WordPress has temporarily rolled back the React 19 upgrade in Gutenberg due to significant compatibility issues with existing plugins. This decision affects site owners who rely on these plugins for functionality.
Plugin Compatibility Issues
The initial upgrade to React 19 in Gutenberg version 23.3.0 led to frequent crashes for many plugins built for React 18. The incompatibility arises from differences in how the two versions handle JSX elements, causing plugins to fail unexpectedly.
Reversion to React 18
In response to the issues, Gutenberg has reverted to React 18 with the release of version 23.3.2. This rollback provides developers with time to devise a more effective upgrade strategy that ensures better compatibility with existing plugins.
Future Upgrade Strategies
Moving forward, the WordPress team plans to adopt a more cautious and incremental approach to upgrades. This includes the potential for a compatibility layer and the ability to switch between React versions using an experimental feature flag.
Frequently Asked Questions
What version of Gutenberg reverted to React 18?
Gutenberg version 23.3.2 reverted to React 18.
Why was the React 19 upgrade rolled back?
The upgrade was rolled back due to compatibility issues with many plugins built for React 18.
What problems did React 19 cause for plugins?
React 19 caused crashes in plugins that were incompatible due to differences in how JSX elements were handled.