Shelob9 / block-worskshop

Example code and slides for my WordCamp Orlando Block Building Workshop

How To Make WordPress Blocks

The steps below are over-simplifed. This code goes with an in person workshop.

Download Slides

Introduction

This repo has the end result of setting up the repo, adding a static block and then making it editable. The steps below walk you through that process.

Requirments

• Your computer should have:
  • Node & npm
  • WordPress
  • A local development environment.
• Optional:
• git
• Docker

Installing (Optional)

If you want to use this as is:

• Clone repo:
  • git clone https://github.com/Shelob9/block-worskshop
  • You should clone into the plugin directory of your local site OR into an empty directory -- if you wish to use included docker-compose file for local development.
• Swith to the plugin's directory and install dependencies.
  • cd block-workshop
  • npm install
• IF using provided local environement:
  • docker-compose up -d

Write Code! Make Blocks

Create Your Block Plugin

• Create package.json:
  • npm init
  • Answer questions. Don't forget to use GPL-2.0 or GPL-3.0 license.
• Install WordPress scripts
  • npm i @wordpress/scripts
• Update "scripts" in package.json
  • Copy from README
• Ignore directories in .gitingore:

node_modules/
vendor/
build/

Setup Files

• Create src/index.js
• Put some JavaScript in there.
• Compile it to make sure everything works.
  • npm run build
  • You should see built JavaScript in build/
• Be impressed by how simple webpack and Babel are to use :)

Register With WordPress

• Create a block.json
  • https://gist.github.com/Shelob9/f2c97a5803d02a8b82217af670b5b008#file-block-json
• Create a main plugin file to enqueue JavaScript and CSS.
  • https://gist.github.com/Shelob9/f2c97a5803d02a8b82217af670b5b008#file-plugin-php

Create Your Block

• Open src/index.js
• Write Some JavaScript:
  • Import dependencies
  • registerBlockType()
  • Edit Callback
  • Save Callback
• For manual testing while developing
  • npm run start
• To ship for production:
  • npm run build

Make Block Editable

• Install new dependencies:
  • npm i @wordpress/editor @wordpress/components
• Import TextControl from @wordpress/components
  • Use for editting message
• Import InspectorControls from @wordpress/editor
• Add message attribute
• Get current value of message from attributes prop passed to save and edit.
• Create update function for message using setAttributes prop passed to edit callback.
• Display current value of message in edit and save callbacks.
• Use TextControl to created edit interface for block.
• Wrap the control in InsepctorControls so it goes in the inspector controls.