# Being the strictly plain text/Markdown kinda guy I am I've always resisted the move to the block editor in WordPress (aka Gutenberg) but have been curious about it for a while.
I decided to take a quick look earlier but my theme (a highly customised version of an old, old Automattic offering) isn't compatible with blocks.
I could probably make it compatible but think it wouldn't be worth the effort and I've yet to find a clear and concise guide to building block compatibility into existing themes. I could also move to a newer theme with compatibility built in but would then have to spend far too much time and effort reintroducing all the indieweb elements.
Again, it's just not worth it.
So, as the old saying says, if it ain't broke...
@colinwalker Don't bother. The block editor generates all sorts of extra block-editor code wrapped around the actual copy/content. It's a nightmare.
@colinwalker I think the block editor is just another opportunity for unnecessary and lumpen functionality to be added to Wordpress.
@colinwalker It contributed to me giving up WordPress.
@bix Sounds like a good job I can't use it then.
@devilgate I decided straight away with v5 that I was going to install the classic editor plugin and avoid Gutenberg, it seemed overkill for the way I post and that looks to have been a wise decision in the long run.
@strandlines Having used various page builder plugins on other sites I like the idea of it but the execution seems lacking. Maybe it will mature into a better option.
It took a bit of getting used to, and I think they made some strange changes (which confused me to begin with) not long ago, but I don't mind it myself. I am on WordPress.com though, so I don't know that I have a choice. :)
On Markdown, have you tried the free editor Typora? Fantastic.
I'm worried as to how long they will continue to give WordPress.org users a choice, whether they'll eventually remove the ability to revert to the classic editor.
Yes, I use Typora on my Macs occasionally and love it, such a clean interface.
I think they will eventually remove it, but if I remember rightly, they were going to continue to support it for quite a while (a couple of years at least?)
Following on from thoughts about the WordPress block editor and wondering whether the classic editor might be removed any time soon I found a reassuring quote from Matt Mullenweg that the plugin would be supported for many years to come. Still, you know how these things go. Somewhat interestingly, I also found reference to "ClassicPress" - a fork of WordPress BB, before blocks. It's based off WordPress 4.9 but, in future, intends to take a different path. Curious, I performed a manual install, spun up a new database and copied my theme (and necessary plugins) over and created a test site. JetPack doesn't work (or at least the current version) so I'm using a different plugin for Markdown support which seems to work okay despite being no longer supported. I'm not sure I'd consider switching over until the platform is a bit more mature and demonstrates some longevity as there is no guarantee that it will survive long-term, despite any reassurances that the founders are in it for the long haul, but it will be fun to keep an eye on. It may also serve as a dev playground where I can make changes without fear of killing the main blog.