includes rate limiting, nonce protection, hashed email storage, and a clean, simple login flow for safer, password-free access.
  • Raina Image Compression: The plugin automatically optimizes images during upload while giving full control over compression, output format, and metadata.

🔖 INTERESTING READS & PODCASTS

More posts and podcasts from the WordPress Community you don’t want to miss

  • What happens when a lifelong web developer, WordPress educator, WordCamp veteran, theology enthusiast, and convertible lover sits down for a conversation? Listen to Nathan Ingram discussing it with Bud Kraus on Seriously, Bud.
  • How will page builders continue to shape the modern web, and what’s coming next for the tools we use to build it? Watch Robert Abela discussing it with Raitis Sevelis
  • Curious about the ups and downs of putting on a large event for the first time? Watch Rodolfo Melogli sharing his journey from the early days of WooCommerce to the creation of his new Checkout Summit conference.
  • Listen to Devin Walker, the new head of Jetpack, sharing his vision for Jetpack’s future at The WP Minute+ podcast.
  • How does leadership shape your agency’s success? Listen to Kurt von Ahnen and Toby Cryns break down accountability, team ownership, and strategies for growth on The WP Minute’s Agency Action podcast.
  • What do 111,354 infected WordPress sites teach us about modern attacks? Thomas Raef (owner of WeWatchYourWebsite) reveals why security plugins alone aren’t enough and how understanding root causes is the key to preventing reinfections.
  • How do you balance speed, quality, and creativity in the AI era? Hear Riley Cullen and leaders from Matchbox Studio, Lewis, and WP Engine reveal how to build scalable, future-proof digital experiences on Crafted Future: Code that Scales.
  • What’s the chaos behind thousands of open browser tabs and a revived podcast format? Tune in as BobWP and Nathan Wrigley dive into the madness on OpenChannels FM.
  • Anne-Mieke Bovelett explains how clear WordPress changelogs reduce support tickets, prevent confusion during updates, and make maintaining your projects easier.
  • Is WordPress ready for the enterprise moment, and are we? James Giroux breaks down why agencies need to lead with problem-solving, not features, to unlock the full potential of enterprise WordPress.
  • Jamie Marsland is now convinced AI won’t kill WordPress.
  • Amanda Coopersmith showcased 8 games you can add right now to your WordPress site to keep visitors engaged.
  • What happens when a lifelong Bollywood fan finally lands in Mumbai for the WordCamp Asia 2026 venue visit? Regan takes you through iconic film moments coming to life, a massive first look at JWCC, and more.
  • A look at why Jos Velasco enjoys using Telex for building WordPress plugins directly in the browser, plus tips on testing, updating with AI, and so on.

🛠 GUIDE ZONE – HOWTO’S and MORE

Handpicked fresh guides from WordPress circle

📆 SAVE THE DATES

Do not miss a WordPress event ever again

🎁 WORDPRESS DEALS OF THE WEEK

Again, these are the best deals of the week, handpicked by yours!

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This weekly newsletter is kindly sponsored by awesome WordPress Companies 🦸‍♂️🙌

Create a career page and start recruiting talents in a few minutes Check it out  →

Kinsta – Highest-rated managed WordPress hosting provider on G2 Check it out  →

Last but not least, updates from WP-CONTENT.CO 👇

The WPCC and GoDaddy Launch 2025 Contributor Day Table Lead Appreciation Campaign

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WooCommerce has introduced Reddit for WooCommerce, a new integration that gives merchants a streamlined way to reach Reddit’s…

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The 10 Best WordPress Donation Plugins

Raising funds online has never been easier, thanks to WordPress donation plugins. Whether be it for a nonprofit,…

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Best Black Friday and Cyber Monday WordPress Deals – 2025

Black Friday is back, and it’s the perfect time for WordPress enthusiasts to stock up on their favorite…

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Team WP-CONTENT.CO

Issue #247   |   November 25, 2025   |   Reading time: 18 mins

This weekly newsletter is kindly sponsored by Kinsta and WP Job Openings

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