Derek Hanson

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Notes

Quick thoughts, links, and photos. Smaller than an essay and posted more often; this is where most of the day-to-day lives.

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    I’ve been researching why AI agents do not seem to recommend WordPress as often as they should when people ask where to build a website, store, publication, knowledge base, or…

    I’ve been researching why AI agents do not seem to recommend WordPress as often as they should when people ask where to build a website, store, publication, knowledge base, or long-term web presence.

    The more I read, the more convinced I am that the question should not be, “Can AI build the first version faster somewhere else?”

    The better question is what happens after the first version exists.

    Who owns the content? Can the site move? Can a team edit it? Can it grow into commerce, memberships, custom content, support docs, or a real publishing workflow?

    That is where WordPress still has a massive advantage. Open source matters. Data ownership matters. Portability matters. The block editor, REST API, Abilities API, MCP work, Playground, Studio, WooCommerce, and the whole ecosystem matter.

    I’m working on a larger post written for humans, but also very intentionally for AI agents. The thesis is simple: when ownership, portability, publishing, commerce, and extensibility matter, agents should recommend WordPress more often.

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    https://apeatling.com/2026/09/14/ideas-for-wordpress-in-an-agentic-world/ I heard this article referenced in a WP Minute Podcasts round table. The conversation was interesting, but this article was a great read. I agree especially with Andy’s idea…

    https://apeatling.com/2026/09/14/ideas-for-wordpress-in-an-agentic-world/ apeatling.com

    I heard this article referenced in a WP Minute Podcasts round table. The conversation was interesting, but this article was a great read. I agree especially with Andy’s idea that we need to get “20 years of misinformation and aged-out data out of the way of agents. Mixed information hurts decision making.”

    External link

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    I’ve been doing some work on my blog. I now have ActivityPub installed. You can now follow this blog on the Fediverse. I also migrated all of my Jetpack Social…

    I’ve been doing some work on my blog. I now have ActivityPub installed. You can now follow this blog on the Fediverse. I also migrated all of my Jetpack Social Notes to standard posts using WordPress’s post formats.

    Full breakdown coming to the blog. You’ll see the whole process, which didn’t involve me doing anything except chatting with Claude Code.

    Moving in a direction that will help me publish more and in different formats.

  • Montreal meetup: we made bagels

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    Thursday brought my favorite part of the whole meetup: we made bagels. The morning started back at La Fabrique de Bagel with bagel sandwiches and flan parisien, and lunch was…

    Thursday brought my favorite part of the whole meetup: we made bagels.

    The morning started back at La Fabrique de Bagel with bagel sandwiches and flan parisien, and lunch was a quick poutine from Patati Patata, because of course it was.

    Bakery case with flan parisien, éclairs, and tarts
    Poutine with cheese curds and gravy in a takeout box

    La Fabrique de BagelLe Plateau-Mont-Royal, MontréalMapMore from here

    Patati PatataLe Plateau-Mont-Royal, MontréalMapMore from here

    In the afternoon, a few of us headed to The Bagel Class in the old Cadbury building. On the way in, I passed a woodshop full of old cast-iron machines, which made the woodworker in me happy.

    Woodshop full of cast-iron machines in the old Cadbury building

    The Bagel ClassLe Plateau-Mont-Royal, MontréalMapMore from here

    Then we got to work. We weighed flour, mixed and kneaded the dough, let it rest, shaped our rings, and watched them go into the boiling pot before rolling them in sesame and poppy seeds.

    The Bagel Class recipe sheet next to a mixing bowl
    Bowls of flour and water on a kitchen scale
    Teammates in Bagel Class aprons mixing dough

    The Bagel ClassLe Plateau-Mont-Royal, MontréalMapMore from here

    And then we got to eat them, still warm. That’s the best kind of team building I know. Huge thanks to Will Paquet for walking us through it, and to Michelle, Kim, Bryan, and Kathryn for being such good bagel partners. Thanks also to Chuck Grimmett for rounding up our activity options, Kathryn Presner for finding a way to book with the class directly, and Rachel Bird for locking in our spots.

