Imagine you’re at a bustling cafΓ©, sipping on your flat white, as you and your mates (aka your team) are huddled around a table. Each of you is furiously tapping away on your laptops, brainstorming on the same WordPress project. This is the heart of real-time collaboration β a symphony of ideas, edits, and updates happening in the blink of an eye.
But is this digital get-together all smooth sailing? Let’s dive in.
Gutenberg Phase 3
As we ride into 2024, the WordPress project Gutenberg has entered phase 3, with the primary objective of enhancing collaboration.
Here’s a summary of the project phase objectives:
Here are the main objectives of WordPress/Automattic’s Gutenberg Phase 3:
- Real-Time Collaborative Editing.
- Inline Commenting and Tagging.
- Enhanced Publishing Flows.
- Improved Post Revisions.
- Improved Media Library.
- Guest Collaboration without WordPress Account Creation.
- Addressing Technical Challenges for Accessibility on All Hosting Environments.
Right at the forefront of the changes is a real-time collaborative editor.
What does a real-time collaborative editor mean?
We’re talking about a Google Docs-like experience inside the WordPress block editor with multiple contributors editing and changing the post or page being edited.
I’m all for innovation, and WordPress certainly needs that to stay ahead of the competitors, but I wonder whether this capability has any business in the core app.
For a long time, Automattic (the organisation behind the WordPress open-source project) has resisted adding ‘useful” features into the core in favour of a plugin.
Users have been screaming for hugely popular essential features such as copy/clone posts to be included in core, but no, they are to remain as plugins used by millions.
But now, something very complex such as real-time collaboration, is being added to the WordPress core.
It’s not going to be a small job either. It’s a vast, complex rewrite and implementation that will introduce a shedload of future bugs and issues.
But who will actually benefit from real-time collaborative editing?
WordPress powers over 45% of the top 100 million websites and has a vast user base.
But website content is very different to business documents. I understand many large/enterprise organisations use an editorial approach to content management, but that will be covered in the Gutenberg project under “Enhanced Publishing Flows”.
How often has the average Joe or Jane needed to discuss and edit website content in real time?
I’m not convinced that such a massive rewrite and adding a real-time collaboration feature to the core will benefit most WordPress users.
What would you use more: real-time collaborative editing with clients or colleagues or duplicating a page or post?
Will we have the ability to enable or disable the core feature? Nobody knows yet.
<end rant/> π
In it for the long haul.
Like it or not, real-time collaboration is coming to the WordPress core. We (the community) have little influence as WordPress core features continue to be heavily driven by Automattic and the enterprise organisations sitting on the WordPress VIP architecture.
Let’s examine the pros and cons of adding real-time collaboration to the WordPress core.
Pros for WordPress Real-Time Collaboration
π Enhanced Team Collaboration: Real-time collaboration allows multiple team members to work together seamlessly, fostering a more collaborative and interactive work environment.
π Efficiency in Content Production: The feature enables simultaneous editing, accelerating content creation and reducing the time from draft to publication with multiple authors.
π Immediate Feedback and Resolution: Team members can instantly pinpoint and resolve errors or make suggestions, leading to higher-quality content.
π Streamlined Workflow: Reduces the need for sequential task handling, allowing for a more fluid and dynamic approach to content development.
π Decreased Reliance on External Tools: Integrating real-time collaboration reduces the dependency on third-party applications for drafting and reviewing content.
π Improved Version Control: Keeping track of changes and revisions becomes easier, ensuring better management of content evolution.
Cons for WordPress Real-Time Collaboration
π Complexity in Coordination: Managing inputs from multiple collaborators in real-time can lead to confusion and a lack of clarity in content direction.
π Performance Concerns: The addition of real-time features may impact the performance of the WordPress site, potentially leading to slower load times and reduced responsiveness.
π Security and Privacy Risks: With more people involved in the editing process, thereβs an increased risk of data breaches or unauthorised access to sensitive content.
π Steep Learning Curve: Adapting to a real-time collaboration environment can be challenging for some users, requiring time and training.
π Increased Resource Requirements: Implementing real-time collaboration may demand more server resources, which can be challenging for websites with limited hosting capabilities.
π Potential for Overlap and Redundancy: Multiple editors working simultaneously could lead to redundant edits or conflicts in content, necessitating more robust conflict resolution mechanisms.
So, what now?
And there we have it, folks! As we close the chapter on our caffeinated dive into WordPress’s latest escapade β real-time collaboration β it’s clear we’re not just stirring in a teaspoon of innovation but possibly adding a whole new flavour to the WordPress brew with Gutenberg Phase 3.
This update is like a double-shot espresso; it packs a punch with perks like jazzed-up team dynamics, warp-speed content creation, and a workflow smoother than a well-foamed latte.
But letβs not sugarcoat it β it’s not all rainbows and unicorns. There’s the potential for a bit of a brain freeze with the complexity of juggling multiple editors, the possible slow drip of performance issues, and the looming cloud of security concerns.
This new feature might feel like ordering a fancy frappuccino for solo bloggers and small fry when all you wanted was a simple cuppa. But for the big kahunas and editorial teams, it’s like finally getting that deluxe coffee machine you’ve been eyeing β complex but oh-so-worth-it for the proper brew.
So, as we pack up our laptops and finish our flat whites, let’s remember: WordPress is evolving, sometimes in leaps and bounds, other times in baby steps. Whether real-time collaboration in WordPress will be the next big hit or just a fancy feature for the few, it’s all part of the grand WordPress adventure.
Keep your mugs ready and your spirits high β the world of WordPress is always full of surprises, and who knows what the next update might bring? Maybe a feature that makes coffee? One can only hope!
Until next time, keep thriving!
Wil.
PS: Got thoughts, insights, or a bit of witty banter about this new WordPress feature? Iβd love to hear it! Drop a comment below, share your experiences, or just say hello.