WordCamp Europe 2023 recap: Highlights from Athens, Greece

Our group has formally returned from Athens, Greece and sharing their experiences with you for our annual WordCamp Europe 2023 recap publish. This occasion was held from June 8-10, 2023 and crammed in loads of updates, information and key findings on all the things associated to WordPress. Atone for all of the takeaways from classes and panel discussions, together with all of the group pleasure surrounding WordPress’s twentieth Anniversary.

Want a refresher on what occurred final yr? Take a stroll by way of reminiscence lane as we gathered in Porto, Portugal for WordCamp Europe 2022.

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WordCamp Europe 2023 recap and highlights

Annually, WordPress occasions are held in various cities across the globe, and everybody from content material creators to Core software program committers collect collectively to study, community and contribute to the open supply WordPress mission — a software program platform that powers 43% of all web sites.

Moreover, WordCamp communities present a lot of the facility behind the software program, providing help and information to at least one one other in order that the platform continues to evolve. These capstone occasions happen in Asia, Europe and North America every year and maintain a flagship continental house for all ability units to affix and contribute.

Fast stats at a look

• Location: Athens, Greece
• Length: June 8-10, 2023
• Theme: Empowering the Internet
• Members: 3,000+
• Periods: 64
• Audio system: 90
• Organizers: 112
• Volunteers: 250
• Sponsors: 64
• Media Companions: 21

Exploration in Athens, Greece

June in Athens is like stepping right into a time machine crammed with historical past, scrumptious meals and optimistic vitality. Attendees skilled a beautiful fusion of previous and current cultures, with lovely views of the Acropolis as a backdrop. The occasion befell on the Megaron Athens Worldwide Convention Centre, one of many largest venues within the capital, and is central to quite a lot of historic landmarks throughout the metropolis.

Right here, attendees strolled by way of the crowded streets, watched road performers for leisure and basked in attractive fragrances from native Greek cafés and meals distributors. The Aegean Sea additionally made a really perfect setting for leisurely walks alongside the seashore promenades.

Properly, @WCEurope, you gotta love the serendipity: Athens is sending us off with “Good day, Dolly”. 😊 See you in Torino #wceu pic.twitter.com/cCzw20GsuT

— Petya Raykovska (@petyeah) June 11, 2023

Subsequent yr, WordCamp Europe will probably be held in Turin, Italy for a brand new expertise

Contributor Day highlights: WCEU 2023 recap notes

The GoDaddy group was energetic at Contributor Day, with a few of our workers representing groups as desk leads. Attendees acquired an opportunity to listen to from:

• Courtney Robertson
• Mike Schroder
• George Mamadashvili
• Marcus Burnette
• Evan Herman

Additionally they has an opportunity to work with teams like :

• Polyglots
• Coaching and Function Notifications
• Internet hosting
• Themes
• Documentation

One of many extra notable achievements got here from the Theme Group, which created a brand new group theme from scratch utilizing solely Gutenberg (a block editor in WordPress).

A brand new workshop for youths was launched

This yr, a particular Workshop for Kids session was launched — permitting youthful generations to experiment with web-building strategies. The youth got an opportunity to construct their very personal web site utilizing WordPress and volunteers assisted them in organising a web site, deciding on a theme and buying the abilities to generate varied forms of content material.

Session highlights: WCEU 2023 recap notes

The theme for this yr’s WCEU occasion centered on “Empowering the Internet.” We heard from industry experts and community leaders as they mentioned topics like:

• Accessibility
• Safety
• Content material creation
• Internet growth and extra

Matt Mullenweg, the co-founder of WordPress, additionally spoke on theme variations and the platform’s 20-year anniversary throughout his keynote presentation on the final day of the occasion.

Day One:

Watch the complete live-streams for day one right here: Track 1 |Track 2 | Track 3

Session: State of WordPress safety – insights from 2022

Speaker: Oliver Slid

Class: Monitor 1

Oliver touched on safety insights from information collected in 2022 for the WordPress platform. The findings confirmed that there have been over 4,000 safety vulnerabilities inside WP themes and plugins, and solely a small share (lower than 1%) affecting WordPress Core. One space of concern included safety points throughout the provide chain (primarily on the subject of plugins and patches). To fight this, he steered a function request (view the form here) that may incorporate an alert into the WordPress admin panel, notifying website homeowners of plugin vulnerabilities. He additionally referred to as for plugin transparency from builders and incentives for safety researchers.

Session: AI in WordPress

Audio system: Sujay Pawar, Gabriella Laster, Daniel Kanchev, Shane Pearlman, Constanze Kratel

Class: Monitor 1

This panel mentioned examples of AI merchandise which are actively being utilized in WordPress at the moment. We heard about issues like:

• AI purposes for builders
• AI web-building capabilities
• Feed optimization for ecommerce
• Language translations for world web sites
• Content material classification
• Code producing
• Picture technology and extra

It was an enriching dialog with thrilling perception into what AI can do for business professionals at the moment and sooner or later.

