As the WordPress ecosystem continues to grow and change, it’s brimming with innovative tools that are transforming the web. 

If you’re looking for a great way to dive into this evolving world of WordPress, look no further than DE{CODE} 2024, WP Engine’s flagship virtual developer conference. 

Now returning for its fifth year, DE{CODE} 2024 is scheduled for March 19 in the U.S. and APAC and March 21 in EMEA. You can find more details and register for this year’s event, for free, here. 

As in years past, event sessions will provide actionable insights into the next generation of WordPress, elevating development workflows, embracing technologies like AI, and the latest product innovations from WP Engine. 

Last year, DE{CODE} set a new record with more than 10,000 viewers tuning in from more than 138 different countries. Join WP Engine this year to experience the largest WordPress developer event, including live networking, and more!

SIGN UP FOR DE{CODE] 2024 TODAY!

What DE{CODE} Delivers

DE{CODE} is all about helping developers unleash their potential and do more with WordPress, and it offers a plethora of learning opportunities.

Throughout the one-day virtual event, attendees will learn more about modern web development—from comprehensive tool overviews to practical insights on new website implementations.

DE{CODE} also focuses on revolutionary technologies that are redefining WordPress. For example, this year’s event offers a great opportunity to discover how to enhance SEO, streamline development workflows, and utilize WPGraphQL with Atlas, WP Engine’s headless WordPress platform.

Join Virtually–Access Anywhere, Anytime

If you’re unable to join live, don’t fret! All DE{CODE} 2024 sessions will be available after the event.

You can see a preview of what to expect by exploring last year’s sessions here. 

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to grow, connect, and learn.

Secure your spot at DE{CODE}2024 today!

The post Do More With WordPress: Registration Now Open for DE{CODE} 2024! appeared first on Torque.

Hosted by Joe Howard of WP Buffs, this free summit lasts three days and will walk you through how to get more MRR and keep it. Each day follows a different topic:

• Day 1: Sales, Marketing, and Content
• Day 2: Operations and Systems
• Day 3: Website Management

Experts such as Brad Williams, Carrie Dills, and Christie Chirinos, will take attendees through exactly how to make more money.

When the summit is over, you will be added to the WPMRR Community where you can reach out to other developers and experts, get questions answered, and continue your learning.

Get your free tickets today!

The post Don’t Miss Out on the WPMRR Virtual Summit appeared first on Torque.

A lot has looked different in 2020, and the State of the Word will too.

This year’s speech will be streamed on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter on Thursday, Dec 17th, 2020  at 1600 UTC.

If you have a burning question, take a minute-long video on your phone or computer in landscape format and send it in.

According to the announcement, “To submit your question, upload it as an unlisted video (YouTube works great for this) and send a link to ask-matt@wordcamp.org.”

The post State of the Word to Stream Live appeared first on Torque.

Gutenberg

A huge focus of last year’s State of the Word was Gutenberg. This year was no different.

Mullenweg said Gutenberg has been the longest feature development WordPress has ever had. It’s been 11 months since the kickoff. In that time it’s had over 4.302 commits.

“It’s really drawn together the community in a really cool way,” said Mullenweg.

It has gone through over 18 iterations, and the team at WordCamp US set up tables in the sponsor hall to let whoever wanted to test Gutenberg and give feedback in real time. They were able to run over 90 user tests.

After Mullenweg introduced the project, Matías Ventura, a developer who has been working on the project since the beginning, came on stage to perform a live demo of Gutenberg. Ventura went through creating a post with the project step by step. He showed what it looks like to add images, embeds, headers, and more.

“The block is there when you need it and disappears when you don’t,” Ventura said.

Ventura also went into what it looks like to add custom HTML within the post, with the ever-popular marquee command. He then showed how you can save a custom block in order to use it over again. It’s a way to create blocks on the fly without creating custom code.

