As a mere two weeks have passed since the last release of WordPress, version 2.7 (and possibly bug fixes, in versions 2.6.1 and so on), much like the current version, will include a significant number of key features which set the open source blogging system apart from others.

While all the features listed below won’t be included in the next release, they have been placed under consideration, and if they do not appear in the next release, they will surely end up in a later version.

Features that Will Likely Be Included

  1. Comments API – This feature would allow developers to create software or applications for managing WordPress users’ comments. Features of the desktop/online application software could include the ability to moderate, edit, reply, delete, spam, and mark comments as not spam.
  2. Keyboard Shortcuts for Comment Moderation – The addition of keyboard shortcuts for comment moderation would allow users to quickly manage comments – using standard keyboard combinations to mark comments as spam, not spam, approve, or edit all or individual comments.
  3. Theme Update API – Themes that have recently been updated would receive a notification in the Theme Admin area, so theme developers could quickly have users update their theme based on enhancements and updates to their themes, similar to the way plugin updating currently takes place.
  4. One-Click Plugin Installs – The One Click Plugin would be integrated into WordPress, which allows you to easily install (possibly uninstall) a plugin.
  5. WordPress Core Updates – This feature will allow users to easily update their version of WordPress, similar to the Automatic Upgrade plugin.
  6. Default Sitemaps – Google XML sitemaps would automatically be created, without the need of additional plugins.
  7. Admin Panel Comment Replies – WordPress blog administrators would be able to reply to comments within the admin panel, similar to several plugins that are currently available. This is another time saving and productivity-boosting enhancement, likely available in the next release of WordPress.
  8. Comment Threading – Comment threading would allow users to reply to other comments, much like Brian’s Threaded Comments.
  9. Subscribe to Comments – A checkbox would appear beneath each comment box, allowing you to subscribe to comments. This feature may not make it into version 2.7, however.
  10. Widgets for Dashboard and Write Box – Users would be able to rearrange the areas of the Write Post page – tags, categories, and so on as well as boxes on the Dashboard page. Widgets could also be integrated into these areas by the blog administrator.
  11. Batch Editing of Posts – Blog owners could easily edit posts; possibly add, remove, or change tags, categories, post title, and post date similar to the WordPress Admin Xtended plugin (except for batch editing).

Features that May/May Not Be Included

  1. Removal of Old/Unused Code – This would have optimized the code used in WordPress, possibly speeding up load time of blogs/admin panels.
  2. Most Popular 10 Shortcodes from WordPress.com – This eliminates the need to include lengthy and “ugly” code in your posts, instead using [audio] to convert an mp3 file to an audio player.
  3. oEmbed Support, Tied in with Shortcodes – Allows bloggers to embed third party content by simply using a URL of that page. It eliminates the need to use the embed code directly on a site.
  4. Better UI for post revisions, possibly an optional field to say what has changed in a version – An easier way to travel back to a saved version of a post, without the need to go onto different pages to see what has been modified.
  5. Frame-Like Method for Moderating Pings/Trackbacks – An additional area (?) would be placed in the comment moderation area, for moderating trackbacks/pings.
  6. oAuth Support – Support for an open protocol that allows secure API authentication in a simple and standard method from desktop and web applications.
  7. GeoData for posts, comments, attachments, and more – GeoData would display the originating location of each of the items applied to – comments, attachments, and so on.
  8. Duplicate Post Tags UI for other taxonomies – Unknown – possibly allows a unique naming structure for posts with duplicate names.
  9. SWFUploader support for Flash 10 – Image and media uploader would have been upgraded to a more recent version.
  10. Template tags to do everything the custom gallery on ma.tt does – This feature would allow more flexibility and customization of galleries, including tagging, random images, photo information, and better gallery management.
  11. Plugin Browser Embedded – This feature would allow users to find new plugins directly from their admin panel, possibly through the use of a search box directly on the Plugin Management page.
  12. CodePress code highlighting for template editing – Allows you to quickly differentiate between CSS, HTML, PHP, JavaScript, and so on while editing templates.
  13. PHPXref Hosted on WordPress.org – A developer tool that makes it fast and easy to browse large segments of code documentation and the code itself.
  14. Tag intersections; all posts that have tag x and y – (already done)
  15. Menu Editor – Easily update and customize menus (admin or contained within blog) without the need of additional plugins.
  16. Separate Large and Full Size Images, related improvements – Improvements to the way images (full, large, small, thumbnail) are created, with the additional formats for larger images.
  17. Unbalanced Tags Across More and TextPage Tags – Unknown.
  18. Refresh of the Importers – Updates and changes to the media/plugin importers.
  19. MPTT for Hierarchies – (Modified Preorder Tree Traversal) for storing hierarchical data in a database.
  20. Gallery post_type – A separate page for galleries (?), or a template for adding images/galleries.
  21. Versioning of Template Edits – Allows coders and users alike to see changes to the templates, in the case that errors arise or changes need to be documented.
  22. Documentation links for functions used in currently edited template – Links back to codex (?) for tags and functions used in the template, making it easier to update and customize the template.

Quick Links and Sources: WordPress 2.7 Demo | WordPress Trac Roadmap | WordPress Codex – Version 2.7 | Weblog Tools Collection (Updates)

Conclusion

Nearly all of the eleven or so features and enhancements that are likely going to make it into the next release of WordPress would eliminate the need for additional plugins that many bloggers are using to simplify everyday steps – updating WordPress, installing plugins, adding sitemaps, and so on. Again, it is a good thing to see these features working their way into the default installation of WordPress, as it continues to involve into a more powerful and feature-rich content management system.

Some of the features that won’t likely make it into this version I was a little disappointed that they are being left out, including the optimization of the old/unused code, shortcodes, and gallery post_type, to name a few.

One Response to “Features to be Included in WordPress 2.7”

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