Session: Tips on how to ask for internet design suggestions

Speaker: Ana Cirujano

Class: Monitor 2

Ana energized the gang with recommendations on find out how to ask for internet design suggestions suggestions, whereas making purchasers really feel snug and safe. She mentioned instruments and strategies that assist encourage communication and collaboration (like Figma, Asana and Slack), in order that suggestions stays open all through all phases of the design course of. She additionally touched on imposter syndrome and time constraints as the reason why some designers are afraid to ask for suggestions and the way they’ll really feel extra assured. Together with the consumer in enterprise selections, anticipating consumer requests and asking focused questions (associated to enterprise targets) had been a number of the options she steered.

Session: 5 for the longer term

Audio system: Hari Shanker, Afshana Diya, Emanuel Blagonic. Courtney Robertson

Class: WP Join

This new kind of session was a devoted house for attendees to meetup, join and chat about methods to contribute to 5 for the Future. The featured audio system mentioned methods on how somebody can turn out to be a sponsored contributor, together with how an organization can donate an worker to the WP mission. Our very personal Courtney Robertson was a speaker at this session and provided her recommendation on why this system is helpful for the general WordPress progress. Take a look at the video livestream here.

Day Two:

Watch the live-streams for day two right here: Track 1 | Track 2 | Track 3

Session: The blind man who beat the developer at his personal recreation

Audio system: Lazar Bulatovic, Andrija Radojev

Class: Monitor 1

Lazar and Adrija mentioned how loads of designers and builders are lacking out on a chance to spice up accessibility on the internet — not as a result of they’re dangerous folks, however as a result of they lack the best training and consciousness. Lazar primarily centered on the subject of display screen reader accessibility and its limitations, calling for builders to make enhancements. The dialogue additionally emphasised a necessity for testing from precise customers with disabilities, since they’ve first-hand information of what to look out for. Andrija added that builders want to pay attention to assistive applied sciences and particular behaviors associated to customers with completely different disabilities. He additionally shared a key takeaway that referred to as for everybody to exit and make the web extra accessible.

Session: 15 methods person expertise impacts enterprise success

Speaker: Cathi Bosco

Class: Monitor 1

Cathi mentioned the significance of UX analysis and design, and the way it has the facility to positively influence enterprise success. The principle speaking factors centered on taking extra time to analysis buyer pain-points, prioritizing group collaborations through the studying course of and lowering long-term prices and dangers for the enterprise.

Session: Contributing to WordPress with out figuring out “find out how to code”

Audio system: Birgit Olzem, Patricia Brun, TorreJunko Nukaga, Alice Orrù

Class: Monitor 1

Every of the panel members shared insights on how they acquired concerned with the WordPress group and the way they overcame challenges alongside the way in which. The frequent thread between all of their tales touched on: not being afraid to ask questions, networking with different group members and the braveness to supply trustworthy suggestions.

Session: Checkout or checkmate: the lasting results of eCommerce buyer expertise

Speaker: Tess Coughlan-Allen

Class: Monitor 1

Tess famous that the ecommerce increase from the pandemic is now leveling out, emphasizing a necessity for on-line entrepreneurs to prioritize “flexibility” and the “buyer expertise.” She encourages platforms, companies and retailers to collaborate and be open to suggestions, in order that experimentation can spawn new greatest practices — not simply suggestions from throughout the WordPress group, however from exterior communities, too. In addition to comfort and financial savings, she additionally famous that buyers need an organization that aligns with their values.

Keynote highlights: WCEU 2023 recap notes

The ultimate day of WCEU 2023 ended with loads of thrilling insights about the way forward for WordPress. Panel hosts Matt Mullenwag, Josepha Haden Chomphosey and Matías Ventura touched on subjects like

• 5 for the Future
• Openverse
• WP Playground
• Gutenberg
• WordPress 6.3

View the complete keynote livestream here or try the fast abstract under:

5 for the Future:

Contributions for this initiative proceed to develop as contributors, particular person pledges and firm contributors (together with GoDaddy) rally collectively to help the event of WordPress. Right here’s a breakdown of the rising numbers from the previous yr:

• Contributors +737
• Particular person pledges +95
• Firm contributors +30

Openverse:

This new open supply mission, constructed for creatives trying to supply free inventory pictures and audio, can now go to the opensource.net web site for a library of assets that attain over 800 million information. (Now obtainable in WP 6.2 throughout the editor)

WP Playground:

Dwell translations are actually a part of the WP Playground API, permitting you to run WordPress purposes immediately within the browser with no PHP server. Peek the tweet under to view find out how to use it:

Up now on the #WCEU keynote: Do you know the WP Playground makes making an attempt a brand new theme or plugin risk-free, immediately out of your browser. Go wild and take a look at it at the moment https://t.co/uu4rd9wZAU#WCEU #WordPress #WCEUKeynote pic.twitter.com/ChLzEFZEb7

— WordPress (@WordPress) June 10, 2023

Gutenberg:

Matías Ventura mirrored on the event of Gutenberg over the previous six years, saying “It has opened up the power for the design group to contribute to the mission straight, with out relying on a developer to translate their concepts right into a design — and to me I believe that’s actually rewarding.”

