WordPress released the 5.2 “Jaco” version, which includes new exciting features to make it easier than ever to fix your site if something goes wrong. Named “Jaco” in honor of renowned and revolutionary jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius, the new version of WordPress is available for download or update in your WordPress dashboard.
If we take a closer look at the 5.2 “Jaco” version, we will find that there are even more robust tools for identifying and fixing configuration issues and fatal errors.
“Whether you are a developer helping clients or you manage your site solo, these tools can help get you the right information when you need it”, WordPress reps said in a press release announcing the launch of the 5.2.
One of the most important updates, compared to the 5.1 version, refer to PHP error protection and on the Site Health Check feature. Let’s see exactly what’s new and how helpful that is for all WordPress based website owners.
The Site Health feature was first introduced in the previous version, but this new release adds two new pages to help debug common configuration issues. It also adds space where developers can include debugging information for site maintainers.
In regards to PHP error protection, this administrator-focused update will let you safely fix or manage fatal errors without requiring developer time. It features better handling of the so-called “white screen of death,” and a way to enter recovery mode, which pauses error-causing plugins or themes. Keep in mind that if you are running an old version of PHP (less than 5.6.20), you should update your PHP before installing 5.2 “Jaco”.
Scott Arciszewski, Chief Development Officer at Paragon Initiative Enterprises, is one of the developers involved in the latest WordPress update development. He firmly believes that after this new 5.2 “Jaco” version launch, hackers need to come up with more complex attacks. This news makes people calmer regarding possible malware or attacker issues.
Other new developer dedicated features include themes and plugins that can safely take advantage of namespaces or anonymous functions. 5.2 introduces a wp_body_open hook, which lets themes support injecting code right at the beginning of the <body> element.
Also, a new theme page template, a conditional function, and two CSS classes make designing and customizing the Privacy Policy page in a way easier fashion than before. With the addition of web pack and Babel configurations in the WordPress/scripts package, site developers won’t have to worry about setting up complex build tools to write modern JavaScript.