I keep wondering: does BlockFlow need to be perfect to be useful? #Figma and #WordPress don't speak the same language. It's not a limitation I can code around. They prioritize different things, use different paradigms, sometimes lack the same tools entirely.
Simone Maranzana
@simonemaranzana.com
Frontend developer and co-founder of justevolve.it and advancedcolumns.com
The last few weeks were mostly about workflow: BlockFlow can now read existing #WordPress configs through theme.json import, and it also supports pattern export.🧵
Right now BlockFlow exports themes with Google Fonts only, following WordPress's native approach to fonts. This ensures consistency and compatibility, but inherits a design challenge: more font variants mean heavier exports. The issue I'm dealing with right now. 🧵
As I build BlockFlow, the disconnect between #Figma's design system and #WordPress blocks creates challenges. Here are the 3 technical limitations I've encountered so far. 🧵
Problem: every design is different, I don't want to force a single workflow. So I've started analyzing the #WordPress Blue Note community #Figma file to understand how to adapt to common patterns. Fewer forced patterns, more real designs, so let's see where this leads.
I've been experimenting with fluid typography in my BlockFlow prototype. The challenge: Figma doesn't support fluid font sizes, but WordPress does with clamp(). My solution: define min/max values in design tokens, let WordPress handle the rest. 🧵
I’m experimenting with new ways to reduce friction between Figma and WordPress block themes. The handoff is still mostly manual, repetitive, and error-prone.
A few people asked what the Figma-side setup looks like for this "#Figma to #WordPress" workflow, so here’s a quick snapshot. The core configuration lives directly inside the Figma file: Blockflow creates standard Figma variables for the required options, so the setup travels always with the file.
I’m experimenting with exporting a full #Figma file as a #WordPress block theme (templates, patterns, theme.json, fonts, assets). I’m trying to understand what parts of the block-theme workflow are actually worth automating. Feedback and thoughts welcome 🙂
With Full Site Editing maturing in WordPress, do you still rely on Figma (or similar app) for theme design, or has the Site Editor replaced it for you?
For those using Figma: would you find it useful if you could export your whole Figma file as a WordPress Block theme (fonts & images included)? I’m currently building this and testing ideas, If you’d like updates here’s the waitlist:
BlockFlow Pro – Figma to WordPress Block Theme
Made with Tally, the simplest way to create forms.
tally.so
We're out with update 1.5.0: 👉 Subgrid functionality 👉 Grid layout for the Post template block 👉 Improved frontend rendering performance 👉 and more #WordPress #Gutenberg #plugin #BlockEditor Download ⬇️ advancedcolumns.com 👉 full changelog advancedcolumns.com/...
Create professional layouts with WordPress - Advanced Columns
Built on the CSS grid foundation, the Advanced Columns plugin is the most powerful and flexible layout builder block for professional WordPress websites.
advancedcolumns.com
We're out with update 1.4.4: 👉 Fixed an issue that occurred with nested columns block 👉 Fixed an issue that prevented the complete deletion of the license 👉 Minor bug fixes #WordPress #Gutenberg #plugin #BlockEditor Download here ⬇️ advancedcolumns.com
Create professional layouts with WordPress - Advanced Columns
Built on the CSS grid foundation, the Advanced Columns plugin is the most powerful and flexible layout builder block for professional WordPress websites.
advancedcolumns.com
We're out with update 1.4.3: 👉 Fixed unintended behavior that could affect external dynamic blocks #WordPress #Gutenberg #plugin #BlockEditor Download here ⬇️ advancedcolumns.com
Create professional layouts with WordPress - Advanced Columns
Built on the CSS grid foundation, the Advanced Columns plugin is the most powerful and flexible layout builder block for professional WordPress websites.
advancedcolumns.com
Why I think you need CSS Subgrid, even if you don’t know it yet. 🙃 Take one of the most common layouts you’ll find on almost every website: A simple 2 (or more) column card layout, with 3 elements in each column. 🧵
I’ve been thinking a lot about subgrid, and I believe it’s a highly useful feature for @advancedcolumns.com that can solve some fundamental layout needs. Has anyone here used subgrid in a project before? For example, we’ve already used it on the advancedcolumns.com landing page.
Create professional layouts with WordPress - Advanced Columns
Built on the CSS grid foundation, the Advanced Columns plugin is the most powerful and flexible layout builder block for professional WordPress websites.
advancedcolumns.com
We're out with update 1.4.2: 👉 Added support for shadows on the Columns and Column blocks #WordPress #Gutenberg #plugin #BlockEditor Download here ⬇️ advancedcolumns.com
Create professional layouts with WordPress - Advanced Columns
Built on the CSS grid foundation, the Advanced Columns plugin is the most powerful and flexible layout builder block for professional WordPress websites.
advancedcolumns.com
We're out with update 1.4.1: 👉 New preset option for Columns and Column padding #WordPress #Gutenberg #plugin #BlockEditor Download here ⬇️ advancedcolumns.com
Create professional layouts with WordPress - Advanced Columns
Built on the CSS grid foundation, the Advanced Columns plugin is the most powerful and flexible layout builder block for professional WordPress websites.
advancedcolumns.com
We’re live with a major new update! This is a big one, and it’s the first step toward third-party block responsiveness 👀
We're out with update 1.4.0: 👉 New single-column layout mode implementing CSS Flex specifications 👉 New Golden Ratio grid builder 👉 check the full changelog advancedcolumns.com/... #WordPress #Gutenberg #plugin #BlockEditor Download here ⬇️ advancedcolumns.com
It might be a niche feature, but I use this approach a lot in my designs, so we’ve implemented a golden grid builder inside the new Advanced Columns 1.4.0—because, why not? 🤓 #WordPress
Hello 🦋 #WordPress friends! 👋 Sharing some news about the upcoming 1.4 update for the Advanced Columns plugin! There are many new features, but the biggest one is likely full responsive Flexbox support in each individual column, along with responsive attributes for third-party blocks! 👀
Just released version 1.0.1 of my new #WordPress privacy plugin. This version strips out data sent to WP.org for plugins that are hosted off-site. Currently wp.org receives information about every plugin on your system, including "private" and off-site ones. github.com/wp-privacy/w...
GitHub - wp-privacy/wp-api-privacy: A plugin for WordPress to restrict information passed via the WordPress HTTP API. Not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with WordPress.org or Automattic.
A plugin for WordPress to restrict information passed via the WordPress HTTP API. Not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with WordPress.org or Automattic. - wp-privacy/wp-api-privacy
github.com