After the demo, Mullenweg estimated that project will be released in April after about 12 more iterations. He explained that we need better documentation for the project, plugin developers to start to see how their plugins can live in a Gutenberg world, and more conversations about the project.

“Think of it as the thing that will be here for awhile. This is the basis for everything that will be happening in WordPress,” he said. “How can we build things that people never would have imagined before.”

Mullenweg acknowledged the fact that some people are worried about the project and announced a new plugin called Classic Editor created by the Gutenberg team that is out now. This ensures the classic editor will remain and developers can make sure nothing they have will break when 5.0 is released.

Mullenweg will remain the release lead through 2018.

Meetups and WordCamps

The community came out in droves for WordCamps and meetups. This year there were 128 WordCamps across 48 countries. 1,008 organizers total. That’s up 33.9 percent from last year.

This number was dwarfed by 4,379 meetups in 73 countries. That means 99,301 people attended a meetup this year. All of these were facilitated by the Events Widget in 4.8. The widget reminded people of events near them right on the Dashboard. Mullenweg credited the widget for increasing the meetup number by a third.

WordPress Foundation

Last year, Mullenweg announced a change to the Foundation. It would be used to donate back to the CMS while WordCamps would be moved to a different umbrella. This year, the program donated $45,000 to Hack the Hood, Internet Archive, and Black Girls Code, more than Mullenweg projected last year.

Money also went to do_action events across the world in Johannesburg, Beirut, Cape Town, and Montreal. These act as hackathons where people can meet and get help developing their site.

The Foundation also added a Donate button allow for more diverse donors to get involved. Users can set up a yearly donation starting at $10.

Hackerone

WordPress launched Hackerone in May of this year and 52 bugs were resolved from 46 people this year. The program allows people to find security breaches and bugs and get rewarded for it.

Mullenweg announced this service will soon be available for top plugins and themes as well, working to make an overall safer WordPress.

tide

Coming this year, a new program called tide will run automated tests against every plugin and theme in the directory. This is a way for developers and users to see where plugins and themes need work.

Each test will have not only have a pass/fail, but show the line where the error is and a link to Github where anyone can update it.

There will also be a way for developers to challenge the test. All of these will be available right in the directory. We don’t have a release date for this but there is a Slack channel up and running.

WP-CLI

For the first time since 2010, there will not be a new default theme. Mullenweg said this opens teams up to focus on “bigger changes.” One of those being WP-CLI.

This year WP-CLI became an official WordPress project. There have been 4 releases.

Mullenweg also spoke about the REST API, saying it will get more focus in the upcoming year. Though we don’t know what exactly that means, Mullenweg assured the audience it will be a priority for 2018.

Let’s Encrypt

A huge focus of Mullenweg’s speech last year was SSL and Let’s Encrypt. He called for every WordPress site to use the free service. This year, 36 percent of all WordPress sites are using https, which is double what it was last year.

Last but not least, Mullenweg shared that WordPress now officially powers 29 percent of the web and announced his three focuses for the coming year. These are a Gutenberg Editing, Gutenberg Customization, and a Gutenberg Theme. It will be interesting to see what 2018 will hold for the CMS.

The post State of the Word 2017 Recap appeared first on Torque.

It got me thinking about what public speaking tips and tricks could be applied to giving WordCamp talks, but I’m in no way an expert, so learn by trial and error. I wanted to start thinking more about how to get better at this type of speaking, so I asked several of my WordPress friends for their best advice.

Speaking at a WordCamp is a great way to connect to the community and get your name and brand out there. That said, it can be truly terrifying. I do believe any WordPresser can stand up and present at a WordCamp.

The advice I got back from my WordPress friends was incredibly helpful for me. So, I wanted to share what I learned with you.

Relax

My friend Chris Flannagan is a back-end developer for Modern Tribe. His advice for WordCamp speakers is to “Relax, sit down, prop your feet up and kick back.” I’m not sure I’m going to literally take his advice, and put my feet on the desk while I talk like he does.

