
## Open-Source for Beginners

One of the greatest parts of being a developer is using and participating in open-source projects. But it can seem intimidating for first-time developers to jump into a project. A post yesterday on the DEV community goes through [how to contribute to an open-source project for beginners](https://dev.to/tracycss/open-source-contribution-for-beginners-1mhe). It outlines some basic skills you might need to get started and some initial ideas for how to contribute.

## Bootstrap Icons

On Friday, Bootstrap released the first stable version of its custom icons. With over 1,100 icons in the initial release, you are bound to find the icon you are looking for. The icons are SVG-based, which makes them very versatile in their utility. Read more about Bootstrap icons from the [release notes](https://blog.getbootstrap.com/2020/08/28/bootstrap-icons-stable/) and the [documentation](https://icons.getbootstrap.com/).

## Using Frontity for Headless WordPress

Frontity allows for a headless version of WordPress with a React front-end. This means that you can manage your website content in WordPress and utilize the API functionality to create the front-end using a modern front-end framework and features. On Friday, LogRocket posted about [getting started with Frontity](https://blog.logrocket.com/getting-started-with-frontity/), which walks through the process of setting up a website with Frontity. For those who love to use WordPress and build React websites, it is the perfect combination.



## WordPress Auto-Updates

With the recent release of WordPress 5.5, an auto-update feature was added for plugins and themes. This goes along with the auto-update feature for WordPress Core that was recently added. Allowing your WordPress site to update your themes or plugins can have pros and cons, which are highlighted in [a recent post on speckyboy.com](https://speckyboy.com/should-you-use-wordpress-auto-updates/). Luckily, you can choose to toggle this feature on a per theme or plugin basis.

## 10 Online Design Tools

Yesterday, Dribbble posted a list titled _[10 online design tools you never knew you needed](https://dribbble.com/stories/2020/08/24/online-graphic-web-design-tools)_. The list includes many great online tools like a brand book creator, a free screen recorder, and a sub-list of Chrome extensions. The next time you are starting a project, check out some of these awesome design tools!

## React vs Angular

Yesterday, SitePoint posted a phenomenal in-depth article [comparing Facebook's React framework to Google's Angular](https://www.sitepoint.com/react-vs-angular/). The post compares and contrasts their features, ecosystems, and more. It is a great read for developers of all skill sets with these frameworks and is a good read to decide which framework works best for you.



## New GitHub Mobile App

[GitHub](https://github.com/), the popular development version control software, has launched its mobile app. The app lets users manage their projects, such as through merge and pull requests. The app does not yet have the ability to edit your code, but a lot of other features are available in an easy to use interface. GitHub is available on both [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/github/id1477376905) and [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android) devices.

## Web Designers Can Help in a Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting nearly every person in the world. However, there are quite a few ways that web designers can help during this crisis. For example, volunteering your services, raising money, or helping clients that are affected. Just because we’re stuck at home doesn’t mean we can’t do our part to help others. Read more from [the article at speckyboy.com](https://speckyboy.com/web-designers-can-help-in-a-crisis/).

## WPBlockTalk

WordPress is hosting an online event called [WPBlockTalk](https://wordpress.com/blog/2020/03/18/wpblocktalk-block-editor-event/), which focuses on the block editor. Topics will include building the core block editor, developing new blocks, and designing with blocks. The event will be held virtually on April 2nd and will be available after the event on [WordPress.tv](https://wordpress.tv/). You can also [join the email list](https://wpblocktalk.wordpress.stream/#signup) for more information and updates.

## MonoLisa Font

There is a new font that has developers buzzing. [MonoLisa](https://monolisa.dev/) is a monospace font designed to “improve developers’ productivity and reduce fatigue”. The font has many features that set it apart, including an increased width, better distinction of characters, and improved reading flow. MonoLisa is currently [available for purchase](https://monolisa.dev/buy) at two levels, a limited version for personal use at $59 and the full version for professional use at $279.



## The CSS Podcast

Una Kravets and Adam Argyle, two developer advocates at Google, have started a podcast to discuss everything CSS. Aptly named [The CSS Podcast](https://pod.link/thecsspodcast), they’re covering all aspects of the web’s core styling language. So far there has been one episode released on March 12 that discusses the Box Model. The CSS Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more.

## WordPress 5.4

WordPress 5.4 will be packed with updates and new features. Most notably are the updates to the block editor, including a new social icons block, a new buttons block that allows more than one inline button, and several updates to existing core block editor features. WordPress 5.4 is scheduled for release on March 31st. For more information, check out the [Kinsta](https://kinsta.com/blog/wordpress-5-4/) and [WPBeginner](https://www.wpbeginner.com/news/whats-coming-in-wordpress-5-4-features-and-screenshots/) blogs for more information, or see the [WordPress 5.4 development cycle](https://make.wordpress.org/core/5-4/).

## Variable Fonts Performance Effects

Variable fonts are a hot topic in the web design community because they include all the variations of a typeface in a single file, rather than individual files for each variation. However, it is important to recognize the performance effects of a single large file and how to mitigate them. For example, if you’re loading 12 variations of a static font, it is typically quicker to load the variable font. Read more about use cases and test cases for variable fonts on the [LogRocket blog](https://blog.logrocket.com/variable-fonts-is-the-performance-trade-off-worth-it/).


Posts Tagged with "wordpress"

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