In this episode of Press the Issue, Brian Coords and I co-hosted a thoughtful conversation about WordPress 6.1, unpacking what made the release feel significant or not. As co-hosts, we explored the deeper questions around WordPress’s direction, reflecting on Matt Mullenweg’s remarks during the WordCamp US 2022 Q&A.
We discussed the editor enhancements and performance improvements introduced in 6.1, as well as the developer-focused changes happening behind the scenes. While the release was packed with updates, we questioned whether it brought a clear, forward-facing vision or if it simply added complexity for the sake of iteration.
Throughout the episode, Brian and I shared our personal perspectives as developers and contributors, discussing how these updates impact real-world workflows, theme development, and the broader WordPress community. We also considered the expectations around major releases and what it really means to “move WordPress forward.