Automattic and the WordPress Community: A Controversial Realignment of Support

Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com and several other WordPress-related products, recently announced a significant reduction in its support for the open-source WordPress.org project. This decision, presented as a strategic move to "strengthen" WordPress, has sparked widespread debate and criticism within the WordPress community. Automattic attributes this realignment to ongoing litigation with WP Engine and feedback from the WordPress community, framing the change as a necessary pivot.

Automattic’s Framing: Victimhood and Litigation

In its official announcement, Automattic characterizes itself as a victim of circumstances, particularly highlighting a lawsuit initiated by WP Engine. The company suggests that the legal conflict has drained resources and diverted attention from supporting the WordPress project. According to Automattic:

“We’ve made the decision to reallocate resources due to the lawsuits from WP Engine... We remain hopeful that WP Engine will reconsider this legal attack, allowing us to refocus our efforts on contributions that benefit the broader WordPress ecosystem.”

Automattic’s narrative centers on the lawsuit as the primary catalyst for its withdrawal of resources, without acknowledging its own potential role in the conflict. This omission has led to skepticism among critics who argue that Automattic’s framing oversimplifies a complex issue and deflects accountability.

Criticism of the WordPress Community

Automattic’s announcement also takes aim at the WordPress community, using quotation marks around the term “community” to seemingly delegitimize critics. The company cites personal attacks against its employees and CEO Matt Mullenweg as part of its rationale for scaling back contributions. For example, the statement notes:

“We’ve also faced intense criticism and even personal attacks against a number of Automatticians from members of the ‘community’ who want Matt and others to step away from the project.”

By focusing on the personal nature of some criticisms, Automattic deflects attention from substantive concerns raised by community members. Many contributors argue that these concerns are rooted in a desire for more transparent governance and a balanced approach to WordPress development, particularly regarding contentious projects like Gutenberg.

Shifting Resources: From Open Source to For-Profit

Automattic plans to redirect its resources from contributing to WordPress core to its commercial products, such as WordPress.com, WooCommerce, and Jetpack. This decision has been perceived by some as prioritizing corporate interests over the collaborative, open-source ethos that has long defined WordPress.org. Automattic asserts that these commercial projects indirectly benefit WordPress as a whole, but critics contend that this approach undermines the platform’s foundational principles.

The Use of Doublespeak: A Critique of Automattic’s Language

Automattic’s announcement employs language that critics describe as doublespeak—terms that mask reality and present contradictory ideas as complementary. For instance, the company frames its withdrawal of support as a way to secure the long-term future of WordPress:

“To recalibrate and ensure our efforts are as impactful as possible, Automattic will reduce its sponsored contributions to the WordPress project. This is not a step we take lightly. It is a moment to regroup, rethink, and strategically plan how Automatticians can continue contributing in ways that secure the future of WordPress for generations to come.”

Critics argue that such statements obscure the fact that reducing support for WordPress.org weakens the platform in the short term and potentially damages its open-source ecosystem.

Community Backlash: Scare Quotes and Marginalization

The use of scare quotes around the word “community” in Automattic’s statement has drawn particular ire. Many members of the WordPress community perceive this as an attempt to question their legitimacy and marginalize dissenting voices. Some of these voices belong to longstanding contributors who have dedicated years to the project.

Reactions on social media underscore this sentiment. One commenter on X (formerly Twitter) noted:

“If this means throttling back the forced effort on Gutenberg that nobody in the ‘community’ (your scare quotes, not mine) wants, then this is a fantastic development.”

Another questioned whether the community still has the resources to maintain WordPress.org independently:

“Has the ‘community’ got the access to carry on, or is this just a hostage situation?”

Context and Implications

The current controversy stems from broader tensions within the WordPress ecosystem. Critics argue that Automattic’s dominance within the WordPress project has led to imbalances in decision-making and resource allocation. The company’s leadership, particularly Matt Mullenweg, has faced calls for greater inclusivity and shared governance in shaping WordPress’s future.

Automattic’s decision to scale back its contributions could have significant implications for the open-source project. While the company insists that this is a “new beginning,” many worry that it signals a shift toward greater corporatization of the platform.

Conclusion: A Crossroads for WordPress

Automattic’s announcement marks a turning point in its relationship with the WordPress community. Whether this realignment will ultimately strengthen or weaken WordPress depends on how the community adapts and whether new contributors step in to fill the gap. For now, the decision underscores the need for transparent governance and open dialogue within the WordPress ecosystem—values that have been at the heart of its success for over two decades.

For more details, you can read Automattic’s full statement here.