[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #38248: Extend Widgets UX and Capabilities

[WordPress Trac]

#38248: Extend Widgets UX and Capabilities
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 Reporter:  davidakennedy  |       Owner:
     Type:  enhancement    |      Status:  new
 Priority:  normal         |   Milestone:  Awaiting Review
Component:  Widgets        |     Version:  trunk
 Severity:  normal         |  Resolution:
 Keywords:                 |     Focuses:
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Comment (by folletto):

 '''WIDGETS IN EDITOR'''

 > amr shortcode any widget

 > I think there should be a convergence between widgets and shortcodes in
 WordPress, with a goal of implementing content blocks.

 Agreed. That plugin is a great starting point! And yes to the shortcake
 bit too. I agree with you Weston that there's a definite convergence that
 has to happen.

 The first place I can see where widgets could see use, and make a huge
 impact, is exactly in the Editor. This would mean:

 * '''Shortcode''' to load any widget.
 * A UI to '''insert''' the widgets that is both lean, incospicuous if one
 doesn't want to use it, and highly extensible.
 * A UI to '''manage''' the shortcode in the editor. To be a proper first-
 class citizen it should be treated "as an image", not as a shortcode
 (moving, controls, editing, etc).

 With these, I think we'll already be able to do a LOT more, and we'll
 finally have a usable form of "content block" (I hope this is the last
 time I mention it lol). I feel this has the potential to generate a new
 explosion in creativity and components in the future.

 '''WIDGETS IN CUSTOMIZER'''

 Once the editor part is "there", we can start elevating widgets to a
 higher "direct manipulation" experience straight in customizer. Adding
 them to the page (either in sidebars or content body, since it's then
 supported) with drag'n'drop and using the siderbar as an insertion tool,
 not as a navigate-and-set tool (think less of current customizer and more
 of Keynote's sidebar and top bar).

 This is a little more blurry in my mind, and would probably require more
 exploration, both code and design wise. However I'd again split it in two
 parts:

 1. A way to insert widgets that is more suited for direct manipulation's
 enviroments
 2. A way to manage them directly on the page, and with the settings
 opening properly in the sidebar

 This last bit is enabled by the other work currently happening in #27403,
 probably.

 Also...

 I think we partially know "why" we want to do this: widgets are a
 technical piece that can be elevate long-standing problems (different
 content types in pages, direct interactions, high flexibility) however
 there's a fair bit of speculation too, so it's probably something that has
 to be paired with strong research, including the two visions I tried to
 summarize above.

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/38248#comment:3>
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