WordPress 6.8 “Cecil” shipped earlier this month, and with the new once-a-year major release cadence, there will not be a WordPress 6.9 until sometime next year.
That gives us a rare opportunity: let’s rally as a contributor community and give these 6.8.x minor releases attention more akin to major releases.
WordPress’ minor releases aren’t just for emergency fixes; they’re a real opportunity to focus, polish, and improve WordPress in specific ways. The following are some ideas I have on different focuses we would have with 6.8.x minor releases.
1. Good First Bugs Blitz
We’ve got a backlog of “good first bugs” that already have patches, so let’s get them tested, reviewed, and committed. Clearing these builds contributor confidence, keeps the door open for new contributors, and reduces technical debt. It’s a win for the project and the community.
2. “Paper Cuts” (aka UX polish)
Tiny friction points add up. Let’s fix the little annoyances that get in the way of a great editing and admin experiences. (No formal query for this, just a call for suggestions on what little nags or pet peeves folks have that could use some small tweaks.) Not every improvement needs to be huge; removing friction in the basics makes WordPress feel smoother, faster, and more welcoming for everyone.
3. Accessibility Improvements
I would love to partner with folks like Amber Hinds, Joe Dolson, and others to ship a release centered around accessibility improvements. Accessibility isn’t optional. It’s core to WordPress’ mission of democratizing publishing for everyone, and these improvements help real users every single day.
4. Internationalization + RTL Support
There’s room to improve for non-English (“I18n“) and Right-to-Left (“RTL“) language users who often times get forgotten behind focuses on “American” and “English” support. English speakers aren’t the majority on the internet. Improving i18n and RTL support makes WordPress better for millions, not just a handful of users. Let’s make the platform more global in practice, not just in theory.
5. Bundled Theme Improvements
Let’s continue upgrading default themes to better reflect today’s block editor capabilities, maybe even revisit Post Formats in the process. Modernizing bundled themes keeps WordPress feeling current and shows off its best capabilities right out of the box.
6. Privacy Enhancements
There’s plenty to work through in the Privacy component, we can help ship thoughtful improvements that matter. Privacy expectations and regulations keep evolving. WordPress should continue empowering users to control their own data and stay ahead of the curve.
7. PHP Compatibility Focus
PHP 8.4 is here and some hosts are upgrading fast, so let’s keep WordPress running cleanly, consistently, and compatibly across current, active PHP versions. Staying compatible means better performance, better security, and better future-proofing for sites around the world.
9. Security Fixes (Always)
Security fixes will of course stay a priority, so in so far as there are things folks can help within the Security component then let’s do it. WordPress powers a huge portion of the web, and with great reach comes great responsibility. Regular security work protects users, businesses, and the open web.
Why These Minor Releases Matter
Every improvement we target from accessibility, internationalization, privacy, PHP compatibility, security, UX polish, to contributor experience strengthens WordPress in ways that matter today and even more tomorrow.
This isn’t just “maintenance”, it’s about doing the work that keeps WordPress usable, reliable, trusted, and welcoming for the next generation of users and contributors. 6.8.x gives us a real window to focus without the distractions of a major release. We should take advantage of it.
Not flashy. Not headline-grabbing. Just meaningful progress, the kind that sticks.
If you’re interested in leading, patching, reviewing, testing, or just helping shape what comes next, let’s talk. Let’s ship real improvements, together.
Let’s Do This Together
I’d love to lead (or co-lead) a few of these minor releases. But I’d also love to see others step in.
- Want to lead a focused minor release?
- Want to contribute through patches, reviews, or testing?
- Have a new focus idea that fits the spirit of targeted, impactful updates?
Say something. Step up. Let’s get organized and make it happen.
Comment here, or ping me in WordPress Slack (I’m @jeffpaul there). Let’s ship some solid stuff in 6.8.x and keep WordPress moving forward. 🚀
Leave a Reply