But, I agree strongly with his goal of making the talk “feel more conversational than a lecture.” I definitely think that for many the more conversational a talk is, the better. But it depends on you and what works best for you.

“You’re not a professional speaker and that’s OK. Don’t compare yourself to those that are and use this as a learning experience. Some speakers are very academic, some are very charismatic, etc. Embrace the style that works best for you,” said Chris Wiegman, Developer for University of Florida Health.

Use Stories To Build Connections

Giving a presentation is about more than providing information, it’s about convincing people they can do what you are teaching. Telling a relatable story is the easiest way to create that connection.

“It’s important that I add stories where people can identify themselves and not see me as ‘he is a lot better than me’ because my main goal is to connect with people,” said Maxime Jobin, Co-founder at SatelliteWP.

This advice is applicable beyond speaking. Personalizing any marketing effort is going to make it more efficient. Too often small companies try to mimic larger ones, which can mean a lack of humanity. This is a huge mistake because people connect with personalities.

I actually gave a whole WordCamp talk about how stories made us human and what this means for how we talk about our business.

You Have Something To Share

I hear from many people that they would like to speak at WordCamps, but don’t have anything to share. Most of the time, this attitude arises from undervaluing what you already know.

“Anyone and everyone should apply to speak at WordCamps. I think it’s easy to think that the people on the podium are more experienced, but the reality is that they just know a lot about something you don’t. You know a lot about something else, and should get up there and talk about it,” Christie Chirinos, Caldera Labs, makers of Caldera Forms.

I really believe that teaching is an essential part of learning. That’s why I write so much and like giving WordCamp talks. My friend Carl Alexander gave a great WordCamp talk about teaching everything you know.

“But how often have you done something and someone asked you to explain it? How well could do it? I know that, before I started teaching everything I know, it wasn’t always easy for me to explain why I did things a certain way. I would just say something along the lines of “Well, I did it this way and it worked,” said Alexander, WordPress developer and teacher.

Know What You’re Going To Talk About

Everyone has something to share, probably many things. But, a good WordCamp talk should be incredibly focused.

“Have a clear objective that your listeners will learn from your talk. It should be ONE sentence. They’re only going to remember one thing about your talk, so make sure everything you say focuses on that one result.” said Matt Cromwell, Head of Support at WordImpress/GiveWP.

Making sure you know exactly what you are going to teach and really focus on knowing the material. Several people I spoke to said that having confidence in the subject is what let them make their talks feel natural and conversational.

“My best talks are the ones I have done without notes. So know your subject well enough that you can just naturally “talk” about your subject. I try to do lots of research ahead of time,” said Lauren Prentice Jeffcoat the WPML Customer Support and documentation and Training Specialist at OnTheGoSystems.

Some people need to prepare a lot for a talk. If that’s the case, then going somewhere to focus just on the researching and preparing the talk goes a long way.

“Last time I had to prepare a WordCamp talk, I had to drive over to Starbucks to remove family distractions, grab a meal and drink, and pop open Evernote and a browser on my laptop. I was there for several hours. I was working with a familiar topic but I needed that time to structure it in a logical way to fit within a 40-minute presentation. I usually had hours to present content-first design concepts within a college course,” said Dawn Pedersen, WordPress designer and visual artist, Painted By Dawn.

Just make sure not to seem like you’re reciting a stored monologue or speech. Preparation doesn’t mean you can’t be conversational.

“I’ll offer up that I think practicing is important. Some people may be more comfortable ‘winging it’ but I truly feel that practicing can help you add clarity to your main points – sure, you may have done good by going in cold, but like anything else, you have opportunity to make it sizzle with practice! There’s a misconception that practicing means ‘memorizing.’ You can’t really memorize written words word-for-word out loud, unless it’s a speech. People respond to a more natural conversational tone, and memorizing ‘lines’ breaks this,” said Alison Knott, Graphic designer at Eraserhead.

