Custom Gutenberg blocks are a powerful way to enhance the functionality and design of your WordPress website, but building them from scratch can be a tedious and time-consuming process. If you’re tired of struggling with complex code and repetitive tasks, it might be time to consider using some specialized tools to streamline your workflow. In this article, we’ll introduce you to three of the top block development tools for creating custom Gutenberg blocks and show you how they can help you create custom blocks more efficiently.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Is block development difficult?
Accelerate your WordPress block development process with these handy tools
Lazy Blocks
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) Pro
Genesis Custom Blocks
A word of caution
Coding from scratch the Gutenberg way
Official WordPress documentation
Block development set-up tools
Conclusion
Introduction
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, these tools can make a big difference in your workflow. With a range of features and customization options, you’ll be able to create professional-quality blocks that fit your specific needs and goals. Whether you want to add new features to your site, improve the design and layout, or simply make your content more engaging and interactive, these tools can help you get the job done.
So sit back, relax, and get ready to discover some new tools that can help make your custom Gutenberg block development process a breeze. In this article, we’ll cover the features and benefits of each tool, and show you how they can help you create custom blocks more efficiently. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been building blocks for a while, these tools are sure to come in handy. Let’s get started!
Is block development difficult?
It can be. At the end of this article, I’ve included a list of five documentation resources you might find useful if you were to build your blocks from scratch. Take a look at that documentation and you’ll understand why we’re looking for an easier way to develop custom Gutenberg blocks.
Accelerate your WordPress block development process with these handy tools
Are you looking for tools to help make block development in the WordPress block editor easier? Look no further! There are several tools available that can streamline your workflow and make the process of creating custom Gutenberg blocks much simpler. In this article, we’ll be introducing you to three of these tools:
- Lazy Blocks (https://lazyblocks.com/)
- Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) Pro (https://www.advancedcustomfields.com/resources/blocks/)
- Genesis Custom Blocks (https://www.studiopress.com/genesis-custom-blocks/)
Let’s take a closer look at each one so you can decide which is right for your needs.
Lazy Blocks
Lazy Blocks is a WordPress plugin that enables users to create custom Gutenberg blocks without any coding knowledge. It allows users to add editor controls to their blocks using a drag-and-drop visual constructor and create post templates with predefined blocks. The plugin also offers a wide range of controls, including basic controls like email and text and advanced controls like color pickers and date/time pickers. Its user-friendly interface, various controls, and good documentation make it easy for users to create custom Gutenberg blocks. The plugin lets you create custom templates for posts (or any WordPress custom post type).
In addition to the features mentioned above, Lazy Blocks also allows users to create custom meta fields, and also create block output with HTML or PHP. The plugin’s mentality is to focus on the result of creating custom Gutenberg blocks, rather than the process of learning how to create them. This allows users to fully utilize their potential in creating custom blocks for their WordPress sites. Additionally, Lazy Blocks offers the option to conditionally display or hide controls, which can be useful for avoiding an overwhelming list of controls for each block. Overall, Lazy Blocks aims to provide an easy-to-use and efficient solution for creating custom Gutenberg blocks on WordPress sites.
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) Pro
Advanced Custom Fields Pro (ACF) is the perfect WordPress plugin for PHP developers looking to simplify the process of creating custom Gutenberg blocks. This plugin eliminates the need for mastering complex Javascript and React, instead allowing developers to display blocks using PHP, HTML (Handlebars optional), and their familiar ACF Pro plugin. With ACF, setting up Gutenberg blocks takes just three easy steps: registering a block, creating a field group, and rendering it – making this plugin the quickest and most intuitive way to build custom blocks for WordPress.
ACF offers a wide variety of GUI controls to make back-end block editing easier than ever. From checkboxes and radio buttons to text fields, image uploaders, and more, ACF has everything you need to effortlessly create custom Gutenberg blocks. Additionally, ACF provides an easy-to-use Blocks API which makes it even simpler to add custom functionality. With the help of this plugin, creating quality custom blocks for WordPress is now easier than ever!
