WordPress at a Crossroads: Will It Impact the Current Web Development Landscape?
TL;DR—There won't be any big impact soon, but it might be a good idea to consider some alternatives for the future.
Introduction
High Quality Web Solutions company primarily specializes in Drupal development, but we also work on WordPress projects. We understand how important it is to recognize its significance in the digital community and to stay updated on the latest news about the most popular CMS. Recently, there have been numerous claims about issues with WordPress, which I find unfounded. Why is this happening, and what can we expect in the future? Let's figure this out together.
What happened with WordPress?
To briefly describe the context of the question about the future of WordPress, it's important to understand a bit of background. WordPress is an open-source project, which means its source code is available to anyone interested. Anyone can study, modify, and distribute it under the GNU General Public License (GPL) terms. The GPL ensures that modified versions of WordPress are also available under the same license. WordPress offers a unique combination of openness and commercial accessibility. Users are free to use and modify the platform, while companies or entrepreneurs can build their businesses on it, which has been happening for quite some time.
Despite the open-source nature of the code, the WordPress trademark still has an owner and belongs to the non-profit organization WordPress Foundation. However, the commercial trademark WordPress belongs to Automattic, the company founded by Matt Mullenweg. He is a well-known developer and one of the key creators of the WordPress content management system. This means that only Automattic has the right to use this name for its products and services. However, using the name "WordPress" to describe an installation or site that runs on this platform is generally permitted.
I should note that Automattic is an American company best known as the creator of the WordPress.com platform (just to clarify, this isn't the same as WordPress.org) and is behind WooCommerce, Jetpack, and other products. This company has had a significant impact on the development and popularization of the WordPress content management system.
The conflict started because of recent comments from Automattic, the company that owns the WordPress brand, and its CEO, Matt Mullenweg. He criticized WP Engine for disabling the version history feature in WordPress, which he considers crucial for data protection. WP Engine, a well-known hosting company for websites built on WordPress, uses the WordPress brand to promote its services, making it seem like there's a closer connection to the platform than there really is, according to Matt.
As a response, WP Engine filed a lawsuit against Automattic and Mullenweg, accusing them of abusing their power and violating the principles of WordPress open source. The lawsuit claims that Mullenweg's actions revealed significant conflicts of interest and management issues that could potentially harm the WordPress community. The situation escalated when Mullenweg banned (but then temporarily reopened) WP Engine's access to WordPress.org resources, impacting many websites' ability to update plugins and themes, leading to security vulnerabilities. This move faced harsh criticism from the public.
WP Engine claims that Mullenweg's actions hinder the normal operation of the WordPress ecosystem, impacting not only WP Engine but also plugin developers and open-source users. For example, the ACF plugin, which helps WordPress developers add custom fields on the edit screen, was previously supported by WP Engine. However, during the conflict, WordPress.org took control of this plugin, depriving WP Engine of the ability to update it in the open-source repository. This decision was justified by plugin rules that allow it.
As of the article's publication, the parties have not reached an agreement, and according to legal documents, WPE has experienced an increase in cancellations.
To wrap it up
High Quality Web Solutions does not take any position in this case, but we closely monitor the court's results and decisions. Our thoughts, for the healthy evolution of web development, it's important to embrace competition, even if you don't fully understand it. A better solution would be not to leave the WordPress at a crossroads, but to come to a common solution. This will likely lead to a mutual agreement between the companies that will wrap up the battle.
Of course, this may cause some changes with far-reaching consequences for the entire WordPress ecosystem; however, these events are not expected to affect the landscape shortly. The WordPress platform will likely remain unchanged for a considerable time, and your website, unless you are using free plugins developed by WP Engine or their hosting platform, will also remain the same. Even if you have problems without them, you can easily swap out those plugins for something similar or even better! There’s a massive library in WordPress with over 50,000 plugins to choose from. If you have a contract with experienced developers to maintain your site's stability, you absolutely don't need to worry.
Do you need an alternative?
Should we consider alternatives now? Once again, there's no need to rush, but it's always important to explore possible options. A promising choice for small businesses could be the upcoming “Drupal Starshot” project (officially known as Drupal CMS), which is designed for smaller projects and seems profitable, though it all depends on the required functionality. The project is set to launch in January 2025, right around the EOL of Drupal 7. More complex projects would be better off using Drupal Core, which recently launched its 11th version. Drupal 10 now confidently takes the place of its once-popular predecessor, Drupal 7. Upgrading from Drupal 9 to the latest version is a quick and straightforward process, especially compared to migrating from Drupal 7 or 8.
Known for its flexibility and scalability, Drupal is particularly well-suited for complex, large-scale projects that require reliable solutions. Its strong community support and wide range of modules provide the adaptability needed to tailor the project to specific needs. Transitioning to Drupal can offer the stability and customization capabilities necessary for businesses looking to secure their digital presence in the future while avoiding the pitfalls currently affecting the WordPress ecosystem.
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