What Works For You?

The one thing I learned talking to people is everyone is different — they have different ways of planning a talk and feeling comfortable giving that talk. I like that common thread in this discussion as it boils down to “be you and be comfortable being you.”

If you’re experienced with WordCamp talks or public speaking in general, be sure to share your tips in the comments. And if you’ve never spoken at a WordCamp, there are going to be a lot of them next year, so make sure you apply to a few.

The post The Art of Speaking at a WordCamp appeared first on Torque.

In a letter sent to the office of the president, WCEU organizers explained that some attendees were experiencing problems with their visas.

“It has come to our attention that our friends from some countries are having problems with their Visas being rejected on the ground that ‘a 40€ entry fee can not justify international travel,’ something that makes this conference accessible to all,” the letter said.

The organizers go on to say that the goal of WordCamp Europe is to bring WordPress users together, and the best way to do that is to make it as affordable as possible. The team has worked to keep ticket prices low so a wide variety of people could attend. But now they are worried problems with visas could keep people away.

The letter cites President Macron’s history of acceptance, as well as the current climate, to make a case for a more inclusive and accepting visa process for WordCampers.

“In you, Mr. President, we see our ally. We share the same values and passion as you – and the same goals. We want to make this world a better place, and we know that people are afraid of anything that is different or unknown,” the letter said.

The letter asks the president to “unblock this situation” in an effort, not only to bring more WordCampers to Europe but to show the open and welcoming nature of France as a country.

“We feel that France, a country that gave us so many artists, inventors, athletes and political leaders, is a perfect place to show that unity once more. Now more than ever,” the letter said.

As of right now, there hasn’t been a response from the office of the president, or the president himself.

WordCamp Europe is on track to be the biggest WordCamp to date with almost 3,000 tickets sold. It will take place from June 16-17 in Paris, with a Contributor Day on the 15. Tickets are still on sale, but going fast.

The post WCEU Organizers Write Letter to President of France appeared first on Torque.

If you’re interested in joining us, make sure to download Pokémon Go for free, if you haven’t already. Here are some tips to get you started. We hope to see you there!

The post ATTN Pokémon GO Fans: Join Us For A Pokéwalk At WordCamp New York appeared first on Torque.

Over the past few years, WordPress has seen a rise in niche conferences. And, as WordPress grows to be more dynamic, they will likely continue to gain popularity.

Here are five niche conferences to look out for in 2016.

A Day Of REST

The WordPress REST API has gained momentum over last year and will be fully merged in core in 2016. This means that there’s a new technology to learn. For anyone with questions on the new API, or for users just excited to try it out, the first WP REST API conference, appropriately named A Day of REST, will be held on Jan. 28 in London.

Speakers all have direct experience with the API and are the perfect resource for anyone wanting to learn. Lectures include Ryan McCue from Human Made, Jack Lenox from Automattic, Kathleen Vignos from Wired, and more.

The day after the lectures, you can apply what you’ve learned at Hack Day. Tickets are still on sale, but they’re going fast, so reserve your spot today.

PressNomics

PressNomics is “the conference for those that power the WordPress economy.” This involves people creating services and products that are helping to grow the financial side of WordPress.

The 2016 PressNomics will be held in Tempe, Ariz. on March 3-4. The schedule and speakers list haven’t been confirmed, but there will be a healthy mix of learning and relaxation. Tickets are on sale, and you can purchase tickets for golf or another cultural event on March 3.

Keep checking the site for updates.

WooConf

If you love eCommerce, then WooConf is the niche event for you. Hosted by WooCommerce, it’s a great chance to learn, network, and have a great time talking about all things eCommerce.

The conference will be held April 6-8 in Austin. The speakers list includes Matt Mullenweg, Miracle Wanzo, Chris Lema, Juan Benitez and more.

If you’re interested in attending, enter to win the Golden Ticket, and get a round-trip flight, hotel accommodations, and s conference ticket.

