The widgets are coming!

Yesterday, Wordpress and Typepad released updates that allow placing widgets (self contained bits of functionality) into the sidebars of blogs they create.

I’m excited.

As a whole, blog software has reached a point where posting is easy (with a few exceptions). Forms of expression outside the post continue to be difficult for most people – Usually involving pasting a small chunk of confusing code into a larger one. Hiding the code for the widget functionality and for placing it within a page is a huge step forward.

The initial sets of widgets are pretty standard. They mostly replicate existing Javascript based includes. I’m looking forward to seeing what else comes along and the unexpected ways in which people will use them.