A collective of former #WordPress #developers and contributors backed by #LinuxFoundation launched FAIR Package Manager, a new and independent distribution system for trusted WordPress #plugins and #themes.
This is a response to recent controversy after legal conflict between commercial WordPress hosting providers #Automattic and #WPEngine, after former banned the latter's access to the WordPress platform used by all WordPress sites to keep plugins and themes up-to-date.
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/technology/linux-foundation-unveils-decentralized-wordpress-plugin-manager/

I've got to say that @photomatt has a point here:

"#WPEngine’s historically slim contributions underscore the imbalance that must be addressed for the health of WordPress. We believe in fairness and shared responsibility, and we hope this move encourages greater participation across all organizations that benefit from #WordPress."

https://automattic.com/2025/01/09/aligning-automattics-sponsored-contributions-to-wordpress/

I’ve been watching this drama unfold for months but hadn’t bothered to try and understand the deeper story. Nor take a position. This is only one article but it was a good one. And helpful.

As crazy as Matt has acted, I understand his passion. I’m inclined to side with the guy who’s spent his life building the open source thing. Even with his possibly conflict of interest, for-profit side hustle. I can’t find any reason to give a damn about, or defend WP Engine.

Open to your thoughts.

Ty @ernie and @vmstan
for getting it in my timeline.

#wordpress #wpengine #MattVsWPEngine #PHPlonMusk
https://writing.exchange/@ernie/113925866975683760

Mullenweg "pauses" WordPress Services for "holiday break." Takes jabs at #wpengine

Cryptic post by Matt Mullenweg announces a pause in WordPress services, expressing hope to reopen "sometime in the new year" saying that it hinged on his being able to find the “time, energy, and money." #WordPress

Paused:
New account registrations on WordPress.org
New plugin directory submissions
New plugin reviews
New theme directory submissions
New photo directory submissions

He writes the pause doesn’t affect the ability to install new instances of WordPress sites.
#mattmullenweg

https://wordpress.org/news/2024/12/holiday-break/

Matt Mullenweg Doesn’t Like Being Called Out On His Behavior

Inc.com posted an article that their reporter did with Matt Mullenweg, the co-founder of WordPress.

In the article the reporter, David H. Freedman, doesn’t paint a sunshine and rainbows picture of the whole fiasco between Matt (et. al) and WP Engine.

Matt, in his right, responded calling the piece a “Hit Piece.”

https://ma.tt/2024/12/inc-hit-piece/

I don’t blame Matt for not liking being called out on his actions, but what does he honestly expect? Honestly, he put a, formerly mandatory, checkbox that made people swear allegiance to pineapple on pizza to log in to WordPress.com. It’s now optional.

I’d love to hear all of your thoughts.

A smart person wouldn't create a public-facing website to record the real-world results of his actual malice against a party that's suing him.
#mullenweg #wordpress #wpengine
https://wordpressenginetracker.com/

Missed this last week: Injunction issued against #Automattic in the #WPEngine case. Automattic must restore WPEngine's access to wordpress dot come, restore access to ACF, & get rid of the checkbox on the login screen.

Ruling is pretty damning, basically signals that Automattic's gonna have to pull out some real hat-rabbits to make a counter-case stick against WPEngine.
https://www.therepository.email/judge-grants-wp-engine-injunction-orders-mullenweg-to-reinstate-wordpress-org-access

^ UPDATE: 50% of you are probably feeling pretty smart right now… maybe…

https://www.404media.co/wordpress-wp-engine-preliminary-injunction/

I have seen people posting about keeping a journal instead of publicly blogging. I like the idea but hadn't found a good solution. Didn't want paper, and couldn't trust any $company.

Some recommended #DayOne but it's run by #automattic (the #wordpress ppl) which is melting down about #wpengine

I chose #tiddlywiki since it has an encryption option, and put it on a web server that only listens on a #wireguard interface.

https://tiddlywiki.com/
#journaling #diary

WPEngine and Automattic have stipulated to a bare bones preliminary injunction allowing WPE access to public pages and they can submit security vulnerabilities, but Automattic still wants WPEngine blocked from password-protected functionality (Automattic would not agree to more) #WPE #WPEngine #Automattic

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.437474/gov.uscourts.cand.437474.63.0.pdf

"The meltdown sent shockwaves throughout the collaborative #WordPress community and sparked fears amongst developers about the future of #opensource ideals and their relationship with WordPress. But according to #Mullenweg: "#WPEngine is a rare case… If you look at the WordPress ecosystem, there are dozens and dozens of companies—GoDaddy, Bluehost, Nexcess, DreamHost, SiteGround, Elementor—they all use the WordPress trademark, and we have good relationships with them.”"

https://observer.com/2024/11/wordpress-founder-matt-mullenweg-energized-amid-wp-engine-battle/

"Matt Mullenweg says #Automattic is ‘very short-staffed’ amid #WordPress vs. #WPEngine drama"

The hell you say!

https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/30/matt-mullenweg-says-automattic-is-very-short-staffed-amid-wordpress-vs-wp-engine-drama/

I'm actually surprised that Matt has yet to change the Gravatars of WP Engine employees to dick pics.

The #WPDrama deepens as WP Fusion sends a cease and desist letter to Automattic and WordPress.com regarding the unauthorized use of the WP Fusion trademark on .com's private mirror of the WordPress plugin repository. They accuse Automattic of Trademark infringement. #WPDrama #WPEngine #mattmullenweg

Regarding our Cease and Desist letter to Automattic | WP Fusion

https://wpfusion.com/business/regarding-our-cease-and-desist-letter-to-automattic/

What the hell is going on with this Wordpress - WPEngine feud?

Last word from me for a while on the WordPress / Automattic / WPEngine / ACF/SCF discussion, and how it intersects with software security, supply chains, and trustworthy computing.

https://scottarc.blog/2024/10/14/a-wordpress-hard-fork-could-be-made-painless-for-plugin-theme-developers/