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I think it’s one of the most important default themes WordPress has released in a while. Sure, the design is fairly opinionated, but with the mix of new patterns/blocks available, I think someone with a little WordPress know how (and grit!) will be able to design a solid website for their brand or business. 

Even for the freelancers or agency owners out there, searching to offer a more affordable solution for their clients, I think TT4 can fill that gap. But don’t confuse that with it being a solution on par with Kadence or GeneratePress. Certainly not as powerful as Elementor or Beaver Builder. 

There are large gaps that cause it to fail really quickly. One that stood out to me recently was the lack of mobile design features in the Site Editor. In my latest video, Customize Mobile Views on twenty twenty-four, I demonstrated the lack of simple breakpoint features inside the site editor. 

I’d have folks comment on my channel asking how to change things in the mobile nav, or on a landing page, with no clear direction on how to do it — in the theme.

When the debate of Page Builders vs Blocks comes up, how could we not want to clear up this confusion? 

A few takeaways from Eric Karkovack’s post from the link above: 
  1. “Some people aren’t fans of the Site Editor or Gutenberg. They’ll naturally point to its quirks and limitations. Fair enough.”
  2. “Perhaps this doesn’t apply as much to block themes. More than anything, they may be limited by the Site Editor. There may be a feature that it doesn’t yet offer. Thus, you must work within its capabilities.”

And this is why there’s such a fierce debate from the page builder audience: WordPress still has so much time to catch up — if ever.

One area I disagree with Karkovack on, at least in the context of TT4 is, “The gap between commercial and free products isn’t as wide**.** You aren’t missing the ability to customize the look and layout. Nor are any crucial features locked down.”

We certainly are missing some of those crucial features for mobile or even a more robust query block, for example. And while I know it’s the Site Editors fault, your average end user doesn’t. And I’m much more critical on the default theme experience because, well, it’s the default theme!

Karkovack encourages us (and WordPress developers) to create a better narrative, which brings me back full circle to where I always land: The core experience is good enough for the masses, but when you need more, you go to a full featured theme or page builder. 

Though, I don’t know if that excuses some of these features missing from the default experience.

I think the core experience of WordPress + TT4 can live along side a freelancer’s toolkit which also includes Kadence or Elementor, for example. Speed and simplicity being the obvious advantage of the former. 

And at the end of the day, I think that’s perfect, at least for now.

And if you invest in that core experience, there are products like Twentig that can supercharge your Twenty Twenty-Four website. I think a 3rd party tool that enhances default themes is very smart. 

Maybe this is where block based themes and the default experience of WordPress lives? Do we need more? Hit reply and let me know. 

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The WP Minute brings you news about WordPress in under 5 minutes -- every week! Follow The WP Minute for the WordPress headlines before you get lost in the headlines. Hosted by Matt Medeiros, host of The Matt Report podcast.

Matt: It's the WP minute.

Let's talk about block-based themes versus
well, everything else coming up next.

As you might already know, I'm
a huge fan of the 20, 24 theme.

I think it's one of the most
important default themes

WordPress has released in a while.

Sure.

The design is fairly opinionated,
but with the mix of new

patterns and blocks available.

I think someone with a little
WordPress know-how and grit.

We'll be able to design a solid
website for their brand or business.

Even for the freelancers or agency owners
out there searching to offer a more

affordable solution for their clients.

I think 20, 24 can fill that gap.

But don't confuse that with it
being a solution on par with

cadence or generate press.

Certainly not as powerful as
Elementor or BeaverBuilder.

There are large gaps that cause
it to fail really quickly.

One that stood out to me recently was
the lack of mobile design features in

the site editor in my latest video,
customized mobile views on 2024.

I demonstrated the lack of
simple breakpoint features

inside the site editor.

I'd have folks comment on my channel,
asking how to change things in the mobile

nav or on a landing page with no clear
direction on how to do it in the theme.

When the debate of page
builders versus blocks comes up.

How could we not want to
clear up this confusion?

A few takeaways from Eric Carfax
posts from the link above.

Number one, quote, some people
aren't fans of the site, editor or

Gutenberg they'll naturally point
to its quirks and limitations.

Fair enough.

And quote.

And number two, quote.

Perhaps this doesn't apply as much
to block themes more than anything.

They may be limited by the site editor.

There may be a feature
that it doesn't offer yet.

Thus, you must work within its
capabilities end quote, and this

is why there's such a fierce debate
from the page builder audience.

WordPress still has so much
time to catch up if ever.

One area I disagree with cargo back on,
at least in the context of 20, 24 is the

gap between commercial and free products.

Isn't as wide, you aren't missing the
ability to customize a look and layout,

nor are any crucial features locked down.

We certainly are missing some of those
crucial, crucial features for mobile

or even a more robust query block.

For example.

And while I know it's the site editor's
fault, your average end-user doesn't

and a much more critical on the
default theme experience because, well,

it's the default theme of WordPress.

Target back encourages us and
the WordPress developers to

create a better narrative.

Which brings me back full
circle to where I always land.

The core experience is good enough for
the masses, but when you need more, you go

to a full featured theme or page builder.

But I don't know if that excuses,
some of these features being

missing from the default experience.

I think the core experience of WordPress
plus 2024 can live alongside a freelancers

toolkit, which also includes something
like a cadence or an element, or for

example, speed and simplicity, being
the obvious advantage of the former.

And at the end of the day, I think
that's perfect at least for now.

And if you invest in that core experience,
there are products like 20 gig that

can supercharge a 20, 24 website.

I think a third party tool that
enhances default themes is very smart.

Maybe this is where block-based themes and
the default experience of WordPress lives.

Do we need more?

Hit reply.

And let me know.

Don't miss this WordPress content.

Now it's time for the
links you shouldn't miss.

As always check the show notes.

Or more importantly, visit
the WP minute.com and

subscribe to that newsletter.

So the links just end up in your
inbox, hopefully just like today.

Here we go with those links.

Aruba med launches JS essential
is for WP devs with the first

lesson dropping on March 4th, 2024.

Angie Byron reminds us why your
peers might not care about your

dev REL or community efforts.

Amber Heinz continued to climb
up the mountain of accessibility

adoption for wordpress.org and
other WordPress related websites.

Apparently some progress has been made.

Make sure you check the link
so you can read up on that.

Get a deeper look into
Automotive's founder.

He's business mind.

In this recent interview.

WP Tavern launches writer, hunger games.

WP mainline shares how you can
make more money with LearnDash.

Lastly, Eric Clark evac, which
I linked above in the script

today wants us to clear up the
confusion surrounding block themes.

Now don't miss our YouTube videos.

We've made a lot, I've made a lot.

So follow the WP minute on YouTube,
learn more about sink, pattern

overrides coming to WordPress 6.5.

Supercharger 2024 theme with 20 gig
customized mobile views in 2024.

And your website in a virtual
world, WordPress in the metaverse.

And then lastly, a sponsored
video from our sponsors at.

Theme I'll optimize WordPress
images with the optimal plugin.