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Tensions between WordPress and WP Engine are raising concerns about the future of WordPress and its open-source values.
The Beginning
In recent days, the actions of WordPress.org and Automattic have raised serious concerns about the future of the open-source WordPress project and its relationship with developers, hosting providers, and users. While these entities claim to act in the best interests of the community, their recent choices have the potential to backfire, undermining trust, and pushing developers and web hosts to seek alternatives.
In this article, I will break down my thoughts on why the decisions made by WordPress and Automattic are not only detrimental but may ultimately erode their dominance within the content management system (CMS) space.
The False Promise of Open Source
WordPress has long been championed as the beacon of open-source software. Its extensive ecosystem, flexibility, and community-driven development have made it one of the most popular CMS platforms globally. However, as Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com and WooCommerce, gains more influence, it appears the open-source spirit is taking a back seat to corporate interests. This shift can have disastrous effects on the community at large.
Automattic’s insistence on enforcing the WordPress trademark is one example of this. WP Engine, a popular managed hosting provider, has come under fire from Automattic for allegedly misleading users by using "WP" in its name. WordPress.org’s recent updates to its trademark policy even go so far as to imply WP Engine is purposefully confusing users into thinking they are officially affiliated with WordPress. This aggressive trademark enforcement sets a dangerous precedent.
Alienating Developers and Hosts
At its core, WordPress thrives because of the vast network of developers and hosts who build, extend, and support it. Automattic’s growing tendency to view these third-party contributors as competitors is counterproductive and could spell the beginning of an exodus of talent from the platform.
WP Engine is just one case. Many developers and hosts contribute back to WordPress by creating themes, plugins, and infrastructure that power millions of websites. These contributions are integral to the success of the CMS, yet the heavy-handed approach Automattic is taking suggests they see themselves as the sole proprietors of WordPress. They even went so far as to criticize WP Engine for only contributing 40 hours a week compared to Automattic’s 3,915 hours, further intensifying the divide between corporate entities and independent contributors.
Cutting Off Access to Resources
One of the most troubling developments is WordPress.org’s decision to block WP Engine from accessing core resources on their platform. This move will likely affect WP Engine customers, leaving them without the critical infrastructure that WordPress.org provides. In essence, WordPress is asking WP Engine to replicate its entire infrastructure independently, including updates, security patches, directories, and more. This isn't just a blow to WP Engine—it's a disservice to the broader WordPress community that relies on these hosts.
Rather than working collaboratively with WP Engine to address concerns, WordPress.org has chosen to cut them off, effectively penalizing their users. These customers, who are already invested in the platform, will likely reconsider their allegiance to WordPress if the services they rely on degrade in quality.
The Slippery Slope of Monopolizing Contributions
Another major issue is Automattic’s increasing monopolization of contributions to WordPress. With their vast resources, they contribute an overwhelming share of hours to WordPress development. At first glance, this may seem like a positive. However, the imbalance of power means that Automattic is setting the agenda, steering the project to benefit its business model. This reduces the influence of independent developers and contributors and risks stagnating the diversity of ideas that have historically fueled the platform’s growth.
This shift in dynamics could cause independent developers, who have built their livelihoods around WordPress, to feel sidelined or neglected. If their contributions are increasingly seen as insignificant or undervalued compared to Automattic’s overwhelming presence, they may stop contributing altogether, further consolidating control in the hands of a single entity.
The Community’s Growing Distrust
For years, the WordPress community has prided itself on its openness, inclusivity, and ability to foster innovation from all corners of the world. Automattic’s actions, however, appear to be fracturing this community. The “scorched earth” approach taken by Automattic’s leadership—demanding exorbitant sums of money from competitors and discrediting them in public forums—reeks of corporate greed.
What Lies Ahead?
The trajectory Automattic and WordPress are on is unsustainable. By alienating core developers, web hosts, and their own user base, they risk driving away the very people who built WordPress into the powerhouse it is today.
