It almost looked like one of my favourite WordPress plugins, WP Show Posts, was forgotten about. But after more than two years without a single update (not that it needed many improvements) WP Show Posts Pro 1.0.0 and an alpha version of WP Show Posts 1.2.0 have been released. And it doesn’t end there, I have some excellent news to share at the end of this article.
Because I had nothing better to do one evening I decided to revive an old test site and install both new versions of WP Show Posts. Here’s what I’ve found so far and learnt from the changelogs.
Everything new in WP Show Posts 1.2.0
Because of incompatibilities and performance issues with Aqua Resizer, which WP Show Posts up until now utilized to resize images on-the-fly, it has been completely removed in this version. And its place is taken up by… nothing. In WP Show Posts 1.2.0, you will be able to choose from the existing image sizes generated by WordPress.
The other big update to WP Show Posts is better and cleaner code. This was done to make the plugin as extendable as possible for when you need to go beyond the options.
One change I’ve been waiting for to happen has finally happened: The shortcode is now displayed in the overview when clicking on All lists. This makes copying a certain list’s shortcode so much quicker. Previously you had to open up said list and copy the shortcode from there. It’s a small change but a real time saver.
Other than that there have been a bunch of tweaks, fixes, and new filters added. You’ll find a full changelog on the WP Show Posts website.
There is another small design change of note: WP Show Posts has been shortened to just Show Posts in the menu.
Everything new in WP Show Posts Pro 1.0.0
WP Show Posts Pro is the paid version of WP Show Posts. As with GeneratePress, you get a certain amount of features in the free version, making it completely usable. The Pro version unlocks a bunch of extra options enabling you to customise your lists to your liking.
Ever since I’ve been using WP Show Posts, I’ve been stuck on a beta version of WP Show Posts Pro 1.0 because only that version had certain features I needed. Before that the most recent stable release, version 0.5, was back in 2016.
Compared to the beta version I was previously using there aren’t many noticeable changes. The biggest one, in my opinion, is the introduction of carousels. I can see myself using that feature for the related posts displayed underneath my articles.
If you were one of the few still using WP Show Posts Pro 0.5 you’ll be greeted with a bunch of tweaks, fixes, and new options. These include the ability to change the title font size, card presets, and the option to select an image overlay colour. And yes, Google+ has finally been removed from the plugin.
Back from the dead and soon a WordPress block
WP Show Posts 1.2.0 will likely be the last release we see of this plugin in its current shape and form. And despite me dreading the plugin being dead for good there is good news: WP Show Posts will be “reborn” as a WordPress block!
I had previously expected it to be integrated into GenerateBlocks but that doesn’t seem to be the case. For me personally, it doesn’t matter as long as I get to keep using my beloved WP Show Posts.