Advanced Custom Fields Pro’s Blocks feature is a tool that can make it easier for developers to create custom block types for Gutenberg, but it requires users to write PHP code and may not be suitable for all users or situations. ACF Pro’s Blocks feature will require a certain level of experience with WordPress development. It may be a good fit for those with experience in PHP and a desire to create custom blocks more efficiently, but those with limited experience in WordPress development may want to consider alternative solutions.
Genesis Custom Blocks
Genesis Custom Blocks makes creating custom Gutenberg blocks for WordPress a breeze. It is similar in many ways to both Lazy Blocks and ACF Blocks. With an easy-to-use admin interface and a simple templating system, you can now build blocks that work how you need them to, implement custom designs with front-end control and even extend your blocks to integrate with third-party apps and plugins.
Creating custom blocks is as easy as 1-2-3! First, add a new block in the WordPress Admin just like you would any other post or page. Then configure the range of fields and how they’re displayed. Finally, build your Block template file using familiar WordPress development practices and PHP functions.
A word of caution
Genesis Custom Blocks is a powerful WordPress tool that used to be owned by StudioPress, the makers of the widely-known Genesis theme. After being acquired by WP Engine, however, many people are now wary of its usage due to WP Engine’s reputation for unethical marketing practices. It’s safe to say that many people would rather avoid giving their business to WP Engine at all costs. This is why I recommend my clients stay away from companies like this and focus on creating blocks with different solutions. By doing so, they can prevent themselves from receiving negative associations with companies that don’t necessarily have their best interests in mind.
Coding from scratch the Gutenberg way
If you would like to get an idea of what it is like to build a Gutenberg block from scratch using the official method, here is a list of documentation that you can review:
- Block Editor Handbook (https://developer.wordpress.org/block-editor/)
- Gutenberg on Github (https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg)
- Create a Block Tutorial (https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/blob/trunk/docs/getting-started/create-block/README.md)
- @wordpress/create-block (https://www.npmjs.com/package/@wordpress/create-block)
- ahmadawais/create-guten-block (https://github.com/ahmadawais)
Official WordPress documentation
The first three resources on the list are documentation and resources provided by the WordPress team, the group of developers who build and maintain the WordPress platform.
- The Block Editor Handbook is a comprehensive guide to the WordPress block editor, which is the system used to create and manage content in WordPress. It covers everything from the basics of using the block editor to more advanced topics like custom blocks and plugin development.
- Gutenberg on Github is the official repository for the Gutenberg project, which is the open source project that powers the block editor in WordPress. It contains the source code for the block editor, as well as documentation and resources for developers interested in contributing to the project.
- The Create a Block Tutorial is a step-by-step guide that walks developers through the process of creating a custom Gutenberg block from scratch, using the tools and technologies provided by the WordPress team.
These resources are all official, reliable sources of information for developers looking to learn more about building blocks for the WordPress block editor.
Block development set-up tools
The last two resources listed are tools that can make the process of building a Gutenberg block from scratch more manageable:
- The @wordpress/create-block tool is a command-line interface that provides a quick and easy way to create a new Gutenberg block.
- The ahmadawais/create-guten-block tool is a similar tool created by Ahmad Awais, a WordPress open source project core developer.
Both of these tools can help streamline the process of creating a Gutenberg block and make it more accessible to developers who may be new to the WordPress ecosystem.
Conclusion
The tools for building Gutenberg blocks are becoming increasingly useful and efficient, making it easier than ever to create custom blocks for WordPress. Lazy Blocks is one solution that provides an easy-to-use platform, with various tools to make developing easier and faster. This includes tools such as hide controls, which can be beneficial in avoiding a lengthy configuration process. Advanced Custom Fields Pro’s Blocks feature is an ideal choice for developers who wish to create custom blocks more efficiently, while Genesis Custom Blocks makes creating custom blocks a breeze with its simple templating system and tools for extending the blocks. With all of these tools at our disposal, developing for the WordPress Block Editor has never been easier!
Regardless of which tools you choose, creating your own Gutenberg blocks is now an achievable task for anyone. The tools available today can help you generate high-quality custom blocks quickly and easily. With the right tools, such as Lazy Blocks, ACF Pro’s Blocks feature or Genesis Custom Blocks, you can easily create amazing blocks for your WordPress website. So, what are you waiting for? Get started building and customizing blocks today!