Prestige Conference

Anyone interested in career development should check out Prestige Conference. The event aims to equip entrepreneurs, small businesses, and freelancers the tools to succeed. Whether you’ve been working in WordPress for a decade or are still kicking around business ideas, you’ll learn something and make great connections.

The conference features sessions by Eric Johnson, Jason Cohen, Jennifer Bourn, and more.

Prestige will be held in Minneapolis on May 24-25.

LoopConf

Calling all developers, LoopConf is coming in 2016. Not much is known about this year’s conference but it’s safe to assume that it will be similar to last year’s event. The conference had a lot of praise last year for the professional quality of the speakers, venue, and other attendees. It’s a place to really dig in and get to know other developers. Though it’s a great opportunity to network and learn new things, it’s more about making new friends.

Last year brought in 210 attendees, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it draws even more in 2016. It will be held in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Oct. 5-7. No speakers are secured yet, but organizers are looking for sponsors.

These are just a five niche conferences to look out for in 2016. Are we missing any? Feel free to add any niche conferences you’re looking forward to in 2016!

The post 5 Niche WordPress Conferences You Can’t Miss In 2016 appeared first on Torque.

One of the biggest highlights of the weekend was the 10th annual State of the Word, delivered by WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg.

The room is filling up for @photomatt‘s State of the Word. #WCUS pic.twitter.com/7tMUanUQOl

— WordCamp US (@WordCampUS) December 5, 2015

Mullenweg kicked off the address by showcasing some WordPress statistics and other highlights that illustrate the platform’s tremendous growth and power. Later, he dug into what to expect from WordPress 4.4, Calypso, the WordPress REST API, and JavaScript.

Let’s take a look at some of the takeaways.

Celebrations And Stats In 2015

Story Of WordPress

On Dec. 11, The Story of WordPress, by Siobhan McKeown, will be officially released. The book provides a comprehensive overview on the history of WordPress, starting with the creation of b2, back in 2000.

WordCamp And Meetup Stats In 2015

• There were 89 WordCamps, with 21,000 attendees in 34 countries.
• WordCamps were put together by 601 organizers — 60 percent of them being first-time organizers.
• 1,600 speakers presented at 2,100 sessions at WordCamps around the world.
•  40,000 people attended 2,000 MeetUps across the country.

Adoption Of Slack

At last year’s State of the Word, Mullenweg announced the WordPress Slack Channel. In 2015, more than 2 million messages have been sent on the WordPress channel alone. It has been a central part to core collaboration and is used by thousands of WordPressers. In fact, Mullenweg said it is one of the largest Slack groups.

Plugins Surpassed 1 Billion Downloads

More than 1 billion plugins have been downloaded in the history of the plugin directory. This is a testament to the vibrancy of the WordPress plugin ecosystem.

Twenty Fifteen Default Theme Is The Most Popular Theme

The Twenty Fifteen Default theme is the most popular WordPress theme of all time. It’s actively installed on more than 1.6 million WordPress sites.

Other Milestones And Highlights

• WordPress.tv now open source
• Localized plugin and theme directory
• Plugin repository to display active installs instead of downloads
• 2015 saw three major updates: 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3
• Going SSL with LetsEncrypt
• Fewer than 100 themes and plugins have been translated in more than a couple of languages
• WordPress will reverse the trend of closed APIs
• 205 accessibility tickets were completed in 2015, which is an 80 percent increase from last year

WordPress 4.4

WordPress 4.4 release lead Scott Taylor took the stage to discuss some of the highlights to expect in WordPress 4.4, slated for release on December 8.

To modernize the way users expose data, and as an alternative to obsolete technology, WordPress 4.4 will include the infrastructure to the WP REST API. It also includes the new Twenty Sixteen default theme, responsive images, term meta, and oEmbed for WordPress.

The update features more than 2,000 commits made by more than 400 contributors.

