Block collections are cool.

[nickhamze]

I really like block collections. Do you think it would be possible to let people add blocks that aren't currently installed (but are present in the block directory) to collections? Then it would give them a button or something to install it (like how it works if you search for a block in the directory).

I think this would be a good way to replace all those "recommended plugin" features in themes and also really help people have a quick and easy way to recommend blocks. Discovery is always going to be challenging but I think curation could help.

Bonus points if there was a way to import a block collection without having to write any code. Wouldn't it be neat if people could curate a list of their favorite blocks and share them with the world and they could then just install them with a few clicks right from their editor.

[talldan]

Thanks for reaching out @nickhamze. The plan is for individual blocks to be installable directly from the inserter, in the plugin that can be enabled on the experiments screen. You might have already seen that.

As of yet there's no way to manually create collections of blocks, so I've labelled this as an enhancement request.

[StevenDufresne]

Hi @nickhamze!

Have you put any thought into who would be making these suggestions or the avenue in which they would do so?

Would plugins authors be also suggesting other blocks/collections in their plugin code?
Would theme authors be making the suggestions in their theme?
Would a site admin want to recommend blocks?

Bonus points if there was a way to import a block collection without having to write any code. Wouldn't it be neat if people could curate a list of their favorite blocks and share them with the world and they could then just install them with a few clicks right from their editor.

I feel like Gutenberg's patterns feature is walking down this path isn't it.

[nickhamze]

My main thought was around people sharing recommendations with other people, sort of like a block playlist. Where I could share a list of blocks that I really love with my friends and such.

[StevenDufresne]

Right on. Maybe it's worth noting that some of the potential technical challenges that would be involved in this feature may be taken on with patterns that include blocks that are not already installed. I'm note sure wether patterns will support third party blocks, but if they do...