Tutorial - WordPress Playground

[westnz]

Topic Description

For users, designers, and educators, WordPress Playground is a flexible tool that lets you:

• Try plugins and themes in a live virtual environment
• Experiment with an anonymous WordPress website
• Embed a real WordPress site in your tutorial or course

Related Resources

Links to related content on Learn, HelpHub, DevHub, GitHub Gutenberg Issues, DevNotes, etc. https://developer.wordpress.org/playground/

Guidelines

Review the team guidelines

Tutorial Development Checklist

• [x] Vetted by instructional designers for content idea
• [x] Provide feedback of the idea
• [x] Gather links to Support and Developer Docs
• [x] Review any related material on Learn
• [x] Define several SEO keywords to use in the article and where they should be prominently used
• [x] Description and Objectives finalized
• [x] Tutorial created and announced to the team for Q/A review
• [x] Tutorial reviewed and ready to publish
• [x] Tutorial submitted and published to WPTV
• [x] Tutorial published on WPTV
• [x] Tutorial captioned
• [x] Tutorial created on Learn.WordPress.org
• [x] Tutorial post reviewed for grammar, spelling, etc.
• [x] Tutorial published on Learn.WordPress.org
• [x] Tutorial announced to Marketing Team for promotion

[westnz]

https://github.com/WordPress/Learn/assets/89751452/77d47875-f897-4952-b13b-47ba18428328

[quitevisible]

@westnz @adamziel Some really useful info here, with demonstrations of practical application. A couple of thoughts...

• The pace was pretty fast. Not sure if that was intentional (or just Adam's style!), but might be nice to be forewarned that the tut goes pretty quick. Or slow it down a wee bit.
• That said, I believe this same video, with much of the content transcribed, is already embedded into https://wordpress.github.io/wordpress-playground/docs/start-using/#try-a-block-a-theme-or-a-plugin . Maybe a link or reference to this page at the end of the video? Unless this tutorial will be replacing that github page.
• And you probably already know that a link to the above github page can be found at https://developer.wordpress.org/playground/ which you have listed as a Related Resource above.

Overall, good stuff! I love seeing real world use cases for Playground and how they can streamline the WordPress build process.

[westnz]

Excellent work Adam! I have one suggestion - adding a bit more detail to the intro for folks who have never heard of it. I know we also discussed the following title to make it more clear: "How to start using WordPress Playground"

[adamziel]

Sure! I will make the adjustments before the end of the week

[westnz]

Excited to see this resource on Learn!

[jonathanbossenger]

@adamziel if you don't get a chance to make the "introduction" section before you go on leave, perhaps you wouldn't mind if I just record a short intro for the tutorial, and added it on to the beginning?

[adamziel]

@jonathanbossenger that would be lovely, thank you!

[adamziel]

Just documenting I shared the paced-down recording with @westnz and I'll be now heading out for my sabbatical.

[westnz]

I will publish the tutorial later this week. Great work @adamziel

[westnz]

Published: https://learn.wordpress.org/tutorial/how-to-start-using-wordpress-playground/

[westnz]

Hey @adamziel

We would like to add this lesson to the Advanced user learning pathway.

Are you satisfied with this version of the video, or should it be updated after the release of WordPress 6.6?

[ironnysh]

@westnz, there have been updates to Playground's UI and capabilities. Maybe we can reference them in #2543 instead?

Let's also add the new homepage to the Resources section: https://wordpress.org/playground/

[adamziel]

@westnz There were changes in the UI indeed, but there are more coming in a few weeks. I'd use this version for now and explore updating it after the refresh @jarekmorawski will be exploring in July. Once that happens – would you have availability to update the video?

[westnz]

Hey @adamziel The deadline to publish the Advanced user learning pathway is at the end of September. Updating the video after July would be perfect. My availability to update this video will be limited. Any chance someone from the Playground team will be able to do it? Or will there be another version of the video we could use which you are planning to use at WCUS or elsewhere?

[adamziel]

The webapp redesign will improve the user experience a lot and we'll need a new video when it lands. While I don't have any date to share at the moment, there's a chance we'll get there before Sep 17th (WCUS). Until that's in place, we're good with the current video.

CC @jonathanbossenger @ryanwelcher @annezazu would you be able with refreshing the video once the redesign lands?

[jonathanbossenger]

would you be able with refreshing the video once the redesign lands?

That would honestly depend on what I'm busy with at that time.

[annezazu]

If no one else can do it, I can do my best to help 😄 I'd love if someone with better gear takes care of it though.

[westnz]

Hey @adamziel Could the Playground Team please provide an updated script with any changes and features you want to highlight in the new video? Once we have the script, I will collaborate with others to get the ball rolling to create an updated version for Learn and YouTube. 😃

[adamziel]

Here's a few notable changes since the original video was shot:

• Playground has a new design that makes it much easier to save your Playground and restore your work later, see the video in https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-playground/pull/1854.
• Your sites can be synchronized with github (site details -> hamburger menu -> Import from GitHub / Export to GitHub)
• @juanmaguitar prepared excellent guides for plugin developers and for theme developers.
• We have the Blueprints directory now where you can look for new ideas and share your setups https://github.com/WordPress/blueprints
• Multisites are supported via a checkbox in site settings
• Site language can be easily selected in site settings
• WordPress beta and nightly are available

@ryanwelcher would you be able to wrangle a script with your best read of the most useful features to highlight?

[westnz]

Hey @adamziel and @ryanwelcher I wanted to touch base again regarding updating the lesson. 😃 Another option I thought of was for the YouTube team to work on a new lesson. As a crucial platform and versatile tool, Playground needs to be highlighted and promoted to ensure all WordPress users, developers, and designers are aware of its benefits. I’ve added this idea to the document Jamie Marsland shared.

[ironnysh]

There's a recording of a comprehensive online workshop hosted by @jonathanbossenger and @bgrgicak. Maybe it could be adapted/edited to serve as a tutorial?