Mullenweg announced the release leads for the next three updates:

• WordPress 4.5: Mike Schroder
• WordPress 4.6: Dominik Schilling
• WordPress 4.7: Matt Mullenweg

Calypso

Mullenweg talked about the new WordPress.com, Calypso. It’s 100 percent JavaScript, leveraging React, and has a totally functional and fluid database.

“Calypso when cached runs 14x faster than wp-admin.” @photomatt #wcus

— David Bisset (@dimensionmedia) December 5, 2015

Since its release just a few weeks ago, it’s been downloaded more than 50,000 times. Mullenweg pointed out that Calypso is still in its early days, and, like WordPress, it will mature and become more powerful with each iteration.

WP REST API And JavaScript

Mullenweg talked about the three stages in WordPress’s evolution. In its first few years, it was a blogging system and then a full CMS. And then, in 2012, “we started to see glimmers of WordPress being used as an application platform,” he said. More and more things can be built off of WordPress, and with the integration of the WP REST API the possibilities are seemingly endless. Mullenweg discussed some of the opportunities presented by the inclusion of the WP API. He also urged the audience to learn JavaScript.

“I believe quite strongly that JavaScript and API-driven interfaces are the future of not just WordPress but the web,” Mullenweg said.

APIs and JavaScript are both fundamental for the future of WordPress. For example, the WP REST API allows for JavaScript-powered apps to run on WordPress and the new WordPress.com, Calypso, is 100 percent JavaScript. There’s no question that knowing JavaScript is important for the future of WordPress development.

Despite the focus on JavaScript, PHP is not going away. “PHP7 is the most significant update to PHP since WordPress has started,” Mullenweg said.

. @photomatt says PHP is not going away! #StateOfTheWord #WCUS #WordPress pic.twitter.com/p8DYhAtr9l — Chris Edwards (@ChrisEdwardsCE) December 5, 2015

Mullenweg left the audience with a homework assignment: “to learn JavaScript, deeply.”

You can watch the full State of the Word 2015 now on WordPress.tv!

The post 2015 State Of The Word: Celebrations, Stats, And The Future Of WordPress appeared first on Torque.

After the event, I spoke with organizer Russell Aaron about what motivated him to deviate from the traditional WordCamp format. WordCamp Las Vegas didn’t follow the traditional track styles most WordCamps adhere to, and, unlike most WordCamps, it also ended with an open-forum discussion.

Russ told me he “wanted the WordCamp to be about more than themes vs plugins.” He wanted it to be about people feeling like they could attend  any talk, learn everything, and feel like equals with all attendees.

The “no tracks” format was inspired by attending music festivals. Russ told me he’s seen Metallica, Taylor Swift, and Dave Matthews Band on the same stage at festivals —  festivals with no “rock stage” or “jazz stage” inspired him to have no “developer room” or “beginner room.”

This style of scheduling worked well. As did the open forum at the end. Russ credits Co-founder of Sidekick Ben Fox’s keynote talk on Saturday morning for setting the tone of the WordCamp. I couldn’t agree more.  Ben’s talk was inspiring: He talked about how communities form, and how the way they’re fostered cultivates the right state of mind for an event like WordCamp Las Vegas.

Ben’s talk challenged WordCamp attendees to see community as something we create, not something that’s given to us. Russ told me that without starting from there “people would not have been as engaged and able to feel like equals.”

I gave an advanced talk on the WordPress REST API in the “WordPress Rush” room, following a talk on SEO basics. There was a big turnover in the room of people leaving to go to the other room for a non-developer talk, and others coming in. The need to change rooms helped keep people moving around, which was Russ’s intention, as he knows that sitting still for too long isn’t good for mood or energy levels.

In addition, while some people at my talk acknowledged it was too advanced for them, they all seemed willing to go with it. The spirit of learning seemed to be strong at this WordCamp — the way all WordCamps should be.

