ACF / Cardbon fields / or alternative, what's the latest thing for block ins Sage 11?

Hey all,

For the last few Sage versions I’ve been using Carbon Fields to make blocks for the gutenberg editor. But now starting with a new project that I switch to Sage 11, I wonder if this is still the way to go.

What’s the current standard to have a fool-proof (sorry, should have said client proof) approach for the client to add block to a page AND post. What I don’t like about Carbon Fields is that the client still has all the default blocks to it’s disposal. So circling back a jear later the site looks like a warzone. A colleague in the field mentioned ACF Builder? But from what I remember before switching to Carbon Fields, is that I really don’t like adding the fields manually to the backend (dashboard). I want to do it in the theme (php or json), plus it clutters the dashboard with jet another menu item.

I mainly work with blocks as rows or regions on a page/post. Sometimes I nest blocks.

So, what’s your take on custom blocks on pages AND posts?

I’d suggest ACF Composer if you’re not wanting to write native React blocks

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+1 on ACF Composer and use allowed_block_types_all – Hook | Developer.WordPress.org to only allow the blocks you want.

I also use https://www.advancedcustomfields.com/resources/how-to-hide-acf-menu-from-clients/ to hide the ACF admin menu item in non-development environments. In development, it is sometimes helpful to be able to use the fields GUI to find what features each field type supports.

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A really? What makes it more useful than carbon fields?

Did you take a look at ACF Composer? It has the best DX for working with ACF on Acorn/Sage-powered sites, and it’s the most heavily used package in this community

But from what I remember before switching to Carbon Fields, is that I really don’t like adding the fields manually to the backend (dashboard). I want to do it in the theme (php or json), plus it clutters the dashboard with jet another menu item.

This is not a concern if you use ACF Composer

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Thanks, I’ll try it out in the project for tomorrow. Good to hear it’s widely used.

update, I will use it for the upcoming projects. It’s slightly more work that Carbon Fields to get a block running, but more compatible with components that CF. Since ACF exposes the fields directly instead of an $fields array.

Also, most breaking changes during updates came from CF in the last few years (don’t ask me what they where).

So yeah, I will switch back for ACF with composer. Now, I’ll see for DB migration of the custom fields when existing site upgrades come up.