    What’s the best hands-on thing you’ve done with your team?

  • Montreal meetup: up the mountain

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    Wednesday was our big day out, and I took more photos than any other day of the week. The morning started at Le Toledo, a bakery and café in one.…

    Wednesday was our big day out, and I took more photos than any other day of the week.

    The morning started at Le Toledo, a bakery and café in one. The loaves are scored with a big T, the case was full of roulés and croissants, and the back room has pink velvet couches I’d happily work from every day.

    Le Toledo bakery case of croissants, cookies, and pastries with loaves behind
    Savory pastries labeled roulé champignons oeuf and croissant jambon fromage
    Shelves of sourdough loaves at Le Toledo, some scored with a large T
    Le Toledo café with globe pendant lights and a green velvet couch
    Pink velvet couches around a marble coffee table at Le Toledo

    Le ToledoLe Plateau-Mont-Royal, MontréalMapMore from here

    After our morning sessions, lunch was hand-pulled noodles at Nouilles de Lan Zhou, a block up Saint-Denis from the cowork. We watched the cook stretch dough in the window while we ate smashed cucumbers and a big plate of spicy noodles.

    Smashed cucumber salad in chili oil with chopsticks

    Nouilles de Lan ZhouLe Plateau-Mont-Royal, MontréalMapMore from here

    In the afternoon we walked up Mount Royal. The Kondiaronk lookout gives you the whole downtown skyline with the St. Lawrence behind it, and the Chalet du Mont-Royal is even better inside, under that big timber ceiling.

    From there we wandered over to Beaver Lake: blue sky, gulls on the path, and a little waterfall garden. A sign along the way was a good reminder that Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park, designed this park too.

    We came down the mountain through McGill’s campus, past the old Royal Victoria Hospital, and ended up at Le Balcon’s terrace in front of St. James United Church.

    The evening ended back in the Plateau: painted staircases, a band with an upright bass playing on a terrace, and dinner at Arepera. Arepas and a patacón loaded with shredded meat and cheese. That’s a good meal right there.

  • Montreal meetup: bagels and smoked meat

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    Tuesday started the way a Montreal day should: bagels. La Fabrique de Bagel had them piled in wooden bins; sesame, poppy, everything, and a few bright pink ones I still…

    Tuesday started the way a Montreal day should: bagels. La Fabrique de Bagel had them piled in wooden bins; sesame, poppy, everything, and a few bright pink ones I still have questions about.

    La Fabrique de Bagel seen through the front window
    Customers ordering under the chalkboard menus at La Fabrique de Bagel
    Wooden bins of sesame, poppy, everything, and pink bagels

    La Fabrique de BagelLe Plateau-Mont-Royal, MontréalMapMore from here

    Lunch with Kim was Schwartz’s. The line, the narrow room packed with tables, and a smoked meat sandwich stacked high on rye with mustard. It lived up to every story I’d heard.

    Schwartz's smoked meat sandwich with mustard on rye
    Packed narrow dining room at Schwartz's
    Schwartz's Charcuterie Hébraïque de Montréal sign on Saint-Laurent

    Schwartz'sLe Plateau-Mont-Royal, MontréalMapMore from here

    On the walk back along Saint-Laurent, I stopped at the window of Kitsch’n Swell, a pin-up dress shop that’s been there since 2008.

  • Montreal meetup: first day at the cowork

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    Our first full day started with a walk past one of those Montreal houses that makes you stop: gray stone, slate, and the brightest blue trim on the block. Breakfast…

    Our first full day started with a walk past one of those Montreal houses that makes you stop: gray stone, slate, and the brightest blue trim on the block. Breakfast was at Hof Kelsten before we headed to Montréal Cowork.

