WordPress 6.9.1 maintenance release is arriving Feb 3, 2026, with a Beta scheduled for Jan 29. The latest dev chat highlights critical tickets in Trac and Gutenberg, the formation of the WP 7.0 release squad, and Gutenberg 22.4. Senior dev Ahmad Wael weighs in on stabilization and core contribution best practices.
WordPress 6.9.1 has arrived, fixing 49 bugs across Core and the Block Editor. As a senior developer, I explain why you shouldn’t ignore this short-cycle maintenance release. Learn how to update safely using WP-CLI and what these changes mean for your site’s stability ahead of the major WordPress 7.0 launch.
The Make WordPress team has released the official WordPress AI Guidelines to combat “AI slop” and ensure core contributions remain high-quality. These guidelines focus on five core principles: human responsibility, transparency in disclosure, GPLv2 licensing compatibility, and prioritizing maintainable code over automated volume. Learn why human oversight is still non-negotiable for WordPress developers.
Ahmad Wael analyzes the WordPress 6.9 ‘Gene’ retrospective, focusing on the shift toward global triage leads, the urgent need for release automation, and the success of contributor pairing. Learn why the ‘plumbing’ of the WordPress 6.9 release matters more for site stability than new block features for senior developers.
WordPress 6.9.1 RC1 is out to fix 49 bugs across Core and Gutenberg. From admin panel glitches to critical mail delivery failures, this maintenance release is essential for site stability. Senior developer Ahmad Wael breaks down the technical “gotchas” and shows you how to test the release safely using WP-CLI.
WordPress Core is proposing the removal of legacy 1024-bit certificates from its root bundle for version 7.0. As CentOS 7 hits EOL and NIST standards move toward 2048-bit minimums, this cleanup is essential for security. Senior dev Ahmad Wael explains why this legacy bloat is a liability for your modern WordPress site.
WordPress has introduced a new repository for AI agent skills, featuring wp-playground. This tool leverages the Playground CLI to create a fast, repeatable testing environment for AI-generated plugins and themes, reducing startup times to seconds and allowing agents to verify code autonomously through automated logins and file signature detection.
The WordPress Dev Chat Agenda for January 28, 2026, outlines critical updates for developers. We look at the upcoming 6.9.1 maintenance release, the WordPress 7.0 squad announcement, and Gutenberg 22.4 features like pattern overrides. As we transition into the 7.0 cycle, staying ahead of Core changes is vital for site stability.
WordPress 7.0 is approaching, and the AI team is racing to meet the February 19 Beta 1 deadline. This week’s update covers the 0.2.0 release of AI Experiments, the progress of the Abilities API for core post management, and the release of the PHP AI Client v0.4.0. Learn what’s landing in core.
Planning for the WordPress 7.0 Release Squad is officially underway, with a final release date targeted for April 9, 2026. This major version will focus on streamlined leadership and deep technical stability. Volunteers for Tech Lead, Triage, and Coordination roles are encouraged to apply by January 16th to shape the core future.