In this insightful interview, Carlos Bravo reflects on his journey into WordPress development, starting over a decade ago when he sought an easier alternative to e-commerce platforms like Magento. He shares his early contributions to WordPress, beginning with the Twenty Nineteen theme, and his impactful roles as a maintainer for the Interactivity API and Editor Tech co-lead for WordPress 6.1. Carlos emphasizes the excitement surrounding the future of WordPress, particularly with projects like the HTML API and Block Bindings API. He offers valuable advice for new developers on navigating WordPress and the open-source ecosystem, stressing the importance of building in public and contributing incrementally. He also highlights the significance of community outreach and suggests that WordPress be introduced in schools and universities to foster the next generation of developers.
Can you share your first experience with WordPress, and what made you choose it?
I remember it was about 11 years ago. I was looking for e-commerce platforms and found Magento as a possible solution. After spending a few months learning about it, installing it on my laptop, and doing some proof of concepts, I realized I needed an easier way to develop websites and e-commerce stores.
So, I ended up trying WordPress, and it was much easier to understand and work with than other solutions.
How did you start contributing to open-source projects, and what was your first contribution to the WordPress community?
In terms of code, my first contribution was in October 2018 for the Twenty Nineteen theme. I even have the link!
https://github.com/WordPress/twentynineteen/pull/308
In 2017, I gave a talk at the first WordCamp Madrid event. If that counts!
What are some important projects or contributions you have made within the WordPress ecosystem?
The most important project I’ve worked on is the Interactivity API, for which I’m now a component maintainer. I was also the Editor Tech co-lead for WordPress 6.1. The block bindings API is getting important too.
What are your thoughts on the current state of WordPress development, and how do you see its future?
The future of WordPress has never been more exciting. Users are adopting and unleashing the power of blocks, and there is a significant development effort underway that will shape the future of the web. Some key projects include WordPress Playground, HTML API, Block Bindings, and the Interactivity API.
This WCUS talk provides a great summary:
https://www.youtube.com/live/Os6TC6-drsM?si=VhrOZ2MiN5A5D29O&t=11321
What advice would you give to developers who are new to WordPress or open source?
Try not to get overwhelmed. Start by building simple sites, then move on to more complex ones using custom blocks or plugins. Learn PHP, CSS, and JavaScript.
Building in public or open-sourcing your projects is a great way to start. Once you feel ready, dive into a repository and explore the issues. Feel free to reach out to other developers on GitHub — we’re quite open!
Which areas do you think need new energy and focus right now, and why? (Accessibility, plugins, themes, performance, etc.)
I think all areas always need new energy and focus. They’re all important for the future of WordPress, including developer experience, accessibility, performance, and the admin panel redesign.
What can we do to ensure that WordPress continues to work well with new technologies and stays ahead of trends? (Programming methods, new tech areas, headless, etc.)
This is one of WordPress’s greatest strengths, but also one of the trickiest aspects. Staying ahead of trends while keeping 20-year-old software backward compatible is a challenge. I believe we are staying updated to some extent — for instance, we introduced fine-grained reactivity with the Interactivity API.
How do you keep up with the latest trends in WordPress development, and what resources would you suggest for new developers who want to get involved?
Honestly, since I work 40 hours a week on WordPress Core development, my primary source of information is GitHub. There are tracking issues for each project, but these can be overwhelming for new developers.
The developer.wordpress.org site is a great place to start learning about new trends. Ryan’s live streams are also a fantastic learning resource! (https://www.twitch.tv/ryanwelchercodes)
In your opinion, what are the best ways to engage and attract new developers to the WordPress community, and how can we make the onboarding process more welcoming and inclusive?
We need to step outside the WordPress bubble and start reaching out to different events and communities. Using platforms like Twitch and YouTube to showcase that WordPress is a powerful tool anyone can use would be a great start.
We could also introduce WordPress to universities and high schools as a tool that can help students build their careers.
