Core Abilities: Restore the ready promise and lazy-load via dynamic import

lib/client-assets.php

@@ -489,11 +489,3 @@ function gutenberg_enqueue_vips_loader() {
 function gutenberg_enqueue_video_conversion_loader() {
 	wp_enqueue_script_module( '@wordpress/video-conversion/loader' );
 }
-
-/**
- * Enqueues the core abilities script module in the admin screens.
- */
-add_action( 'admin_enqueue_scripts', 'gutenberg_enqueue_core_abilities' );
-function gutenberg_enqueue_core_abilities() {
-	wp_enqueue_script_module( '@wordpress/core-abilities' );
-}

packages/core-abilities/README.md

@@ -16,23 +16,37 @@ _This package assumes that your code will run in an ES2015+ environment. If you'
 
 ## Usage
 
-This package is designed to be loaded as a script module on WordPress admin pages. It exposes an `initialize()` function that, on first call:
+This package is designed to be loaded as a script module on WordPress admin pages. When loaded, it automatically:
 
-1. Fetches all ability categories from `/wp-abilities/v1/categories` and registers them with `@wordpress/abilities`
-2. Fetches all abilities from `/wp-abilities/v1/abilities` and registers them with a `callback` that handles execution via REST API
+1. Fetches all ability categories from `/wp-abilities/v1/categories`
+2. Registers them with `@wordpress/abilities`
+3. Fetches all abilities from `/wp-abilities/v1/abilities`
+4. Registers them with a `callback` that handles execution via REST API
 
-Initialization is lazy: importing the package does not trigger network requests. Call `initialize()` from the feature that needs abilities — for example, when the workflow palette opens. Repeated calls return the same in-flight or resolved promise, so the requests fire at most once.
+Simply import the package to initialize the WordPress abilities:
 
 ```js
-import { initialize } from '@wordpress/core-abilities';
+import '@wordpress/core-abilities';
+```
+
+Initialization is asynchronous because categories and abilities are fetched from the REST API. To wait for registration to finish before calling `getAbilities()` or `executeAbility()`, await the exported `ready` promise:
+
+```js
+import { ready } from '@wordpress/core-abilities';
 import { getAbilities, executeAbility } from '@wordpress/abilities';
 
-await initialize();
+await ready;
 
 console.log( getAbilities() );
 console.log( await executeAbility( 'core/get-site-info' ) );
 ```
 
+To defer the network requests until a feature actually needs abilities, import the package dynamically from that feature — the module (and therefore its requests) only loads when the `import()` call runs:
+
+```js
+await import( '@wordpress/core-abilities' );
+```
+
 ## Contributing to this package
 
 This is an individual package that's part of the Gutenberg project. The project is organized as a monorepo. It's made up of multiple self-contained software packages, each with a specific purpose. The packages in this monorepo are published to [npm](https://www.npmjs.com/) and used by [WordPress](https://make.wordpress.org/core/) as well as other software projects.

packages/core-abilities/src/index.ts

@@ -133,21 +133,14 @@ async function initializeAbilities(): Promise< void > {
 	}
 }
 
-let initializePromise: Promise< void > | null = null;
-
 /**
- * Fetches and registers core abilities and their categories.
- *
- * Memoized: repeated calls return the same in-flight or resolved promise, so
- * callers can invoke it from multiple entry points without triggering duplicate
- * REST requests.
+ * Initialize WordPress abilities integration.
  */
-export function initialize(): Promise< void > {
-	if ( ! initializePromise ) {
-		initializePromise = ( async () => {
-			await initializeCategories();
-			await initializeAbilities();
-		} )();
-	}
-	return initializePromise;
+async function initialize(): Promise< void > {
+	// Fetch and register categories, then abilities
+	await initializeCategories();
+	await initializeAbilities();
 }
+
+// Auto-initialize on import.
+export const ready: Promise< void > = initialize();

packages/workflow/src/components/workflow-menu.js

@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import {
 } from '@wordpress/keyboard-shortcuts';
 import { Icon, search as inputIcon } from '@wordpress/icons';
 import { executeAbility, store as abilitiesStore } from '@wordpress/abilities';
-import { initialize as initializeCoreAbilities } from '@wordpress/core-abilities';
 
 /**
  * Internal dependencies
@@ -128,7 +127,9 @@ export function WorkflowMenu() {
 
 	useEffect( () => {
 		if ( isOpen ) {
-			initializeCoreAbilities();
+			// Load @wordpress/core-abilities on demand. Importing it fetches
+			// and registers all server abilities and categories.
+			import( '@wordpress/core-abilities' );
 		}
 	}, [ isOpen ] );