Cover block parallax style — v1.2.0
The first version of Cover Block Parallax Style was a pretty simple idea: add a smooth parallax scrolling effect to the native WordPress Cover block without requiring custom blocks or shortcodes. Toggle it on, pick a speed, done. v1.2.0 is less about new features and more about fixing things that were quietly broken. What got fixed The most embarrassing bug: the editor and frontend were using different default speeds.
I'm not a developer. I'm a project manager who knows how to communicate a vision. Turns out that's exactly what you need to build a WordPress theme with AI. New post on how Tufte Blocks got made.
The scroll indicator block, properly done
This block has been a long time coming. I first built the Scroll Indicator back in September, when I was exploring what Telex AI could do. The idea was simple: a small animated mouse icon that sits at the bottom of the screen and nudges readers to keep scrolling. Telex built it in minutes. It even added a click-to-scroll behavior I never asked for, which was a genuinely delightful surprise.
I Just Leveled Up: From Telex to Claude Code
I built a podcast RSS feed block in Telex last week. I needed it for a project, and within minutes I had a working proof of concept, an RSS block that pulled in episodes with custom style settings. Telex is incredible for that moment when you have an idea and need to see it working in the editor immediately. But then I wanted to push it further.
https://derekhanson.blog/i-just-leveled-up-from-telex-to-claude-code/
Scroll on Hover Image Block
The Scroll on Hover Image block allows users to showcase tall images that scroll on hover, with customizable settings.
Write more, consume less
I've fallen into the trap of consumption. I create less, and I've strayed from writing as the foundational form of communication. Writing underpins everything in society, and it should be part of your personal, daily habits. I used to be a prolific writer. In fact, that's my formal educational background. No other activity is better for personal thought, reflection, learning, development, and growth than writing.
The Word of the Year is Freedom
The Founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic had a pretty fun inception moment when he joined the TBPN livestream in the middle of the 2025 edition of State of the Word. Sharing the future of personal, open source communication through Beeper, the release of WordPress 6.9, and the state of links on the internet in the age of AI…
7.6.0 — Command, Sync & Go
This release puts speed and control right at your fingertips. Whether you’re jumping between settings, syncing followers, or handling quotes in real time, version 7.6.0 makes managing your Fediverse presence faster and more intuitive than ever.
It never gets old telling the story of how I was first introduced to WordPress while teaching rhetoric and composition, and eventually worked on the Online Learning Team to help build a massive multisite WordPress network for ePortfolios.
Thank you to Mike Bal for sharing a job opening you knew I would be a good candidate for and for taking a chance on recommending me. #Automattic has been the best job I've ever had because it doesn't feel like a job; it feels like I'm…
https://derekhanson.blog/my-journey-to-automattic-the-short-version/
ActivityPub for WordPress