Automattic will limit its contribution to WordPress to focus on internal projects such as WooCommerce or JetPack

For nearly twenty years, Automattic has been a cornerstone in WordPress’s development, dedicating substantial resources and talent to its advancement. However, the company has recognized a disparity in contribution distribution within the ecosystem. As a result, it has made a significant decision to scale back its sponsored contributions to the WordPress project.

Automattic will now restrict its WordPress contributions to a total of 45 hours weekly until the ongoing issues with WP Engine are resolved. This is a substantial decrease, at about 2% of its previous contribution efforts.

Strategic reallocation of resources

This decision comes during a crucial period, as Automattic is not only dealing with internal challenges but also facing legal actions initiated by WP Engine and backed by Silver Lake, a private equity firm. This situation has compelled Automattic to reconsider its strategy, shifting its workforce towards internal projects that are profit-driven, such as WordPress.com, Pressable, WPVIP, Jetpack, and WooCommerce.

This move does not equate to abandoning WordPress; rather, it is about taking a more selective and strategic approach. Contributions will prioritize security and essential updates, adhering to the principles of the Five For the Future initiative. According to an announcement from Automattic, these steps aim to create a more balanced ecosystem and encourage shared responsibility among all companies benefiting from WordPress.

A major factor driving this decision is the cost involved in the legal proceedings initiated by WP Engine. These lawsuits have redirected resources that could have otherwise supported WordPress’s health and growth. Automattic has highlighted that these legal battles affect not only the company but the entire ecosystem.

Historically, WP Engine has contributed less to WordPress compared to Automattic, which the company believes needs addressing to ensure the ecosystem’s sustainability.

Looking ahead

Despite the reduction in sponsored contributions, Automattic reaffirms its commitment to WordPress. The company plans to focus on strengthening key projects like Gutenberg, Playground, Openverse, and the WordPress.org platform itself, once the legal disputes are resolved.

Furthermore, there are plans to make WordPress.com more consistent with the core WordPress experience by eliminating the interface differences currently distinguishing it from the main software.

This shift in direction is not a step back, but rather a fresh start. Automattic assures that it will return with greater strength and a clear focus to make significant contributions, always considering the broader WordPress community’s needs.

Image: GPT4