RFC: Use Gutenberg editor instead of custom post templates

[creativecommons]

RFC: Use Gutenberg editor instead of custom post templates

[annatuma]

In general, I like this idea, but we need to work with Comms to ensure design consistency with posts, whether they are pre-templated or created using Gutenberg. At its simplest, this could take the form of dummy, unpublished posts that content editors can copy, so that they are, essentially, a template for them to fill in the blanks of.

Let's also keep this in mind when it comes to creating page types/templates.

[brylie]

@annatuma, for the next iteration, I propose we test out the Gutenberg editor. We would work to ensure that Gutenberg rendered output follows the spirit of the Figma designs. Only if absolutely needed would we add any custom code, such as the Gutenberg block templates. 😃

We may have started down the current development path by a) taking the design ideas as literal (waterfall-style) outcomes and b) directly or indirectly choosing to use the WordPress "classic" editor instead of Gutenberg.

Design and development have somewhat equal influence on the process of bringing ideas into reality -- neither has the "final say." Instead, each participates in more of a conversation. As with any discussion, both participants lack some context while bringing together complementary parts of the picture.

For example, it would be tedious to produce Figma sketches for myriad combinations of screen configuration, content, and accessibility considerations for each design idea. Similarly, we wouldn't want to code a custom template for every permutation of block content allowed by the Gutenberg editor.

This proposal was written with the intention of

• avoiding writing and maintaining custom code
• removing third-party dependencies
• working on what is unique to this project: the CSS styles
• aligning this project with WordPress core development

I believe this move would bring us closer to our goal of launching the revitalized theme on CreativeCommons.org.

[brylie]

at its simplest, this could take the form of dummy, unpublished posts that content editors can copy so that they are, essentially, a template for them to fill in the blanks of.

@annatuma, good suggestion. It sounds like Gutenberg block templates might serve the purpose you describe.