Hey there, fellow web wizards and Bricks enthusiasts! If you’ve been keeping your ear to the ground in the WordPress world, you’ve probably heard whispers about the upcoming Bricks Website Builder 2.0. Well, grab your hard hats and blueprints, because we’re about to dive deep into what’s coming, when it’s coming, and why you should be more excited than a kid in a candy store. Let’s break it down!
The Big Question: When Can We Expect Bricks 2.0?
Let’s cut to the chase and address the elephant in the room. When exactly can we get our hands on this shiny new version of our favorite website builder? Here’s the scoop:
- Late 2024: The Bricks team is planning to release version 2.0 in stages towards the end of 2024. Think of it like a soft opening for a fancy restaurant – you get to taste-test before the grand reveal. They’re planning alpha, beta, and release candidate (RC) versions as manual downloads for us to play with and provide feedback.
- Q1 2025: Here’s the kicker – the one-click update for Bricks 2.0 is expected to drop in Q1 2025 at the latest. So, while we might not be building with the complete 2.0 toolkit on New Year’s Day, it’ll be here before you can say “responsive design” ten times fast.
This staged approach is actually a brilliant move. It’s like test-driving a car before you buy it – we get to kick the tires, so to speak, and help shape the final product. Plus, it gives us time to prepare our existing sites for the big upgrade.
(not to mention giving them time to work the kinks out)
The Evolution of Bricks: From 1.0 to 2.0
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of 2.0, let’s take a quick stroll down memory lane. Bricks 1.0 launched in March 2021, and in just three short years, it’s gone from the new kid on the block to the cool kid everyone wants to hang out with. In fact, it was voted “Best WordPress builder” in both 2022 and 2023. Not too shabby!
Since its launch, the Bricks team has been working harder than elves before Christmas, shipping a whopping 2,469 changes over 58 releases. That’s an average of 43 changes every 21 days. Talk about dedication!
What’s Coming in Bricks 2.0?
Alright, now for the juicy part.
Bricks 2.0 is packed with more features than a Swiss Army knife. Let’s break down some of the highlights:
1. Components: The LEGO Blocks of Web Design
Remember how LEGO revolutionized playtime? Well, components in Bricks 2.0 are about to do the same for web design. These reusable sets of elements will let you create consistent, maintainable content, fast.
This boils down to one word: efficiency.
Here’s how components work:
- You can create a set of elements (or even just a single element) that you want to reuse across your site.
- Certain settings of these elements can be exposed as properties, which you can then edit in each instance of the component.
- The magic part? All instances of a component are connected and synced. Change the component, and every instance updates in real-time.
Let’s break this down with a real-world example. Imagine you’re running a chain of coffee shops. Instead of redesigning each shop’s website from scratch, you could create a “Menu Item” component. This component might include:
- An image element for the product photo
- A heading element for the product name
- A paragraph element for the description
- A custom element for the price
You could then expose properties like the image source, product name, description, and price. Now, when you need to add a new menu item to all your locations, you just add the component and customize those properties. Need to update the price of your signature latte across all locations? Just change it in the component, and it updates everywhere. It’s like having a magical menu board that updates every location simultaneously.
This feature is going to be a game-changer for creating scalable, maintainable websites. It’s perfect for everything from multi-location businesses to large-scale web applications.
Take a look at a “sneak peek” the Bricks Builder team released about components:
2. Query Filters 2.0: Finding a Needle in a Digital Haystack
The query filters are getting an upgrade that would make even Google jealous. Here’s what’s coming:
- Active filters element: This new element will let users quickly view and remove applied filters. It’s like having a personal assistant reminding you of your search parameters.
- URL parameter support: This is huge for creating shareable, bookmarkable filtered views. You’ll be able to set custom URL parameter names (e.g., _category) and update the URL in real-time as filters are applied.
- Browser history support: Users will be able to use the browser’s back and forward buttons to navigate through their filter history. It’s like leaving breadcrumbs in your search journey.
- AJAX live search compatibility: This means faster, more responsive filtering without page reloads.
- New filter options: The checkbox filter is getting a button mode, and the radio filter will have an option to hide the “All” control.
- Improved taxonomy handling: You’ll be able to include/exclude terms and set custom ordering for taxonomy-based filters.
- New interaction trigger: You’ll be able to trigger actions based on whether filter options are empty or not.
Let’s put this into context. Say you are running an online bookstore. With the new query filters, you could create a user experience like this:
- A customer lands on your page and starts browsing. They select “Mystery” from your genre filter.
- The URL updates.
- They then filter by author, selecting “Agatha Christie”.
- The URL updates again.
- The customer can now share this URL with a friend who’s also a mystery fan.
- As they apply and remove filters, they can use their browser’s back and forward buttons to navigate through their search history.
It’s like giving each visitor their own personal librarian, making it incredibly easy for them to find exactly what they’re looking for – and share their discoveries with others.
3. Builder Improvements: Your New Digital Swiss Army Knife
The Bricks team is turning the builder into the Swiss Army knife of web design. Here’s what’s coming:
- More granular builder access permissions: Perfect for agencies working with clients. You’ll be able to control exactly what your clients can and can’t edit.
- Element manager: You’ll be able to disable elements you don’t use and even regroup them. It’s like organizing your toolkit for maximum efficiency.
- Select & edit multiple elements: Plus, you’ll be able to wrap and unwrap elements easily. This is going to be a huge time-saver.
- Improved dynamic data picker interface: Making it easier than ever to integrate dynamic content into your designs.
