I think it’s one of the most important default themes WordPress has released in a while. Sure, the design is fairly opinionated, but with the mix of new patterns/blocks available, I think someone with a little WordPress know how (and grit!) will be able to design a solid website for their brand or business. 

Even for the freelancers or agency owners out there, searching to offer a more affordable solution for their clients, I think TT4 can fill that gap. But don’t confuse that with it being a solution on par with Kadence or GeneratePress. Certainly not as powerful as Elementor or Beaver Builder. 

There are large gaps that cause it to fail really quickly. One that stood out to me recently was the lack of mobile design features in the Site Editor. In my latest video, Customize Mobile Views on twenty twenty-four, I demonstrated the lack of simple breakpoint features inside the site editor. 

I’d have folks comment on my channel asking how to change things in the mobile nav, or on a landing page, with no clear direction on how to do it — in the theme.

When the debate of Page Builders vs Blocks comes up, how could we not want to clear up this confusion? 

A few takeaways from Eric Karkovack’s post from the link above: 

1. “Some people aren’t fans of the Site Editor or Gutenberg. They’ll naturally point to its quirks and limitations. Fair enough.”
2. “Perhaps this doesn’t apply as much to block themes. More than anything, they may be limited by the Site Editor. There may be a feature that it doesn’t yet offer. Thus, you must work within its capabilities.”

And this is why there’s such a fierce debate from the page builder audience: WordPress still has so much time to catch up — if ever.

One area I disagree with Karkovack on, at least in the context of TT4 is, “The gap between commercial and free products isn’t as wide**.** You aren’t missing the ability to customize the look and layout. Nor are any crucial features locked down.”

We certainly are missing some of those crucial features for mobile or even a more robust query block, for example. And while I know it’s the Site Editors fault, your average end user doesn’t. And I’m much more critical on the default theme experience because, well, it’s the default theme!

Karkovack encourages us (and WordPress developers) to create a better narrative, which brings me back full circle to where I always land: The core experience is good enough for the masses, but when you need more, you go to a full featured theme or page builder. 

Though, I don’t know if that excuses some of these features missing from the default experience.

I think the core experience of WordPress + TT4 can live along side a freelancer’s toolkit which also includes Kadence or Elementor, for example. Speed and simplicity being the obvious advantage of the former. 

And at the end of the day, I think that’s perfect, at least for now.

And if you invest in that core experience, there are products like Twentig that can supercharge your Twenty Twenty-Four website. I think a 3rd party tool that enhances default themes is very smart. 

Maybe this is where block based themes and the default experience of WordPress lives? Do we need more? Hit reply and let me know. 

Don’t miss this WordPress content

Now it’s time for the links you shouldn’t miss!

• Aurooba Ahmed launches “JS Essentials for WP Devs” with the first lesson dropping on March 4th 2024. Introducing JS Essentials for WP Devs
• Angie Byron reminds us why your peers might not care about your DevRel/community efforts. No one gives a &*^@# about your DevRel/Community Programs (and what to do about it)
• Amber Hinds continued the climb up the mountain of accessibility adoption for .org and other WordPress related websites. Apparently some progress has been made. https://x.com/heyamberhinds/status/1760679617873301882?s=20
• Get a deeper look into Awesome Motive Founder Syed Balkhi’s business mind I this recent interview. How to Compound Your Wealth in Unorthodox Ways with Syed Balkhi
• WP Tavern Launches Writer Hunger Games WP Tavern Launches Writer Hunger Games
• WP Mainline shares how you can make more money with LearnDash LearnDash 4.11.0 Introduces A New Way to Generate Revenue
• Eric Karkovack wants us to clear up the confusion surrounding block themes Clearing Up the Confusion Surrounding Block Themes

Don’t miss our YouTube videos

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• Learn more about Synced Pattern Overrides coming to WordPress 6.5 New in WordPress 6.5: Synced Pattern Overrides ⭐️
• Supercharge your Twenty Twenty-Four theme with Twentig Supercharge Twenty Twenty-Four Theme with Twentig! 🚀
• Customize mobile views in Twenty Twenty-Four Customize Mobile Views on Twenty Twenty-Four Theme 📱
• Your website in a VIRTUAL world! WordPress in the Metaverse?! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm4JJXZwszI&t=1s
• (Sponsor) Optimize WordPress images with Optimole plugin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpUDPrzleMw