![]() ![]() Since the very early days, he has been unwavering when it comes to protecting user freedoms with the GPL and established the project’s mission to democratize publishing through open source software.īefore you decide to contribute, it’s a good idea to consider the future of WordPress. Mullenweg wanted a place to blog and post photos, so with the help of a handful of contributors, WordPress was born. The project started out much like your average garage band. It’s a personal question of philosophy as much as it is a business consideration.įor Mullenweg, the suggestion of a 5% contribution originates out of a desire to ensure the future of WordPress. Open source businesses are free to act on Mullenweg’s suggestion of 5% contribution or to throw it out entirely. If we want to see it grow, there must be continued contribution, and in the end it doesn’t matter if that motivation is practical or ideological. Though all may not benefit equally from contribution, it does not negate the fact that the WordPress project is 100% dependent on contribution and would not exist without it. Automattic is one of many companies that are entirely reliant on this software for their continued existence. Granted, Mullenweg is at the helm of what is undeniably the most successful WordPress-based company in operation. Some took exception to the wording of his suggestion, as the use of “should” implies a moral obligation, complicated further by the fact that the statement originates from a person in a position of power, who many perceive as the person most likely to benefit from increased contributions. ![]() The 5% statement was instantly controversial, sparking a number of heated discussions on blogs, news sites, and Twitter. He cites the tragedy of the commons as an example fate that he hopes WordPress can avoid. I think a good rule of thumb that will scale with the community as it continues to grow is that organizations that want to grow the WordPress pie (and not just their piece of it) should dedicate 5% of their people to working on something to do with core - be it development, documentation, security, support forums, theme reviews, training, testing, translation or whatever it might be that helps move WordPress mission forward. He offered a rule of thumb for companies that benefit from the software and want to invest in the future of WordPress: Matt Mullenweg made waves this past weekend during his Q&A session at WordCamp Europe when he strongly advocated the importance of companies contributing back to WordPress. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |