GenerateBlocks 2.0 – New era

GenerateBlocks 2.0 is a major release.
We are proud to announce the release of GenerateBlocks 2.0, the latest version of our popular WordPress plugin.

If you need more information we recommend reading:

Release Post:
https://generatepress.com/introducing-generateblocks-2/

Checking out our new 2.0 Docs:
https://learn.generatepress.com

And if you need info specific on updating from 1.x to 2.0
https://learn.generatepress.com/blocks/block-guide/generateblocks-1-x-to-2-0/

The reasons for 2.0 and changes we made

GB 1.x was groundbreaking, but it eventually hit a technical ceiling that made many highly requested features; like responsive styling, event states, and selector-based controls, impossible to deliver. Only a few properties could be made responsive, event states were limited mainly to color changes, and beyond simple effects nested selectors were limited to links.

Expanding these features within 1.x wasn’t feasible; the technical overhead was high, and the UI would have collapsed under the weight of added complexity. A full overhaul was the only way forward, leading to new blocks, a decoupled styling engine, and a redesigned interface. This wasn’t a small decision, we spent 12 months in discovery, prototyping and development.

We do recognise some controls need refinement , such as the Layout Grid properties and some tasks are now slightly more involved eg. setting block hover and link colors requires choosing the selector first. But this small trade-off unlocks far greater flexibility: you can now apply any style, to any element, in any state, at any breakpoint—without convoluted logic or an overloaded UI.  

Block HTML also went under a similar scalpel, removing or exposing hidden HTML to improve the editor WYSIWYG experience and make any design possible. 

And very importantly 2.x removes the technical barriers of 1.x allowing us to develop more advanced features at a much faster pace. Since May this year, we have delivered new GBP 2.2 Site Header and Navigation blocks, and GBP 2.3 Overlay Panels (for mega menus, pop-ups, and modals) and GBP 2.4 Conditional Blocks and Menu items. Meanwhile, our design team, working with GB 2.x and GB Pro Patterns have produced 35+ feature rich GP One sites in a fraction of the time. 

And we have a lot more developments in the pipeline.