The open-source nature of WordPress has always been its strength, allowing developers, designers, and users to collaborate and innovate freely. However, when a single entity exerts too much control, it undermines the core principles of the platform and forces people to seek alternatives. This is already happening, with some developers opting for platforms like Joomla, Drupal, GHOST or even building their own CMS from scratch to regain control over their content and infrastructure.
If Automattic continues to push forward with this “nuclear” approach, it may backfire spectacularly. What was once a thriving and vibrant community could fragment, with disgruntled developers and hosts breaking off to create new alternatives, leaving WordPress a shell of its former self.
In the Eyes of the Community
The recent feud between WordPress and WP Engine has sparked widespread frustration and disappointment within the WordPress community. Users across platforms, including Reddit, have expressed a strong sentiment that WordPress and Automattic's actions are misguided, damaging, and ultimately harmful to the broader ecosystem. Here’s a summary of the community’s key concerns and reactions:
Confusion and Fear of Overreach
Many users are concerned about the heavy-handed use of trademark enforcement, particularly the targeting of WP Engine for using "WP" in their branding. This has caused confusion and worry, as several other businesses in the WordPress space—such as WPForms, WP Rocket, and WP Astra—also use "WP" in their names. The fear is that these businesses could also become targets, leading to a chilling effect across the ecosystem. Users feel that Automattic's efforts to control the narrative around "WP" are excessive and could hurt smaller businesses in the space.
Alienation of Developers and Web Hosts
A significant portion of the community views Automattic’s approach as an attempt to consolidate control over WordPress at the expense of the open-source community. Some see this as Automattic using its power to extract money from competitors like WP Engine while diminishing contributions from those companies. This has led to a sense of alienation, with many expressing that Automattic's actions are pushing away developers and web hosts that have supported and contributed to WordPress for years.
Disruption to Businesses and Users
The most immediate impact has been the disruption to WP Engine users, many of whom are now unable to update plugins and themes on their sites. This has caused a cascade of issues for businesses that rely on WP Engine for hosting, leading to frustration and even legal threats. Users who manage numerous websites on WP Engine have been left in a difficult position, having to explain the situation to clients and stakeholders.
Disappointment with Leadership
The community has voiced strong criticism of Matt Mullenweg, CEO of Automattic, for his handling of the situation. Many see his actions as unprofessional, childish, and damaging to WordPress’s reputation. Comparisons have been made to figures like Elon Musk, with users noting that this "scorched earth" approach is unbecoming of a leader in an open-source project. Some are even calling for Mullenweg to step down or be removed from his leadership role, as they fear his personal vendetta is undermining the integrity of WordPress.
Calls for a Fork
In light of these events, some community members are seriously considering forking WordPress. What once seemed like an extreme option now feels like a necessary step to preserve the spirit of open source. Users are discussing the possibility of creating a version of WordPress free from Automattic’s influence, where contributions are not dictated by a single company. This potential fork is seen as a way to return to the values that originally made WordPress successful.
My Final Thoughts Thus Far
Automattic and WordPress.org must take a step back and consider the long-term consequences of their actions. A CMS platform is only as strong as the community that supports it. If they continue down this path of alienation and control, they will erode the foundation that has allowed WordPress to dominate the market for over a decade.
The WordPress community has always thrived on collaboration and shared success. By prioritizing corporate interests over the collective good, Automattic is at risk of turning WordPress into a product, rather than a project. And when that happens, developers, hosts, and users alike will be forced to ask themselves: Is WordPress still worth it?
The time for course correction is now.
Sources
- WordPress.org: WP Engine is not WordPress
- WP Engine Cease and Desist Letter
- WordPress Trademark Policy Changes (Archived)
- WordPress Foundation: Trademark Policy
- Reddit Discussion: WordPress Trademark Policy
- Reddit Discussion: WP Engine Plugin Repository Inaccessibility
- WordPress.org: WP Engine Banned