More than six years ago, on November 7, 2018, Álvaro Góis dos Santos wrote an engaging piece on wpstress.com that is very much relevant to the ongoing #wpdrama within the WordPress community.
In this post, he highlighted significant shifts or stagnation in the WordPress ecosystem that often spark passionate discussions, illustrating the vast and dynamic nature of this platform.
Góis dos Santos remarked how WordPress, powering over 30% of the internet along with 55% of CMS sites globally ( stats as it was in year 2018), has evolved from a free software initiative into a substantial business with deep economic and social ramifications. He highlighted the platform’s user-friendliness, which has enabled many entrepreneurs to establish successful online businesses. Many users express sentiments like, “WordPress changed my life.”
The article examined governance within the WordPress project, especially the unclear boundaries between WordPress.org and Automattic, the company co-founded by Matt Mullenweg. Góis dos Santos emphasized the absence of a transparent governance model, leading to confusion regarding decision-making processes and representation of diverse community voices. Critics, such as Marco Almeida, voiced concerns about the prominent role of Automattic in shaping the project. Almeida remarked, “You know this community is all f*cked up when the first comments are all about who is ‘we.’”
He raised important questions about user feedback, noting that the “vocal minority” often influences project decisions, potentially sidelining a larger user base.
He advocated for increased transparency in decision-making while also calling for data-driven approaches rather than relying solely on assumptions. Góis dos Santos concluded by proposing that the WordPress community should adopt a code of conduct aimed at fostering more civil discourse, particularly in response to the negative effects of social media on perceptions and reviews.
For those eager to dive deeper into these insights as shared by Álvaro Góis dos Santos, check out the full article here.