- Enhanced class and variable management: You’ll be able to import/export class & variable categories, and there will even be a trash folder for classes and variables.
- Copy & paste element conditions & interactions: Via right-click. No more rebuilding complex interactions from scratch!
- In-builder performance improvements: Because nobody likes a sluggish builder.
Imagine you’re a chef in a busy kitchen. These updates are like having a sous chef who can chop, dice, and sauté all at once – your workflow just got a serious speed boost. You’ll be able to create complex, dynamic websites faster than ever before.
What’s Coming Before 2.0?
But wait, there’s more! The Bricks team isn’t making us wait until 2.0 for all the good stuff. Here’s a taste of what’s coming down the pipeline before the big release:
1. WooCommerce Improvements
If you’re using Bricks to build e-commerce sites, you’re in for a treat:
- New checkout coupon and login element: Streamlining the checkout process for a better user experience.
- Product gallery dynamic data tag: This will allow you to render your product gallery using elements like the Image Gallery, giving you more control over the display of your products.
These updates are like giving your online store a facelift and a brain transplant at the same time. You’ll be able to create more user-friendly, conversion-optimized e-commerce experiences.
2. Accessibility Upgrades
The Bricks team is committed to making the web accessible to everyone. They’ve lined up accessibility improvements for various elements, including:
- Accordions
- Tabs
- Search
- Nav menu
- Nav nestable
- Video
This focus on accessibility is crucial. It’s not just about compliance – it’s about creating websites that everyone can use and enjoy, regardless of their abilities.
3. New Elements
Get ready to welcome some new members to the Bricks element family:
- Rating element: Complete with schema data/structured data. This is perfect for review sites or any situation where you need to display ratings.
- Back-to-top element: A simple but effective way to improve navigation on long pages.
It’s like adding a friendly usher to your website, guiding visitors to where they need to go and helping them understand the content better.
Breaking Changes: Out With the Old, In With the New
Now, let’s talk about some necessary housekeeping. With version 2.0, the Bricks team is introducing a few breaking changes. Don’t worry – these changes are all about empowering you and Bricks to take advantage of newer browser features.
- Retiring global elements: With the introduction of components, global elements are being retired. But don’t fret – there will be a one-click “Global element to component” converter to help you make the transition.
- Embracing new CSS features: Bricks 2.0 will take advantage of newer CSS features like @layer and :where. This will give you more control over your styles and help reduce specificity conflicts.
- Removing some styling defaults: Some of the default styles that have been more hindrance than help are being removed. This will give you a cleaner slate to work with.
These changes might require a bit of adjustment, but they’re setting the stage for a more powerful, flexible Bricks in the long run.
The Cherry on Top: Templates and Education
The Bricks team isn’t stopping at just improving the builder itself. They’re also focusing on providing more resources to help you make the most of Bricks:
1. Wireframes & Template Bundles
While not directly tied to the 2.0 release, Bricks is launching:
- Wireframe templates: Perfect for quickly sketching out your ideas.
- New template bundles: These are complete website template kits that will be available to all active license owners.
These resources will be accessible from the “Community templates” section in the builder. It’s like they’re giving us a set of blueprints along with our toolbox – perfect for those “I don’t know where to start” moments or when you need to quickly spin up a professional-looking site.
2. A Brand-New Bricks Academy
After the 2.0 release, the Bricks team is planning a complete revamp of their official knowledge base, the Bricks Academy. Here’s what to expect:
- Updated design and layout: Making it easier to navigate and find the information you need.
- Expanded content: Covering the full range of features Bricks provides.
- More guides, tutorials, and resources: These will cater to both beginners and power users.
This focus on education is crucial. After all, a powerful tool is only as good as its user’s knowledge of how to use it.
The Road Ahead
Bricks Builder 2.0 is shaping up to be more transformative than a butterfly’s metamorphosis. With components, improved filters, a souped-up builder, and a focus on education and resources, we’re looking at a web design revolution.
But here’s the kicker – the Bricks team isn’t stopping there. They’re already hinting at what’s to come after 2.0:
- Components in Gutenberg: They’re exploring the possibility of making Bricks components available as Gutenberg blocks in 2025.
- Maps with query loops: While not part of 2.0, this feature is on the roadmap and could be a game-changer, especially for real estate sites.
Wrapping Up: Why You Should Be Excited
Bricks Website Builder 2.0 isn’t just an update – it’s a leap forward in WordPress site building. Here’s why you should be excited:
- Efficiency: With components and improved builder features, you’ll be able to build sites faster than ever.
- Scalability: Components and enhanced query filters make it easier to build and maintain large, complex sites.
- Flexibility: The new features give you more control over your designs and functionality.
- Future-proofing: The breaking changes are setting Bricks up to take advantage of modern web technologies.
- Community: With new templates and an improved Academy, you’ll have more resources at your fingertips.
So, fellow Bricks builders, keep your eyes peeled for those alpha and beta releases coming later this year. And get ready to ring in 2025 with a web design toolkit that’s more powerful than ever. The future of WordPress site building is looking brighter than a neon sign in Times Square!
Remember, the best time to get on board the Bricks train is now. As they say, the early bird gets the worm… or in this case, the early adopter gets the lifetime license before any price increases in 2025.
Happy building, folks! The future of web design is looking mighty bright, and Bricks is leading the charge. So grab your digital hard hat, fire up your creativity, and get ready to build some truly amazing websites with Bricks 2.0!