Starting With Community

Ben’s talk was framed by the story of his grandfather, who was born a Jew in Poland and grew up during Word War II. Ben talked about how his grandfather escaped thanks to the kindness of a Polish family, and was able to get the training he needed to emigrate to the United States due to the help of another man from his village that he connected with in England after the war. We also learned about how his business, a bagel bakery in Toronto, was built on the relationships he nurtured.

Ben discussed practical lessons he learned from his grandfather to help us nurture our relationships and, borrowing a value he learned in the boy scouts, leave WordPress better than we found it.

One of the most important things Ben stressed was the power of analog relationships. It’s easy to forget the importance of face-to-face communication when we’re all constantly connecting over social media. Ben challenged us to go out of our way to make a new friend — not a lead or a business connection, but a friend — at the event.

WordPress, the thing that brought us all together for the weekend, brings people together online. We make new and interesting tools for connecting people through it. But nothing, as Ben reminds us, beats a face-to-face conversation.

When I go to WordCamps, I don’t go to a lot of talks. Instead, I tend to favor the “hallway track.” Meeting new people, seeing what they are working on, and inviting them to challenge my assumptions are a huge part of the value in WordCamps.

Online we tend to be very focused on WordPress problems and WordPress solutions. Face-to-face conversations drift from that composition in a good way.

Building On An Understanding

Russ told me that Ben’s talk had a root in a conversation about trying to build a better WordPress community and counteract some of the negativity we have seen in it this past year.

They wanted to help people find a way to understand how hard people work to build some of the plugins or features that get criticized. Ben is someone who has worked to not only build our community, but help explain what community, and more specifically the WordPress community, is.

After two days of talks held without tracks, attendees were successfully challenged to check out different sessions than they normally would. Similarly, although I was skeptical about the idea, I was blown away by how well the concluding open-forum discussion went.

Russ did an excellent job of emceeing the event, and, I think if other WordCamps are going to emulate this, they need to ensure they have someone with experience working a room. Russ also credits the layout of the room for the success of the event —  because it had an open-floor plan and wasn’t auditorium style, it made it easy to get the microphone to anyone.

Having spent the weekend without “beginner” or “advanced” labels helped make everyone comfortable sharing and explaining.

Voicing Concerns As Equals

At the forum, a lot of people talked about troubles with compatibility and updates. These are very real concerns that plugin and theme developers, as well as hosting companies need to hear.

Two of the events sponsors, GoDaddy and WP Engine, had representatives in the room and it gave them an opportunity to discuss the tools that a managed WordPress host provides and connect people directly with those who can help. As Russ told me, this was “a chance for those companies to give back and show that their support goes deeper than a support ticket.”

WordCamp sponsors literally make these events possible, but sponsors that send team members provide extra value to attendees.

There were also frustrations voiced about changes in core that have affected some sites and Jetpack’s requirement of connecting to WordPress.com and what data tracking that may involve. While there was no one from the core team or Jetpack in the room, many people helped shed light on concerns that are often overblown.

There was discussion around getting more involved in WordPress and following along with core development so that changes to core don’t come as a surprise to users, since they shouldn’t due to the open nature of the process. In addition, we discussed how to use Jetpack without a WordPress.com connection, and why the concerns about that connection, in most cases, when addressed rationally don’t make much sense.

Iterating On A Proven Model

This year, WordCamp Las Vegas deviated a bit from the traditional format of a WordCamp, and it was a huge success. I go to a lot of WordCamps and love seeing what makes each one unique. Other WordCamps can learn from WordCamp Las Vegas and should also be inspired to try new things.

WordCamps are an essential part of nurturing our community. Everything about WordCamp Las Vegas was focused on bringing people into the community, nurturing those relationships, and more. It all paid off in the open forum, and that effect should have positive returns for the community for years to come.

The post What Happens At WordCamp Vegas, Hopefully Won’t Stay In Vegas appeared first on Torque.