Title: Dev Chat Summary: May 9th (4.9.6 week 6) Author: Jeffrey Paul Published: May 10, 2018 Last modified: May 17, 2018 --- [ ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jeffpaul/) [Jeffrey Paul](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jeffpaul/) 6:18 pm _on_ May 10, 2018 Tags: [4.9.6 ( 22 )](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/4-9-6/), [core ( 756 )](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/core/), [dev chat ( 932 )](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/dev-chat/), [summary ( 980 )](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/summary/)    # Dev Chat Summary: May 9th (4.9.6 week 6) This post summarizes the dev chat meeting from May 9th ([agenda](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/05/09/dev-chat-agenda-may-9th-4-9-6-week-6/), [Slack archive](https://wordpress.slack.com/archives/C02RQBWTW/p1525896015000496)). ## 4.9.6 planning * Thanks to all the contributors working on 4.9.6 so far, everyone has been doing a great job! * Planning on a final bugbug A bug is an error or unexpected result. Performance improvements, code optimization, and are considered enhancements, not defects. After feature freeze, only bugs are dealt with, with regressions (adverse changes from the previous version) being the highest priority. scrub tomorrow (May 10th) at 14:30 UTC then packaging the release candidaterelease candidate One of the final stages in the version release cycle, this version signals the potential to be a final release to the public. Also see [alpha (beta)](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/05/10/dev-chat-summary-may-9th-4-9-6-week-6/?output_format=md#alpha-beta). at 20:00 UTC * There are still [13 open bugs](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/report/4) that need final testing and feedback. The [delay was a difficult decision](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/05/08/4-9-6-schedule-changes/), but it is giving us the amount of time needed to fix all of these little bugs. * Majority of bug tickets actively being worked on in [#gdpr-compliance](https://wordpress.slack.com/messages/#gdpr-compliance/) * [@allendav](https://profiles.wordpress.org/allendav/) and proof reading volunteers are working on handbook content to help devs work with the new privacy tools. Those will be supplemented by dev notesdev note Each important change in WordPress Core is documented in a developers note, (usually called dev note). Good dev notes generally include a description of the change, the decision that led to this change, and a description of how developers are supposed to work with that change. Dev notes are published on Make/Core blog during the beta phase of WordPress release cycle. Publishing dev notes is particularly important when plugin/theme authors and WordPress developers need to be aware of those changes.In general, all dev notes are compiled into a Field Guide at the beginning of the release candidate phase. ASAP. * [Beta is still available for testing](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/05/03/wordpress-4-9-6-beta/), any and all feedback is welcomed * Reminder that the release is scheduled for Thursday, May 17th ## Updates from focus leads and component maintainers * The **REST APIREST API The REST API is an acronym for the RESTful Application Program Interface (API) that uses HTTP requests to GET, PUT, POST and DELETE data. It is how the front end of an application (think “phone app” or “website”) can communicate with the data store (think “database” or “file system”) [https://developer.wordpress.org/rest-api/](https://developer.wordpress.org/rest-api/) team** posted a [summary from their last meeting](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/05/08/rest-api-meeting-summary-may-3rd/) covering decisions around `register_meta()` and documentation. Decisions are being made so if lead devs or component maintainers have input then please take the time to review and join the discussion. Many thanks to those who’ve joined the component lately, some important stuff has been getting closed out. [#43998](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/43998) is a priority and current needs a patchpatch A special text file that describes changes to code, by identifying the files and lines which are added, removed, and altered. It may also be referred to as a **diff**. A patch can be _applied_ to a codebase for testing.. * The **GutenbergGutenberg The Gutenberg project is the new Editor Interface for WordPress. The editor improves the process and experience of creating new content, making writing rich content much simpler. It uses ‘blocks’ to add richness rather than shortcodes, custom HTML etc. [https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/](https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/) team** released [v2.8](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/05/04/whats-new-in-gutenberg-may-the-4th/), continue to iterate on regular releases, and thank everyone involved. * The **PHPPHP The web scripting language in which WordPress is primarily architected. WordPress requires PHP 7.4 or higher team** posted recaps from their last [two](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/05/07/php-meeting-recap-april-30th/) [meetings](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/05/08/php-meeting-recap-may-7th-2018/) covering Servehappy, PHP version requirements for plugins & themes, and the PHP upgrade page. ## General announcements * [@mikeschinkel](https://profiles.wordpress.org/mikeschinkel/): looking for input on [#12955](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/12955), its 8 years old but has recent discussions that could use feedback so those interested in contributing take the best approach ## Next meeting The next meeting will take place on [May 16, 2018 at 20:00 UTC](https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?iso=20180516T2000)/ May 16, 2018 at 20:00 UTC in the [#core](https://wordpress.slack.com/messages/#core/) SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform [https://slack.com/](https://slack.com/). The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at [https://make.wordpress.org/chat/](https://make.wordpress.org/chat/) channel. Please feel free to drop in with any updates or questions. If you have items to discuss but cannot make the meeting, please leave a comment on this post so that we can take them into account. [#4-9-6](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/4-9-6/), [#core](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/core/), [#dev-chat](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/dev-chat/), [#summary](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/summary/) ### Share this: * [ Threads ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/05/10/dev-chat-summary-may-9th-4-9-6-week-6/?share=threads) * [ Mastodon ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/05/10/dev-chat-summary-may-9th-4-9-6-week-6/?share=mastodon) * [ Bluesky ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/05/10/dev-chat-summary-may-9th-4-9-6-week-6/?share=bluesky) * [ X ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/05/10/dev-chat-summary-may-9th-4-9-6-week-6/?share=x) * [ Facebook ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/05/10/dev-chat-summary-may-9th-4-9-6-week-6/?share=facebook) * [ LinkedIn ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/05/10/dev-chat-summary-may-9th-4-9-6-week-6/?share=linkedin) # Post navigation [← Gutenberg and the REST API, early May](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/05/09/gutenberg-and-the-rest-api-early-may/) [WordPress 4.9.6 Release Candidate →](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/05/10/wordpress-4-9-6-release-candidate/)