Automattic to Scale Back WordPress Core Contributions

Ongoing Disputes Impact WordPress Core Contributions

The new year has begun with continued contention within the WordPress ecosystem. Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, has announced a reduction in its contributions to the WordPress core, the open-source foundation upon which many Automattic products are built and which is vital for the ongoing development of WordPress.

Automattic and WP Engine Conflict

This decision stems from an ongoing dispute between Automattic’s CEO and WordPress co-founder, Matt Mullenweg, and WP Engine, a prominent hosting provider. The core of the disagreement revolves around the level of contribution to WordPress as a community-driven, open-source project.

In a recent blog post, Automattic declared its intention to align its commitment to the Five For the Future program with that of WP Engine, measured in weekly hours dedicated to the project.

Revised Contribution Levels

“As part of a broader reassessment, Automattic will now match its volunteer efforts with those pledged by WP Engine and other industry participants,” the post stated. “This equates to approximately 45 hours per week, focused on initiatives that benefit the entire WordPress community, with a priority given to security enhancements and critical updates.”

The company further clarified that resources freed up by this adjustment will be allocated to its ongoing legal proceedings against WP Engine.

Criticism of WP Engine’s Involvement

During a previous event, Mullenweg publicly characterized WP Engine as detrimental to WordPress, citing the significant ownership stake held by private equity firm Silver Lake and the hosting provider’s limited contributions to the project’s sustainable growth. Automattic reiterated this concern in its latest communication.

“The historically minimal contributions from WP Engine highlight an imbalance that needs correction for the health of WordPress,” Automattic asserted. “We advocate for equitable participation and shared responsibility, and anticipate this change will inspire increased involvement from all organizations that profit from WordPress.”

Decreasing Contribution Hours

Currently, Automattic contributes around 2,560 hours weekly, according to the Five for The Future dashboard. This represents a substantial decrease from the 3,900 hours contributed in September. The reason for this reduction remains unclear, potentially stemming from workforce adjustments or a strategic shift within the company.

Focus on Commercial Products

The blog post also pointed out that some within the community have previously considered development on commercial products – such as WordPress.com, Pressable, WPVIP, Jetpack, and WooCommerce – as fulfilling contribution requirements. Consequently, engineering efforts will now prioritize the development of these products over contributions to the WordPress core.

Automattic is also facing increased pressure to improve its financial performance. In December, BlackRock reduced its valuation of its investment in Automattic by 10%, marking a further devaluation exceeding 50% overall.

Changes Within the WordPress Organization

Beyond contribution levels, other changes are occurring within the WordPress organization. Thijs Buijs, a key contributor to WordPress core and leader of the sustainability team, recently resigned from his representative role.

The sustainability team was dedicated to ensuring the long-term viability of WordPress through social, economic, and environmental considerations.

Disagreement and Channel Closure

According to a screenshot shared on Reddit, Buijs expressed disagreement with Mullenweg’s approach to WordPress development. In response, Mullenweg dissolved the sustainability team’s Slack channel, stating, “Today, I learned we have a sustainability team.” This action is noteworthy given that Mullenweg initially proposed the creation of this channel during an event in 2022.

Calls for New Leadership

Mullenweg’s handling of the legal dispute with WP Engine has prompted calls for alternative leadership within the WordPress community. Last month, Joost de Valk, the creator of the popular Yoast SEO plugin, proposed a “federated” model for the WordPress repository, enabling decentralized access to plugins and themes.

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