Dev Chat Summary, January 24, 2024

Start of meeting on Slack facilitated by @webcommsat

This DevChat starts with an experiment to shift the chat to synchronize discussions on open coreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. proposals and release issues rather than reproducing links highlighted in the curated agendas.

Discussion on open proposals in Core

Interactivity APIAPI An API or Application Programming Interface is a software intermediary that allows programs to interact with each other and share data in limited, clearly defined ways.

Link to post: Proposal: The Interactivity API – A better developer experience in building interactive blocks

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Comments:

• The API is well beyond the proposal stage, with nothing actionable in discussion.

Actions:

• The proposal should be considered “accepted”.

HTMLHTML HyperText Markup Language. The semantic scripting language primarily used for outputting content in web browsers. API: Introduce WP_HTML::tag() for safely creating HTML

Link to PR (draft): https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/pull/5884

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Comments:

• This PR was raised along with the question of how items should be added to the agenda. It was clarified that topics can be added as comments to the previous week’s chat summary, or to the current week’s agenda post (typically published on Tuesdays). And of course, any item can be raised during the open floor section of Dev Chat.
• @dmsnell indicated that the PR for consideration is a scaled back version of a larger templating system proposal, which will not be ready for 6.5. The PR adds a helper utility, WP_HTML::tag(), to conveniently generate single HTML tags with attributes. The impetus for this feature is to provide Core and extenders a safer way to generate HTML tags, compared with reliance on proper usage of functions such as esc_attr(), which might be overlooked and introduce HTML injection vectors.
• @jorbin would prefer that any new APIs be used by Core itself, and that there be accessory patches prepared that demonstrate how the function integrates and operates in Core. It was also suggested that a Make/Core proposal would help with gathering broader input.
• @azaozz pointed out that enhancementenhancement Enhancements are simple improvements to WordPress, such as the addition of a hook, a new feature, or an improvement to an existing feature. tickets in TracTrac An open source project by Edgewall Software that serves as a bug tracker and project management tool for WordPress. are another form of “proposal”, and can also result in healthy discussion. He suggested starting the discussion in Trac, and then utilizing a Make/Core proposal if the ticketticket Created for both bug reports and feature development on the bug tracker. isn’t sufficient to establish consensus.
• There continued discussion around how Core generates HTML currently, which relies on proper use of esc_*() and echo(), as well as a broader discussion around safely generating HTML. Got feedback? Join the conversation in SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform https://slack.com/. The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at https://make.wordpress.org/chat/., or leave a comment below.

Actions:

• @dmsnell to create a Trac ticket and/or Make/Core proposal to discuss introduction of WP_HTML::tag().
• @dmsnell to consider a future Make/Core proposal for the HTML API templating system, and continued discussion around generating safe HTML.

Forthcoming releases

6.4.3

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• @jorbin shared the remaining open tickets for this milestone, which are scheduled for review and commit prior to a Thursday (Jan 25) RCrelease 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).:
  • #60025 – This needs additional review and testing. Any help is appreciated
  • #59866 – @peterwilsoncc and I have been work on the one and I should have an update in the next 12 hours.
• @joemcgill requested help reviewing the approach proposed in #5926 Cache locate template paths, which would address both #60025 and #60290.

6.5

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See this section in the agenda for updates, helpful links, and information for the 6.5 release.

Comments:

• @oglekler pointed out that there are several early 6.5 tickets that need attention, asking for review as some might have the potential to be completed in time for BetaBeta A pre-release of software that is given out to a large group of users to trial under real conditions. Beta versions have gone through alpha testing in-house and are generally fairly close in look, feel and function to the final product; however, design changes often occur as part of the process..
• @hellofromtonya indicated that the 6.5 cycle is past the “early part of alpha”, suggesting these may need to be punted if they truly require a long runway for soak time and discussion.
• @azaozz agreed that the early keyword indicates a need for comprehensive testing, and possible reconsideration of the milestone if the testing hasn’t occurred. He also suggested that while not required, it might be preferable to fix old/known bugs during alpha, and allow beta testers to focus on “new” bugs introduced from Beta 1 and onward.
• @jorbin suggested two interpretations of early; i.e. actually early in the alpha cycle, or just before Beta 1.
• @hellofromtonya noted that since Beta 1 is the puntpunt Contributors sometimes use the verb "punt" when talking about a ticket. This means it is being pushed out to a future release. This typically occurs for lower priority tickets near the end of the release cycle that don't "make the cut." In this is colloquial usage of the word, it means to delay or equivocate. (It also describes a play in American football where a team essentially passes up on an opportunity, hoping to put themselves in a better position later to try again.) milestone for enhancements/features, that in her perspective, early should apply to early in the alpha cycle. She cited changes to WP_Query as an example where early would apply.
• @afragen observed that it doesn’t seem that many early tickets are committed early in the cycle.

Open Floor

• @afragen highlighted #59448: is_wp_version_compatible works unreliably for additional review/attention.
• @swissspidy shared that #59656: Merge Performant Translations (Ginger MO) (changeset 57337) has just been committed to trunk. @azaozz asked if it could be highlighted in non-English sites/forums, and @swissspidy noted that it should be a pinned post topic during beta, and would raise it in the #polyglots channel. @webcommsat also suggested referencing this update in the next polyglot newsletter.
• In order to expand topics in the Contributor Mentorship Program, @oglekler invited Core contributorsCore Contributors Core contributors are those who have worked on a release of WordPress, by creating the functions or finding and patching bugs. These contributions are done through Trac. https://core.trac.wordpress.org. to share interesting and important ideas, tickets, and issues related to Core over in the #contributor-mentorship channel or via DM.

Props @hellofromTonya for peer review.

#6-4, #6-5, #core, #core-editor, #dev-chat, #meeting, #summary