In the fast-evolving landscape of ecommerce, WooCommerce has long stood out as a flexible and powerful platform, largely thanks to its deep extensibility. Developers (like myself), agencies, and store owners have historically leveraged its robust hook system to customize virtually every aspect of an online store.
However, with the advent of block-based editing and the new Cart and Checkout blocks, a palpable tension has emerged within the community. This shift, while promising a more streamlined user experience, has inadvertently created new hurdles for those who build and extend on the platform.
The very superpower of effortless customization, once a hallmark of WooCommerce, seems to have been diminished, leading to a crucial conversation about the future direction of the platform and its commitment to the developer ecosystem.
This was vividly illustrated in a WooCommerce Slack “office hours” session held just yesterday, where core block developers were present, and numerous passionate community developers participated.
The discussion went through the heart of these concerns, exploring the challenges faced by extension developers and the urgent call for renewed focus on developer-centric extensibility.
The Shifting Sands of WooCommerce Extensibility
The conversation kicked off with a direct question: has enough been done to empower extension developers within the new WooCommerce block environment?
A WooCommerce representative acknowledged recent community research aimed at understanding needs and gaps, particularly concerning checkout block adoption. This research touched on vital areas like custom field implementation, styling limitations, and access to inner blocks.
However, a significant point of contention quickly arose. Several experienced extension developers highlighted that they were unaware of the research’s relevance to their work, perceiving it as more focused on general checkout adoption rather than developer extensibility.
This underscored a communication gap and a feeling that the focus might be misaligned with the pressing needs of the developer community.
The “Splintering” Ecosystem and Developer Frustration
A prominent developer eloquently articulated the core issue: the current trajectory is leading to a “further splintering of the ecosystem”.
The push towards “The New Default” (block-based experience) without adequate extensibility tools forces developers and merchants into a dilemma. New users, expecting the flexible customization that defines WooCommerce over alternatives like Shopify, are finding that many existing solutions require significant workarounds to integrate with the new block structure.
Woo is supposed to be the experience you can edit checkout on, Shopify is supposed to be the ‘can’t edit the checkout experience’ platform.
The traditional WordPress action and filter API was praised as the superpower that allowed seamless integration and customization.
The sentiment was strong that block development has, for years, lacked this equivalent level of access and flexibility, leading to a significant “gap”. Developers expressed a preference for dealing with occasional breaking changes—a known part of evolving platforms—rather than facing a complete inability to extend core functionality.
The Priority of Cart and Checkout Blocks
Both Cart and Checkout block adoption were confirmed as priorities for the WooCommerce team, with ongoing feedback gathering. However, the question of whether easier developer customization would boost adoption remained central. While acknowledging the impossibility of a “kitchen sink” approach, a call was made for the community to help prioritize specific needs to bridge the existing gaps.
Concerns extended beyond just Cart and Checkout. A developer pointed to issues with new features like “Blueprints“, noting that while filters existed for extensibility, they didn’t always surface in the user interface as expected, leading to wasted development time on features not fully usable by end-users.
The Call for an Official Stance and Renewed Focus
The discussion intensified with a direct request for an official statement from WooCommerce leadership regarding the priority of making block components available to extensions.
Two long-standing GitHub discussions such as this, dating back years, were cited as evidence of the community’s persistent need for this capability. While acknowledging the importance of the request, a WooCommerce developer candidly admitted current capacity limitations for immediate development and support.
This led to a critical assertion from the developer community: if extensibility is not a primary goal, it’s crucial for the ecosystem to know.
If I can paraphrase what I’ve heard from others [..] – before blocks we had the WP hooks api, actions, filters, it was THE thing that let devs tap into EVERYWHERE and devs let other devs tap into their code SUPER easily. It was (past tense) the super power of WP. Blocks lost that. That is the gap, and its been missing for years.
The argument was made that WooCommerce’s capacity issues are, in part, self-inflicted by effectively “shutting down” the contributions of hundreds, if not thousands, of third-party developers. By not providing adequate extensibility, these developers are forced into a “wait and see” mode, or worse, are creating their own isolated sub-systems, undermining the very premise of a unified and extensible platform.
Extensibility as the Core Value Proposition
A key turning point in the conversation was the powerful declaration that “extensibility is the value proposition” for WooCommerce. It is the unique magic that attracts serious builders and allows them to deliver on diverse client requirements.
The platform, it was argued, should be the destination for users who outgrow simpler ecommerce solutions, offering unparalleled power and flexibility.
Instead of focusing on symptoms like custom field challenges or styling limitations, the community urged WooCommerce to frame future research around “platform readiness” and what would genuinely excite developers to invest in the ecosystem. This includes:
- Making extensibility a top-level priority: Giving it equal weight alongside user experience, performance, and merchant experience.
- Accepting that progress will involve churn: Acknowledging that new technologies come with breaking changes and working with developers willing to embrace them for greater platform power.
- Framing research around platform readiness: Understanding what inspires developer confidence to build anything a client might request.
A Path Forward
The dialogue concluded with a shared understanding of the frustrations and a commitment from WooCommerce representatives to address the feedback. While immediate solutions might not be linear, the assurance was given that product management is actively listening. The importance of specific, actionable feedback was reiterated to help advocate for change internally.
The reason Woo has issues with capacity is you’ve shut down the hundreds (thousands?) of 3rd party developers that do the work you don’t have time for.
The community, in turn, emphasized that the most crucial “ask” is simply for extensibility to be recognized as a meaningful and actionable priority. The sentiment was clear: knowing there’s a defined path forward, even if it’s long, would alleviate much of the current uncertainty and re-engage the developer ecosystem that is so vital to WooCommerce’s long-term success.
The commitment to “circle back” and negotiate actionable steps was a hopeful note in a conversation that highlighted deep-seated concerns but also a strong desire for collaborative solutions.
Conclusion
In essence, the conversation underscored a critical juncture for WooCommerce. The transition to block-based experiences, while offering new possibilities, has inadvertently strained the relationship with its crucial developer community.
The core message from developers is clear: WooCommerce’s historical strength lies in its extensibility, and neglecting this aspect in the block era risks alienating the very builders who contribute significantly to its success.
Re-prioritizing developer experience, providing clear pathways for extensibility, and fostering open communication are paramount to ensuring WooCommerce remains the go-to platform for limitless e-commerce possibilities.
