Live: WordPress Drama – Automattic’s Matt vs. WP Engine
What we all know thus far about Matt Mullenweg’s points with WP Engine, the WordPress internet hosting supplier’s response, and our private tackle the entire messy state of affairs.
On Friday night, September 20, WordPress founder and Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg took to the stage for a hotly anticipated Q&A session at WordCamp US, the most important WordPress group gathering in North America.
Sometimes, Mullenweg’s annual keynote handle serves as a form of year-in-review, reflecting on the progress and success inside the open-source WordPress undertaking and waiting for future plans.
This yr, nevertheless, the most important information popping out of the Q&A at WordCamp US was the controversy surrounding Matt’s feedback about WP Engine, calling the corporate ‘a most cancers to WordPress.’
Learn on for a full recap of the story thus far together with our stance as proud members of the WordPress Group.
Who’s Matt Mullenweg and What Did He Do?
Matt Mullenweg is the unique co-founder (together with Mike Little) of the free, open-source Content material Administration System (CSS) software program, WordPress which powers nearly half of all web sites on the Web.
Mullenweg can be the CEO of Automattic, a for-profit enterprise that owns the managed WordPress resolution, WordPress.com, well-known WordPress plugins resembling WooCommerce and Jetpack, and WordPress internet hosting firm, Pressable.
A staunch advocate for open supply, Mullenweg fired his first photographs in a weblog he posted on Wednesday, night, WordCamp US & Ecosystem Thinking on his personal private weblog.
After briefly praising the WordCamp Contributor Day, the put up rapidly descended right into a tirade towards each Fb father or mother firm, Meta, Microsoft, and WP Engine, the latter of which is a rival to Automattic-owned internet hosting firms like Pressable and WPVIP).
Right here’s what went down:
Mullenweg vs. WP Engine – Timeline of Occasions
*Be aware: There’s lots taking place within the WordPress group across the #WPDRAMA. Apologies if we miss any bit alongside the way in which!
Evaluation and Opinion: Our Tackle the Mullenweg / WP Engine Controversy
The continuing rivalry between Matt Mullenweg and WP Engine is definitely an unlucky one.
On the one hand, Mullenweg raises useful factors about those that have benefited from WordPress essentially the most contributing their justifiable share to defending and creating its future.
To name WordPress a game-changer could also be an understatement.
From plugin and theme creation to WordPress growth providers, and even information and useful resource weblog like ours, numerous companies and careers have been launched round WordPress.
That’s to not point out the numerous small companies and solopreneurs spanning all totally different industries and niches who take pleasure in success thanks -at least in part- to their WordPress web site.
So, that is actually one thing that’s price all of us taking care of, and those that are in a privileged place to contribute to its preservation and evolution ought to definitely take that duty critically.
Alternatively, this solely serves to stoke the fires of a debate a few potential battle of curiosity.
Final yr, Automattic cloned the WordPress.org plugin directory and revealed it on WordPress.com. Because of this, plugin pages for the paid-for .com model of WordPress ranked rent than their open-source .org counterparts.
The transfer sparked conversations about whether or not Mullenweg’s business pursuits had been at odds along with his non-profit management function, conversations that are nonetheless ongoing and -to some extent- maybe distracting from the entire optimistic issues happening with the WordPress platform proper now.
What Does This Imply for WordPress-Based mostly Firms?
Talking of conversations price having, we’re curious how the accusations of trademark violations will have an effect on different companies for whom WordPress is an integral a part of their service.
WP Engine are removed from the one firm counting on the WP initials and selling themselves as an organization that gives options for WordPress customers.
From conversion optimization instruments like WP Optimize and WP Rocket to theme builders Kadence WP, and even our personal weblog, WPLift, these initials are broadly utilized in relation to WordPress and, in accordance with WordPress Basis pointers, that appears to be OK so long as it doesn’t create market confusion.
If the trademark violation problem is profitable, will this affect the way in which different WordPress internet hosting, growth, and publishing firms model their work?
Mullenweg vs. WP Engine Steals the Highlight From WordCamp US 2024
At this level, the Mullenweg / WP Engine saga definitely raises extra questions than it solutions, and we’re positive we haven’t heard the final from both facet.
For now although, our key takeaway from all this, is that it’s a tragic story to must report on.
Think about attending WordCamp, gaining large worth from the shows and alternative to community, and looking out ahead to wrapping the entire thing up with an inspiring speak from ‘Mr. WordPress’ himself, solely to seek out your self sitting entrance row for a drama that no person aside from Mullenweg wished.
It’s not simply that it’s a disappointing option to finish the convention. It’s just about the solely factor anyone is speaking about from WordCamp 2024, stealing the highlight away from the numerous volunteers, audio system, distributors, and sponsors who labored so onerous to make the occasion a hit.
What’s extra, it additionally steals the highlight away from WordPress itself. When the speak of the city facilities across the co-founder launching a public assault on a business competitor, it distracts from these helpful, forward-thinking conversations about how actually nice WordPress is, and the way a lot better it may be.
Don’t fear although. Whereas we felt compelled to touch upon this weekend’s huge story, it’s removed from the one factor we’ll discuss.
Right here at WPLift, we love WordPress. So we’ll nonetheless be right here celebrating and supporting the creators, builders, and end-users who make the WordPress group so particular.
