WordPress 3.1 Arrives

It’s been a long time coming, but WordPress 3.1 is officially released! Code named “Reinhard” after jazz great* Django Reinhard, WordPress 3.1 includes some great new functionality.

A few key highlights:

• Easier to add internal links in a post or page with a killer lookup.
• An amazing new post formats feature that allows theme developers to present several different kinds of posts in their own unique style. The formats have been standardized, with eleven available formats. Theme developers can choose to make these available or not, but to help ensure compatibility between themes, they cannot introduce new formats (unlike post types).
• Sortable columns in the admin screens make it easier for any site with more that 20 posts or pages to filter and find the content they need to edit.
• And the new Admin Bar — which you either love or hate — gives you quick access to key admin activities right from your site.

I’ve already updated my sites to 3.1 — a relatively painless task when your themes are coded properly — and recommend you do so on yours. Keeping your WordPress installation and plugins updated helps make your site less vulnerable to hackers.

I’m still familiarizing myself with the new functionality in 3.1, but there are already some great overviews if you want to learn more.

• WordPress 3.1, Lots of fun proves that Matt Mullenweg stick to running Automattic, and steer clear from writing poetry. But it is the official announcement of the new release.
• Coders and theme designers should read the 3.1 Codex.
• What’s New in WordPress 3.1 – WPBeginner shares screenshots of key changes.
• My favorite (so far) is WordCast’s Ultimate Guide to WordPress 3.1 which includes screenshots of the changes and a ton of deep links for more info.

Have you updated your WordPress site? Read up and dive in!

*All WordPress releases have had code names based on jazz musicians. Matt Mullenweg may not be a poet, but he loves jazz music.