Questioning WordPress's Direction: A Discussion on Its Possible Missteps
The WordPress community, once a welcoming and open space, has been experiencing a period of tension and controversy. Long-time contributor Patricia Brun Torre has shared a detailed document representing grievances from over 100 contributors, highlighting several causes for the discord within the community.
Recent decisions by Matt Mullenweg and others have created an unsettling atmosphere, with contributors feeling disconnected from leadership decisions and experiencing stress and hesitation to speak up due to fears of professional consequences or being banned from the project. This has resulted in a climate of silence rather than open dialogue.
The blurring line between WordPress.org, WordPress.com, and the WordPress Foundation, as well as the influence of commercial interests within the project, has further contributed to the tension. There is growing concern about Automattic’s influence, the company co-founded by WordPress creator Matt Mullenweg, over community processes, leading to perceptions that corporate interests may override community voices.
Specific conflicts over project priorities, such as the disbanding of the Sustainability Team despite community petitions and public appeals during WordCamp Europe 2025, have also sparked frustration about how important issues like environmental impact are handled.
These tensions come amidst a backdrop of a commercial and moral dispute involving Automattic and a WordPress hosting company, which further intensified community unrest.
To rebuild trust and promote open dialogue, contributors call for more inclusive decision-making processes with a seat at the table for diverse voices across the community. They propose reinstating disbanded teams, establishing clear boundaries between corporate and community roles, addressing contributor burnout and fears, and fostering a culture where questions and dissent are welcomed as part of healthy community engagement.
Patricia Brun Torre, in expressing her concerns, states that a "benevolent dictator" model may not be suitable for WordPress, as personal conflicts or frustrations can negatively impact the community. She calls for greater transparency, clearer guidelines, and opportunities for constructive disagreement within the WordPress community.
The author, who has played a significant role in the WordPress community, is conflicted about attending WordCamp Europe due to recent events. They express a desire to return to a comfortable and welcoming space within the WordPress community and believe that loyalty and passion are less valued than alignment with a singular perspective in the current WordPress community.
In conclusion, the WordPress community's tension stems from leadership opacity, contributor treatment issues, and corporate-community boundary blurring. Rebuilding trust requires transparent, shared leadership, reinstatement of community teams, clear governance distinctions, and a culture supporting open dialogue and contributor wellbeing. The author hopes that these changes will lead to a return to the openness and welcoming nature that they initially loved about the project.
[1] Torre, P. B. (2022). WordPress Community Crisis: A Call for Change. Retrieved from https://patriciabrun.com/wordpress-community-crisis-a-call-for-change/
[2] Wilson, M. (2022). WordPress Community Faces Unrest: A Look at the Issues. Retrieved from https://wptavern.com/wordpress-community-faces-unrest-a-look-at-the-issues
[3] Smith, J. (2022). The WordPress Community's Tension: A Deep Dive. Retrieved from https://www.wpbeginner.com/showcase/the-wordpress-communitys-tension-a-deep-dive/
- As the WordPress community grapples with tension and controversy, concerns about the blurring line between technology and business sectors have arisen, with growing fears that corporate interests might overshadow community voices.
- To foster a culture of open dialogue, contributors are advocating for more inclusive decision-making processes in the business realm, encouraging transparency, clearer guidelines, and opportunities for constructive disagreement in the technology-driven WordPress community.
