The future of WordPress is a topic of significant concern for both the community and industry, particularly in light of recent developments surrounding contributors such as Automattic and changes to WordPress.org.
Matt Mullenweg’s Actions
Since September 2024, Matt Mullenweg and his company Automattic have been involved in a dispute with the hosting company WP Engine. Matt publicly criticised WP Engine for profiteering without contributing enough.
Matt Mullenweg made headlines by deactivating accounts of several community members on WordPress.org. This decision encouraged controversy, raising questions about control and governance within WordPress.
In response, WP Engine sued after being banned from accessing certain key WordPress resources. This legal battle escalated when a court ruled that WordPress must restore WP Engine’s access.
Automattic’s Contribution Hours
Automattic has been the single largest contributor to open-source WordPress. However, Automattic has announced it will cut down its contributor hours to WordPress.org, resulting in concerns regarding certain implications.
The implications could include:
- Loss of documentation and knowledge infrastructure
- Security and development oversight concerns
- Potential WordPress.com/WordPress.org split
- Community governance challenges
What the future looks like
So, what can we expect to see from WordPress in the future?
It is unlikely to see any immediate changes but here are some possible outcomes that could occur over the next year:
- Matt works with the community: Matt has always emphasised the importance of open-source collaboration, and we could expect to see him work more closely with the WordPress community. This would be the ideal outcome, but it is fairly unlikely.
- Community people come together to fork WordPress: This may happen due to dissatisfaction with Matt and Automattic’s decisions, with concerns rising over WordPress’s direction. As a result, a new version of WordPress will be managed under a new name. Although this decision is considered risky, and multiple challenges may occur throughout the process, this may be a beneficial strategy in the long term.
- Matt takes WordPress more commercially and reduces community involvement: If Matt takes WordPress in a more commercial direction, this will reduce community involvement in key decisions, changing how the site operates, as previously, the site has experienced strong community collaborations.
A more commercialised WordPress may appeal to businesses and large enterprises looking for a streamlined, stable, and monetised platform.
However, the platform’s open-source nature could be compromised. There is also a risk of losing the core values of flexibility, transparency, and accessibility that have made WordPress so popular.
In Summary
Due to the recent challenges faced by the platform, WordPress’s future remains highly unpredictable. The decisions to be made in the coming months will play a crucial role in the outcome of these disputes.
Addressing these challenges will define the platform’s direction and ability to maintain its core values.
Be prepared to see some changes in how WordPress operates in the future!
The Future of WordPress FAQs
Why is the future of WordPress being questioned?
The future of WordPress is being questioned due to governance concerns, legal disputes involving key contributors, and uncertainty around how the platform will be managed and supported moving forward.
What impact has the Automattic and WP Engine dispute had?
The dispute raised concerns about control, access to core WordPress resources, and community governance. Legal action highlighted tensions between commercial interests and the open-source principles WordPress is built on.
Why are reduced contributor hours a concern for WordPress?
Reduced contributor hours may affect documentation quality, security oversight, and development pace. It also raises concerns about long-term sustainability if fewer resources support the open-source ecosystem.
Could WordPress become more commercial in the future?
One possible outcome is a more commercially driven WordPress with less community involvement. While this could appeal to enterprises seeking stability, it may risk reducing flexibility, transparency, and open collaboration.
Is a WordPress fork a realistic possibility?
Yes. Some community members may choose to fork WordPress if dissatisfaction continues. While risky and complex, a fork could preserve open-source values if trust in current governance declines.
