Custom Blocks: Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That!

AKA Custom Blocks for Busy Developers

Description:

You’ve built themes, plugins, and full sites in WordPress — but custom blocks? Who has the time to wade through JavaScript frameworks and complex tooling?

This workshop is a no-fluff, code-first introduction to building custom WordPress blocks for experienced developers who haven’t made the jump to Gutenberg yet.

First half: Covering the essentials

• How block.json works and why it matters
• What the build process does (and how to stop fighting it)
• Registering blocks the correct way.
• Just enough React/JSX to build functional, modern blocks
• How to use the create-block tool to scaffold faster and avoid boilerplate
• Debugging tips for common block issues and build errors
• Practical examples that you can copy, paste, and actually use

Second Half: Guided Work Session

In the second half, it’s your turn to build — with help. You’ll choose between:

• Bringing a custom block idea you want to work on, or
• Selecting from a list of pre-defined commonly built block ideas

You’ll get time to work through the process with support from the speaker and others in the room. Whether you're experimenting, troubleshooting, or finishing a real feature, this session is all about giving you the space and guidance to get hands-on and make progress.

Setup

1. Check this repo out into the wp-content/plugins directory. git clone https://github.com/ryanwelcher/custom-blocks-for-busy-developers.git
2. Change directories into the plugin cd custom-blocks-for-busy-developer.
3. Install the dependencies npm install
4. Start the build build process with npm run start