This Month on the OpenLab: January 2026 Release

On January 15 we released version 1.7.91 of the OpenLab. The main purpose of this release was to update all existing themes and plugins, including BuddyPress and WordPress, the two primary plugins that power the OpenLab. 

We added one new plugin, Gravity Forms Advanced Post Creation Add-on, which allows you to more easily turn form submissions into posts on your site. … Continue reading this post

This Month on the OpenLab: September 2025 Release

On September 16 we released version 1.7.88 of the OpenLab. It included some minor theme and plugin updates as well as improvements to existing functionality, including:

  • When cloning a course, project, or club, there is a group of settings under ‘More Options’ that needed to be expanded to access them.
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This Month on the OpenLab: August 2025 Release

On August 13 we released version 1.7.87 of the OpenLab. It included many new features, as well as updates to all existing themes and plugins, including WordPress and BuddyPress, the primary software that powers the OpenLab. 

New Features

Navigation redesign

The biggest new feature this summer is a redesign of the navigation on the OpenLab.… Continue reading this post

This Month on the OpenLab: April 2025 Release

On April 24 we released version 1.7.86 of the OpenLab. It included a new cloning feature, some minor theme and plugin updates, and a new plugin.

New Features

Cloning updates

We added a number of new options for choosing what you clone to your new site:

  1. Clone posts and pages that are currently set to draft (unpublished).
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This Month on the OpenLab: March 2025 Release

Tree with pink flowers against backdrop of larger trees without leaves.

On March 20 we released version 1.7.85 of the OpenLab. It was a small release that included a few small improvements, some minor theme and plugin updates, and a plugin that we retired plus an alternative we added.

We made an update to the OpenLab Inline Comments plugin so that the comment bubbles only appear when viewing individual posts and pages.… Continue reading this post

This Month on the OpenLab: January 2025 Release

Seal lying on snowy ground with its flipper on its head.

On January 16 we released version 1.7.83 of the OpenLab. It included some new features, as well as updates to all existing themes and plugins, including BuddyPress and WordPress, the two primary plugins that power the OpenLab. 

New Features and Functionality

We added Bluesky as an option to the social media links available to add to your OpenLab Profile page.… Continue reading this post

This Month on the OpenLab: November 2024 Release

Paint rollers in many colors at the finish line of the NYC marathon.
NYC Marathon Blue Line Ceremony by NYC DOT is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

Today, November 14, we released version 1.7.81 of the OpenLab. It included a few bug fixes and some minor theme and plugin updates.

We fixed a bug causing members to be unable to change their email subscription settings for Courses, Projects, and Clubs. … Continue reading this post

This Month on the OpenLab: September 2024 Release

On September 19 we released version 1.7.79 of the OpenLab. It included some minor theme and plugin updates. We also deactivated a few plugins.

We are no longer doing new development work on the OpenLab Gradebook plugin and recommend that grades be shared with students via Brightspace, the college LMS.… Continue reading this post