WordPress 6.3:

The general objective of 6.3 is to assist create a extra cohesive narrative. And though the primary beta is ready to reach throughout the subsequent few weeks, Matías confirmed a fast demo of the next options to stay up for:

• Wayfinder instrument: This new instrument lets you run instructions and navigate to completely different pages rapidly.
• Fashion ebook revisions panel: Lets you evaluation all of your modifications or updates for comparability functions (has a pleasant side-by-side view).
• Navigation menu: Feels extra consolidated and lets you edit straight from the nav menu, with out having to get into the “nitty-gritty of the editor,” notes Matías.
• Content material vs template modifying: Customers can now toggle between each editors extra effectively — both by clicking by way of visible blocks or through the use of the options listed within the aspect panel.
• Patterns: A brand new rollout function now permits customers to avoid wasting their very own patterns, in order that they’re simply accessible for customers to refer again to or proceed modifying sooner or later.

In case you’d wish to mess around with a few of these new options, you possibly can obtain the brand new plugin and begin familiarizing your self with the way it all works.

Enjoyable moments from the group

From the afterparties to the giveaways, group members had been wanting to share on-line picture galleries and shoutouts of their favourite moments. Take a look at a number of of our favourite moments right here:

Till we meet once more #WCEU! https://t.co/MnBiC4pq2F

— Adam W. Warner 👋 Let’s chat. DMs open. (@wpmodder) June 12, 2023

Had to take a look at the Acropolis whereas right here #WCEU pic.twitter.com/ygcQHMZZXD

— Nealey | #WCEU (@Justinnealey) June 6, 2023

🍷Certainly one of my favourite pre-event happenings: group dinner, in-person, with previous associates and new-to-me coworkers. #WCEU 🤗 https://t.co/T8ekyg8URb

— @courtneyr_dev 🌻attending #WCMontclair (@courtneyr_dev) June 6, 2023

Say Opa!🇬🇷@photomatt chatted with the Greek WordPress group on the #WCEU afterparty. An important finish to an excellent occasion!🎉 pic.twitter.com/B0bOEj7xAl

— WordPress.com (@wordpressdotcom) June 10, 2023

Okay #WCEU2023 let’s get together! pic.twitter.com/DVgP5o4zym

— Yoast (@yoast) June 10, 2023

Who attended WordCamp Europe?

WordCamp Europe drew in essentially the most various crowd of attendees and welcomed all skill-sets and backgrounds — whether or not they had been attending in-person or remotely. It was a chance for WordPress lovers to assemble from across the globe, as a part of a group ecosystem that features creators, builders, designers and extra.

As a proud supporter of the WordPress group, the GoDaddy group additionally joined in on the motion with almost 20 representatives from GoDaddy Pro, ManageWP, Pagely and Sucuri.

• Adam Warner  —  Director of Area Advertising
• Courtney Robertson — Open Supply Internet Designer & Developer Advocate
• Mike Schroder – Core &  Efficiency group contributor
• George Mamadashvili  —  Gutenberg contributor
• Maja Loncar  —  Area Advertising, EMEA
• Marcus Burnette —  WooCommerce Group for & Area Advertising Specialist
• Justin Nealey  —  Media Director
• Lilly Crick  —  Pagely Model Expertise Director
• Allison Thieme  —  Pagely Director of Providers
• Ty Sprock  —  Pagely Companion Relationship Supervisor
• Predrag Zdravkovic —  ManageWP Affiliate Advertising Supervisor
• Krystle Herbrandson  —  Sucuri Sr. Advertising Director
• Victor Santoyo  — Companions Gross sales Guide
• Evan Herman — Plugin Evaluation Group & Engineer
• Jelena Sobic  — Superior Tech Help

Moreover, in-person attendees acquired an opportunity to satisfy many people within the extender group who create plugins, themes and different providers used throughout many web sites.

How WordCamp Europe works

In case you’re serious about attending in-person occasions sooner or later, you’ll need to begin by catching the replay of the GoDaddy Area Advertising Group sharing their suggestions from previous experiences. On this video, they talk about all the things from networking professionally to dealing with first time jitters.

Along with the exceptional classes and workshops, you may as well count on after-hour occasions the place acquainted associates reconnect and new networking relationships type.

Need to study extra about Tracks, Contributor Day and Workshops? Hold studying for a fast breakdown of how each usually features, utilizing info and examples from this yr’s occasion that made the expertise distinctive.

Tracks

Conventional tracks consist of varied speaker classes unfold out all through the day. You possibly can usually discover discussions and shows on subjects starting from advertising to internet growth and far, way more.

This yr, a brand new Wellness Monitor was added to the itinerary for attendees that had been desirous about aware and beginner-level bodily actions like mountain climbing, yoga and tai chi.

If you wish to get a really feel for a way the tracks and classes had been organized for this yr’s occasion, take a peek on the schedule listings under to view all the small print.

Day 1: 

Day 2: