Forking Is Beautiful

Nobody uses just core WordPress. The moat is the plugin ecosystem. Once somebody creates an alternative plugin repository mirroring wp.org, that's when Matt will go "nuclear".

It could be misdirection. Maybe I'll wait for the fork Matt doesn't like.

The post this leads to just reeks of influencer/devrel marketing-speak. Show something then be cocky about it, not the other way around. And how can Automattic be convincingly 'proud to announce' this fork, when this fork literally doesn't currently exist? There's no plan, no code, no difference, nothing to show for. Just this cringe ass announcement.

I saw a theory yesterday proposing a 'reason' for all this: Matt wants out and is trying to force a community fork by going scorched earth.

After this post, that theory seems kind of plausible? But who knows, really.

As I said to Matt earlier today on the WordPress Slack "I've never seen anyone spread so much FUD about their own project before. I started out as sympathetic to your cause against WP Engine. But your behaviour has driven me - and many other good people - away. I want to be explicitly clear: I am in no position to judge the merits of your lawsuit, but I am in a position to judge your behaviour. I cannot fathom why you are trying to turn your own community against you. Please - reconsider your approach"

BDFL only works if the D is B. Otherwise FL becomes FML.

I still have no idea why people think that he's a dick for not giving away his trademark. The code is GPL, the trademark is the only thing of Wordpress that he really owns. He should withdraw permission whenever he feels like it, especially when it's most financially useful to him. If taking away the usage of the mark sabotages an unfriendly competitor, he should do it.

Forking is beautiful, but WPE should do it somewhere else, like this FreeWP person.

I'm pretty sure everyone should be grateful for "WP." Didn't he say that using those two letters was fine? Everybody still gets to trade on Wordpress's goodwill, even if they can't use the full name. And if the company goes belly up, the community gets the full name. I've been struggling to see the other perspective.

The lawsuit claims are hysterical. I hope he doesn't give an inch. I hope it serves as a warning to others. I hope FreeWP is successful, and I don't know why anyone who isn't an employee or owner would care if WPE continues successfully or unsuccessfully. That's between Automattic and WPE. I certainly don't care that they can't advertise themselves as "Wordpress."

Feels a bit tongue in cheek given current events, but good on Matt for sticking to values here.

Seems like ego speaking here.

Funny.

What a complete shitshow - who on earth would trust starting a new project using Wordpress after this.

So, all the comments here talking about lawsuits and FUD and scorched earth and so on. How is that related to the Forking is Beautiful post?

You are all discussing something going on, but it makes no sense to anyone who isn't in the know.

What are you all talking about?