This guide will help you set up the right development environment to create blocks and other plugins that extend and modify the Block Editor in WordPress.

A block development environment includes the tools you need on your computer to successfully develop for the Block Editor. The three essential requirements are:

• Block Development Environment
  • Code editor
  • Node.js development tools
  • Local WordPress environment

Code editor

A code editor is used to write code. You can use whichever editor you’re most comfortable with. The key is having a way to open, edit, and save text files.

If you do not already have a preferred code editor, Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a popular choice for JavaScript development among Core contributors. It works well across the three major platforms (Windows, Linux, and Mac), is open-source, and is actively maintained by Microsoft. VS Code also has a vibrant community providing plugins and extensions, including many for WordPress development.

Node.js development tools

Node.js (node) is an open-source runtime environment that allows you to execute JavaScript outside of the web browser. While Node.js is not required for all WordPress JavaScript development, it’s essential when working with modern JavaScript tools and developing for the Block Editor.

Node.js and its accompanying development tools allow you to:

• Install and run WordPress packages needed for Block Editor development, such as wp-scripts
• Set up local WordPress environments with wp-env and @wp-playground/cli
• Use the latest ECMAScript features and write code in ESNext
• Lint, format, and test JavaScript code
• Scaffold custom blocks with the create-block package

The list goes on. While modern JavaScript development can be challenging, WordPress provides several tools, like wp-scripts and create-block, that streamline the process and are made possible by Node.js development tools.

The recommended Node.js version for block development is Active LTS (Long Term Support). However, there are times when you need to use different versions. A Node.js version manager tool like nvm is strongly recommended and allows you to change your node version when required. You will also need Node Package Manager (npm) and the Node Package eXecute (npx) to work with some WordPress packages. Both are installed automatically with Node.js.

To be able to use the Node.js tools and packages provided by WordPress for block development, you’ll need to set a proper Node.js runtime environment on your machine. To learn more about how to do this, refer to the links below.

• Install Node.js for Mac and Linux
• Install Node.js for Windows

Local WordPress environment

A local WordPress environment (site) provides a controlled, efficient, and secure space for development, allowing you to build and test your code before deploying it to a production site. The same requirements for WordPress apply to local sites.

In the broader WordPress community, many tools are available for setting up a local WordPress environment on your computer. The Block Editor Handbook covers wp-env, which is open-source and maintained by the WordPress project itself. It’s also the recommended tool for Gutenberg development.

Refer to the Get started with wp-env guide for setup instructions.

This list is not exhaustive, but here are several additional options to choose from if you prefer not to use wp-env:

• WordPress Studio
• Local
• XAMPP
• MAMP
• Varying Vagrant Vagrants (VVV)