Persistance

Retraceur 3.0.0 stable, codenamed « Persistence », is now available.

This release marks an important step in the evolution of the project.
It is not about flash or disruption.
It is about consolidation, structure, and clarity.

« Persistence » reflects the idea of software that moves forward steadily — strengthening its foundations rather than stacking features for effect.

A Native Open Graph API

The major evolution in 3.0.0 is the introduction of a native Open Graph API directly in the core.

Until now, social metadata management typically relied on external plugins.
With 3.0.0, Retraceur provides a structured, extensible, and predictable way to generate Open Graph metadata.

This includes:

• Structured generation of Open Graph tags
• Strict consistency with the content rendering engine
• Clear control over metadata sources (title, description, image)
• Proper extensibility through hooks and filters

Special care has been taken with the og:description tag. When it derives from post content, the full content rendering pipeline is executed:

• Block parsing is triggered
• Block rendering is performed
• All registered filters and transformations are applied

The goal is simple:
What users see is what platforms share.

Open Graph metadata should not be an approximation. It should faithfully reflect the actual rendered content.

The new Global Media settings section of your Settings > Media administration screen

Version 3.0.0 also introduces a visible administrative change: a new dedicated settings section for Global Media Assets.

The Site Icon Has Moved

The site icon is no longer managed in the General Settings screen. It is now part of the Media Settings screen.

This is not merely cosmetic. It consolidates structurally important media elements into a coherent, dedicated space.

A Modern Default Open Graph Image Mechanism

The new screen also introduces a clear and modern way to define the site’s default Open Graph image

This eliminates implicit behaviors and fragmented configurations. Retraceur now provides a single, explicit location for managing the site’s social identity.

A Release Focused on Maturity

« Persistence » is a consolidation release. It delivers:

• A structural API (Open Graph);
• Improved internal coherence in the update system;
• The 548 most interesting commits from WordPress^® 6.9 branch.

This is not a loud release. It is a foundational one.

A WordPress^® alternative that endures

Retraceur is not just a technical fork. It is an attempt to offer an alternative to WordPress^® that prioritizes:

• Ethics over growth metrics;
• Individuals over platform lock-in;
• Transparency over ecosystem dependency.

Building a credible alternative takes time. It requires consistency. « Persistence » is more than a codename. It is a direction.

Available Now

Retraceur 3.0.0 « Persistence » is available today. Thanks to everyone who tests, questions, contributes, and supports the project. The next steps will be taken the same way as always — deliberately, carefully, and persistently.

Note: The WordPress^® trademark is the intellectual property of the WordPress Foundation. The use of the WordPress^® name in this article is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the WordPress Foundation.