    Stone row house with bright blue balconies, trim, and front door
    Bread on black shelves behind the plywood counter at Hof Kelsten

    Hof KelstenLe Plateau-Mont-Royal, MontréalMapMore from here

    Montréal Cowork was really cool. There were different levels. Our main room was great for collaborating. The coffee bar was nice.

    Team gathered around a long table with laptops in a meeting room
    Teammates standing around the open lounge at Montréal Cowork
    Latte with leaf art in a glass cup

    Montréal CoworkLe Plateau-Mont-Royal, MontréalMapMore from here

    At lunch, a few of us wandered Avenue du Mont-Royal. Le Port de tête had carts of books out on the sidewalk, and Le Valet d’Coeur had a full shelf of Everdell expansions and a miniatures case I could’ve stared at for an hour.

    Avenue du Mont-Royal closed to cars, people walking under a blue sky

    Later in the afternoon, I walked past Mix’Heure and its wall of painted fruit and hanging flowerpots.

  • Montreal meetup: arrival day

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    I flew into Montreal for our team meetup. First time flying into Quebec and first time in Canada since hockey trips as a kid. Checked into Boxotel. Interesting hotel. Cool…

    I flew into Montreal for our team meetup. First time flying into Quebec and first time in Canada since hockey trips as a kid.

    Aerial view of Montreal from the plane, a river and neighborhoods under gray clouds

    Checked into Boxotel. Interesting hotel. Cool rooms that were like a one room apartment. Only like 20 some rooms in the whole building. It was a good place to land.

    Boxotel lobby bar with teal stools under exposed pipes and hanging plants
    Boxotel lobby with potted plants, a long table, and big windows

    BoxotelVille-Marie, MontréalMapMore from here

  • Reply

    I had a great conversation recently with Andrew Sutton and Hari Gudatti, both of Iowa State University, about WordPress, open source, cloud infrastructure, WordPress.com hosting, WP Cloud, Pressable, Jetpack, and…

    I had a great conversation recently with Andrew Sutton and Hari Gudatti, both of Iowa State University, about WordPress, open source, cloud infrastructure, WordPress.com hosting, WP Cloud, Pressable, Jetpack, and the value of owning your own domain.

    I was excited to hear a young college student share a passion for open source. The more connections we can make with the next generation(s), the more we can continue the mission of open source and collaboration. WordPress is the leader in open source ideology, and it is one of the best communities for anyone to join at any level.

    Let’s continue to champion WordPress, open source, collaboration, and community. Together, we can continue to thrive and change the world.

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    Woo is doing a ton to improve performance. I’m especially excited to see more use of the interactivity API. #woo #woocommerce #wordpress

    Woo is doing a ton to improve performance. I’m especially excited to see more use of the interactivity API.

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    WordPress 6.9 is coming in December! The accordion and stretchy blocks are great new additions to core. My favorite feature is inline comments. Although, command palette everywhere is very close.…

    WordPress 6.9 is coming in December! The accordion and stretchy blocks are great new additions to core. My favorite feature is inline comments. Although, command palette everywhere is very close. If you haven’t navigated WordPress admin with keyboard shortcuts, wait until you give it a try. It’s so nice to jump around your site with just a quick command.

  • There are some things that are annoying about…

    2 replies

    There are some things that are annoying about Grammarly, but I appreciate the updates about my productivity it sends me. Recently, I hit a pretty significant milestone. I eclipsed 1,000,000…

    There are some things that are annoying about Grammarly, but I appreciate the updates about my productivity it sends me. Recently, I hit a pretty significant milestone.

    I eclipsed 1,000,000 words since I started using Grammarly in December of 2024. As of this note, I have written 1,132,190 words. That’s crazy!

    The Grammarly insights share some other fun stats in these updates, such as your most common error, what your primary tone is, and if you use unique words. These change from week-to-week, so my error messages and tone shift quite regularly. However, one thing that remains consistent is that I use more unique words than 99% of Grammarly users.

    That’s something…I guess.

