Gutenberg: Introduce the new Navigation editor to the world

[draganescu]

Introduction

Currently as part of Gutenberg's phase 2 process there is an effort put into upgrading the current menus screen to a block based editor. With the latest progress in #24503 the project is in an architecturally stable point.

It is a good moment to remove the experimental cloak and have it available for a larger user base via the Gutenberg plugin. Issues such as ensuring the best possible backwards compatibility ( #23739 ) need more participation. Also the UI and UX explorations will advance smoother with more feedback.

Then, in the near future, after the Navigation editor is out of being just an experiment, it becomes beta software and the project's focus will be on fixing it, including the default workflow it will offer, and therefore move on with replacing the current screens. Also, aside from revamping the UX of making menus, this project allows users to bring blocks into their menus and that requires themes to opt in. Testing this important feature via the Gutenberg plugin sooner rather than later is essential for it to work properly.

Actions

• [ ] Remove the experimental flags that hide the Navigation editor
• [ ] Have the Navigation editor show up under Appearance > Navigation( beta ) in WordPress Admin (for people having the Gutenberg plugin installed)
• [ ] Add a notification in the current menu screen with an invitation to test the new editor
• [ ] Release the Navigation editor as an optional Appearance link in the next Gutenberg release (8.9)
• [ ] Add the option to restore the current menu screen and to switch between editors in the Classic Editor plugin
• [ ] Release the Navigation editor as a default Appearance > Menus link in the next Gutenberg release (9.0)

[StaggerLeee]

Are there any remote ideas to turn it to mega menus ? As expansion of it.

[aristath]

@StaggerLeee in time it will be possible to use some more blocks inside menus so it will be possible to build what most people refer to as "mega menu". But that is not the current focus, or the point of this ticket :+1:

[noisysocks]

Before a developer can pick up this issue, we need to know which design changes are required for us to be happy with soft launching the Navigation screen. Do you have a list, @shaunandrews?

[shaunandrews]

@noisysocks I outlined my thoughts over here: https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/24875

[noisysocks]

Thanks @shaunandrews!

So, to summarise the status here, we're blocked on #24875 and #24760. Once those two overview issues are addressed we can remove the experimental flag.

[sirreal]

Has this issue been superseded by another or should we point to another place for tracking? The information here is stale to the best of my knowledge.

[noisysocks]

Hey @sirreal. The best way to track the status of this project is by checking the project board. Currently the contributors that were working full time on this project have hit pause and are focusing instead on Widgets. It's likely we'll come back to this for WordPress 5.7.