Count Basie is here folks! The WordPress 3.7 upgrade that is, named for the incomparable American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer, Count Basie.
This release features some of the most important architectural updates we’ve made to date. Here are the big ones:
- Updates while you sleep: With WordPress 3.7, you don’t have to lift a finger to apply maintenance and security updates. Most sites are now able to automatically apply these updates in the background. The update process also has been made even more reliable and secure, with dozens of new checks and safeguards.
- Stronger password recommendations: Your password is your site’s first line of defense. It’s best to create passwords that are complex, long, and unique. To that end, our password meter has been updated in WordPress 3.7 to recognize common mistakes that can weaken your password: dates, names, keyboard patterns (123456789), and even pop culture references.
- Better global support: Localized versions of WordPress will receive faster and more complete translations. WordPress 3.7 adds support for automatically installing the right language files and keeping them up to date, a boon for the many millions who use WordPress in a language other than English.
These are great security measures, especially the password strength. The automatic updates, which will happen in the background, are an effort to help users keep up with the security patches released, to keep your site safe from hackers.
The automatic updates of WordPress itself may be problematic for some people though. As I wrote in my WordPress & Plugin Update page, many times upgrading WordPress the version can “break” your website! This can happen when a change to the core files requires a change the the WP theme code to be compatible and often the theme updates are not released for several days or longer. The same for your plugins. Premium plugins will release new updated versions just like premium themes, but they need time to test the new WP version.
If you built your own website, be sure to look for companion updates to your theme and plugins. If your site was built by a professional (Me!) be sure to contact me if things are not working correctly. Better yet, check out my WordPress & Plugin Update service mentioned earlier.
Laura