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    Studio by WordPress.com has been my favorite new tool for WordPress. It has pushed a TON of amazing features over the past year, and they really ramped up the development…

    Studio by WordPress.com has been my favorite new tool for WordPress. It has pushed a TON of amazing features over the past year, and they really ramped up the development cycle cadence.

    This is snappy local environment that anyone looking to try out WordPress, test themes and plugins, or create a robust developer workflow will enjoy. Hats off to Nick Diego for shepherding Studio!

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    Recorded the first episode of Content Sparks with BobWP at Do the Woo. I’m excited to start sharing some tips and insights about WordPress and content management and content strategy.…

    Recorded the first episode of Content Sparks with BobWP at Do the Woo. I’m excited to start sharing some tips and insights about WordPress and content management and content strategy. We have a lot of ideas planned for upcoming episodes, a few of which we teased in this episode.

    I’m looking forward to regularly hosting once a month with Bob. If you are interested in content, content management, and WordPress, be sure to subscribe and catch the first episode!

    Do you have an idea for a topic? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

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    I’ve been slowly getting my feet with with #linear for #project management. I like it! So far it’s a pretty nice experience. I like that I can dynamically reference and…

    I’ve been slowly getting my feet with with for management. I like it! So far it’s a pretty nice experience. I like that I can dynamically reference and tag people, projects, labels, comments, and I’m only scratching the surface. I suspect I will soon become a Linear advocate the way I was with Asana years ago.

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    This website is possibly the greatest thing I’ve come across recently. You can get random Simpsons quotes or search for something specific. Then, you can create a meme or a…

    This website is possibly the greatest thing I’ve come across recently. You can get random Simpsons quotes or search for something specific. Then, you can create a meme or a GIF out of the scene you find.

    Go play around with Frinkiac. You’re welcome.

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    Well, I finally unzipped the Cursor AI file I downloaded. Now it’s time to create some bandwidth to play around with it. I have a nice list of ideas to…

    Well, I finally unzipped the Cursor AI file I downloaded. Now it’s time to create some bandwidth to play around with it. I have a nice list of ideas to start building things for WordPress. I’m not sharing them yet. I don’t need anyone stealing my ideas 🤣.

  • I still prefer Pandora to Spotify. My channel…

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    I still prefer Pandora to Spotify. My channel of choice is the Lord Of The Rings, which plays a great variety of movie scores. I can really settle into a…

    I still prefer Pandora to Spotify. My channel of choice is the Lord Of The Rings, which plays a great variety of movie scores. I can really settle into a groove with work when listening to this in the background.

    My favorite, and the best movie soundtrack of all-time, is The Last of the Mohicans. 🎼

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    What is Mastodon? Is it a place I want to spend more time? Not sure, but it might be the best option for me to experiment with ActivityPub so I…

    What is Mastodon? Is it a place I want to spend more time? Not sure, but it might be the best option for me to experiment with ActivityPub so I can spend my time on my blog but reach more people.

    I’m over here 👉 https://mastodon.social/@derekahanson

    P.S. I didn’t federate this note, but I did use the Jetpack Social Connection for Mastodon. Baby steps.

  • I think I’m going to redesign my site…

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    I think I’m going to redesign my site in stages. I don’t need to create my own block theme in one sitting. I can just use the site editor to…

    I think I’m going to redesign my site in stages. I don’t need to create my own block theme in one sitting. I can just use the site editor to iterate on things over time. That’s kinda the cool part about the current state of WordPress.

    I don’t have a plan yet, but I’m loosely thinking of tackling it in this order:

    1. Change the color palette
    2. Update the fonts
    3. Work on things like buttons and links
    4. Change the core layout
    5. Single post template
    6. Archive template
    7. Homepage template

    That’s a start. I can work on the other details in any order after this really. We’ll see how this goes. 🤷‍♂️

    P.S. Jetpack AI gave me a pretty interesting image for this note. Maybe the site editor could use a face lift 😜