If you’ve got a WordPress site, you probably got an update last night and your admin console is now asking you if you want to install the Gutenberg Editor.
What is the Gutenberg Editor
The Gutenberg editor is the first major editor change we’ve seen in a very long time. It introduces the idea of “content blocks” to the product and provides lots of easy new ways to work with different types of content. Things like Soundcloud, Meetup, etc. It seems like it’s pretty cool.
Gutenberg is more than an editor. It’s also the foundation that’ll revolutionize customization and site building in WordPress.
WordPress – https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/
My recommendation is that you DON’T install the new editor yet. Not because it doesn’t work, but because you need to have some time to work with it. This is a MAJOR upgrade and you may get lost in it for a while.
What will I see in the new Editor?
Basically, this is a fundemental shift from an emphasis on blogging to an emphasis on content management. I have been saying for a long time WP is more than blogging, it’s a CMS and this is a change to the way most CMS’s do things.

Blocks Blocks are basically boxes on a page with stuff in them. Stuff like images, or videos, or sound, or widgety-things like forms. Or they can be simple blocks of text or headlines. Gone are the days of just in without thinking. You need to consider what type of block each bit will be, although it will default to text.
There is also a new right side contextual menu for block stuff. For text, you see color, size, font, and an advanced tab to apply a new CSS style. For images, size, caption, etc. appear.
I cover the actual functionality in more depth on my personal blog here.
Should I be upset at this change?
No, not at all. This is a change that has been needed for a while, and seems to be fairly well executed. However, as with all major changes, we need to think before we act. That means we need to devote a bunch of time towards getting to know our new friend Gutenberg.
If you’re not comfortable with this, get in touch with me and I’ll run a training class on how it works for you.