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Jetpack for WordPress Gets User Interface Update

mike-johnston Profile

Jetpack for WordPress, a plugin by Automattic – the company behind WordPress itself – has just undergone a user interface makeover.

The total visual redesign of the Jetpack user interface and a front-end has been built entirely in React, which is the same JavaScript library currently powering WordPress.com.

Automattic has said that:

“This [Jetpack] version has been a year in the making and is based on feedback from more than 8,000 active Jetpack users around the globe.”

Here's a breakdown of what's new.

A Sexy New Interface

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Jetpack's new ‘At a Glance' dashboard view is nothing short of sexy.

It's a page that gives you a neat bird’s-eye view of how your site is doing. It shows you things like:

  • Traffic (including a link to the old stats view),
  • security information,
  • CDN status.
  • Spam comments blocked
  • Pending plugin updates

It will also flag up any security threats and prompt you to update plugins when necessary.

Faster Feature Management & Better Integration

Automattic has claimed that Jetpack's speed will have been improved along with this new release.

Turning features on and off is now instant, and doesn't require the page to refresh. Plus, you can also make use of a new search bar to quickly find the feature you’re looking for.

Also, many features can now be configured by simply expanding the feature card, which means you don't have to load a new page.

You will also notice two new pages called ‘Apps' and ‘Plans‘. These newly introdced pages make it easier for you to manage your site using the advanced features on WordPress.com by directly linking you to the pages you need to manage plugin updates, manage paid plans, and so forth.

I've always been a fan of the Jetpack plugin. It adds a tonne of features to any WordPress site, and beefs up security and speed at the same time. It's usually the first plugin I install when I set up a WordPress site, and as far as I can see, Automattic have only improved it with this update.

If you’d like to learn more about these releases and the other changes brought to Jetpack, you can check the full changelog here.

To try Jetpack out, install it on your site or upgrade your current version today from your WordPress backend.