The WordPress community is currently experiencing unprecedented turmoil. As someone who has built their entire career around this platform, I’ve chosen to remain largely silent on this debate. However, given the gravity of the situation, I feel it’s time to share my thoughts.
The Current Situation
At the core of this controversy is Matt Mullenweg’s dispute with WP Engine and their investors, SilverLake, primarily concerning their use of the WordPress trademark. While Mullenweg initially focused on WP Engine’s lack of contributions at WordCamp US 2024 in Portland, where I was present, it became apparent that the trademark issue is the primary concern.
This public confrontation, which many felt was inappropriate for such a venue, ignited a series of escalating conflicts within the WordPress ecosystem. In the weeks that followed, we’ve witnessed legal threats, cease and desists, lawsuits, checkboxes, less-than-constructive communication, and the controversial “forking” of Advanced Custom Fields (ACF > SCF). This timeline of events is far from complete.
While I understand the passion driving these actions, I cannot endorse many of the actions taken by either Automattic, WP Engine, WordPress.com/.org, or Matt Mullenweg. The community’s reactions have often been equally problematic, with hasty judgments clouding what should be thoughtful discourse.
The Impact on the WordPress Community
The repercussions of this conflict have been severe. What began as a dispute between two major players in the WordPress ecosystem has evolved into a crisis that threatens to divide our community. The negative attention now focused on WordPress and its leadership is not only disheartening, but potentially damaging to the platform’s reputation and future growth.
It’s crucial to remember that while this debate originated between two companies with multi-billion dollar valuations, the consequences are being felt by the entire WordPress community, from individual developers to small agencies and end-users.
Why WordPress Isn’t Going Anywhere
Unmatched Market Dominance
Despite the current turmoil, I remain optimistic about WordPress’s future. The platform’s dominance in the market is unparalleled, powering over 40% of the web. This isn’t just a statistic; it represents millions of websites, businesses, and users who rely on WordPress daily. Such widespread adoption creates a strong foundation that isn’t easily shaken.
An Irreplaceable Ecosystem
At the core of WordPress’s strength lies its robust and irreplaceable ecosystem. The vast array of themes, plugins, and tools, built over years, offers solutions for virtually every web development need. This ecosystem cannot be easily replicated by alternatives or forks, giving WordPress a significant advantage in the CMS space.
The Power of Open Source
The open-source nature of WordPress is its backbone, allowing for continuous improvement and adaptation, even despite the ACF to SCF switcheroo. This collaborative model has proven resilient in past crises and will likely be key in overcoming current challenges. It’s this very nature that has allowed WordPress to consistently evolve, from the introduction of Gutenberg to the Site Editor, (mostly) meeting modern web development needs.
Economic Impact and Flexibility
Economically, WordPress has spawned an entire industry. Countless businesses and jobs depend on it, from hosting companies to theme shops, plugin developers to agencies. This economic ecosystem creates a strong incentive for the platform’s continuation and success.
Moreover, WordPress’s unparalleled flexibility – its ability to scale from simple blogs to complex e-commerce sites and enterprise-level applications – ensures its ongoing relevance across various sectors and use cases.
Community Renewal and Growth
While the WordPress community is currently hurt, with valued members leaving, being blocked, or feeling disillusioned, it’s important to remember that communities can heal and renew. If we can foster a healthier environment, not only will many return, but we’ll also attract fresh perspectives and talent, bringing new energy to the platform. This potential for community renewal is a key factor in WordPress’s long-term viability.
Opportunity for Positive Change
The current crisis, while serious, presents an opportunity for reflection and improvement. As the dust settles and cooler heads prevail, I believe we’ll see a renewed focus on what makes WordPress great. New leadership may emerge, governance structures might be reevaluated, and contribution models could be redefined. These changes have the potential to make WordPress even stronger.
Facing the Challenges
While proposed forks or alternative platforms may gain some traction, they face enormous challenges in replicating WordPress’s comprehensive ecosystem, community, and market presence. WordPress has weathered challenges before, and its core strengths – flexibility, community-driven development, and vast resources – remain intact.
The Path Forward
The path forward may be difficult, but it’s one worth taking. WordPress has been a transformative force on the web for two+ decades. With the right approach, a commitment to open dialogue, and a renewed focus on inclusivity and innovation, it can continue to be a driving force for many years to come.
My confidence in WordPress’s future isn’t just optimism – it’s based on the platform’s proven resilience, its vast ecosystem, and its potential for positive change in the face of challenges.
The Contribution Debate
At the heart of this conflict is the question of contribution to the WordPress project. While I acknowledge the value of tools developed by companies like WP Engine, including ACF, it’s clear that there’s a disconnect between commercial success built on WordPress and contributions back to the core project.
This debate has forced many of us to reflect on what constitutes a meaningful contribution to WordPress. Is it solely about committing code to core, or akin to it? Or should we take a broader view that includes community building, education, and the development of tools that enhance the WordPress ecosystem?
As someone who has organized multiple WordCamps, spoken at numerous WordPress events, and developed free plugins used by hundreds-of-thousands, I’ve always felt that these activities were valuable contributions to the community. It’s disheartening to think that these efforts might not be recognized as such by some in WordPress leadership.
Addressing Common Criticisms and Alternatives
In the wake of this controversy, I’ve seen many calls to abandon WordPress for alternatives like Statamic, Astro, or Laravel. While these platforms certainly have their merits and may be better suited for specific use cases, they simply can’t replicate the breadth and depth of the WordPress ecosystem.
As stated prior, WordPress’s strength lies in its versatility. For nearly every use-case, WordPress provides a solid foundation and a vast array of tools to work with. The idea that the entire WordPress community could or should migrate to another platform overlooks the immense value and unique position that WordPress holds.
The Path Forward
As we navigate this challenging period, it’s crucial that we, as a community, find a way to move forward constructively. We need more nuanced discussions and less divisive rhetoric. The “with us or against us” mentality that has emerged is detrimental to the long-term health of the WordPress ecosystem.
We must find a way to balance the commercial interests that drive innovation and growth with the open-source ethos that has made WordPress what it is today. This may require revisiting and potentially redefining what we consider valuable contributions to the project.
To Wrap Up
While I acknowledge the severity of the current situation, I remain a “Bloomer” rather than a “Doomer” when it comes to WordPress’s future. The platform’s core strengths—its flexibility, its community, and its extensive ecosystem—remain largely intact, even as we grapple with these challenges.
As a community, we’ve weathered storms before, and I believe we can do so again. But it will require a concerted effort from all of us—developers, users, businesses, and leadership alike—to engage in constructive dialogue, rebuild trust, and refocus on the shared goal of making WordPress better for everyone.
The path forward may be difficult, but I believe it’s one worth taking. WordPress has been a core building block of internet for a long time, and with the right approach, it can continue to be so for many years to come.