💻 Automattic scales back contributions
Automattic, the parent of WordPress.com, announced a reduction in its contributions to the WordPress core project. The company now pledges 45 hours per week under the "Five For the Future" program, matching rival WP Engine. This is a significant drop from the 2,560 hours Automattic contributed weekly as of September 2024. The reduction comes as CEO Matt Mullenweg targets WP Engine's historically low contributions, describing them as detrimental to the WordPress ecosystem.
🛠️ Resource reallocation amid tensions
Automattic plans to redirect resources toward its legal battle with WP Engine. Mullenweg has publicly criticized WP Engine for its private equity backing and perceived lack of community support. Automattic emphasized focusing its remaining contributions on security and critical updates. This move coincides with financial pressure from investors like BlackRock, which recently marked down its valuation of Automattic by over 50%.
🌍 Leadership changes spark controversy
The decision follows a wave of community disagreements. Thijs Buijs, leader of WordPress’ sustainability team, resigned, criticizing Mullenweg’s leadership. In response, Mullenweg disbanded the team’s Slack channel, dismissing its contributions. This has fueled discussions about decentralizing WordPress governance, with Joost de Valk proposing a federated repository system for themes and plug-ins.
📉 Shrinking contributions raise concerns
Automattic’s shrinking contributions have reignited debates on corporate responsibility in open-source projects. WP Engine's low involvement compared to its market size remains a contentious point. Automattic’s pivot to commercial products like Jetpack and WooCommerce signals a broader strategy shift. This realignment could challenge the ethos of WordPress as an open-source community-first platform.
Will Automattic’s pivot affect WordPress' open-source future?
