WordPress Founder Forks 200,000 Lines of Code in aBitter Dispute with WP Engine
The battle for control of the WordPress ecosystem hasescalated, with Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg forking the popular Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin in a move that has sent shockwaves through the open-source community.
The conflict stems from a long-standing dispute between Automattic, the company behind WordPress, and WP Engine, a leading WordPress hosting provider. Automatticargues that WP Engine has profited handsomely from the software without contributing adequately to its development.
Mullenweg, a co-founder of WordPress, has been vocal about his frustration with WP Engine’s perceived lack of contribution. Hebelieves that WP Engine, which generates significant revenue from hosting WordPress sites, has not reciprocated the value it receives from the open-source platform.
The conflict has escalated over the years, involving legal battles, technical blockades, and evendisputes over popular plugins. In a dramatic escalation, Automattic recently blocked WP Engine’s access to WordPress.org infrastructure, citing security concerns.
The latest move, the forking of ACF, a plugin with over 2 million active installations, has ignited further controversy. Mullenweg justifies the move by arguing that WP Enginehas not been a responsible steward of the plugin.
The implications of this dispute are significant for the WordPress ecosystem. Critics argue that Mullenweg’s actions are counterproductive and could fragment the community. They fear that the forking of ACF could lead to a proliferation of incompatible versions of the plugin, causingconfusion and disruption for users.
However, supporters of Automattic’s actions argue that WP Engine has been unfairly benefiting from the open-source project without contributing its fair share. They believe that Mullenweg’s actions are necessary to protect the integrity and sustainability of WordPress.
The conflict raises fundamental questions about thefuture of open-source software. How can we ensure that companies that profit from open-source projects contribute to their development and maintenance? What are the ethical implications of forking popular plugins?
The dispute between Automattic and WP Engine is far from over. It remains to be seen how this conflict will ultimately be resolvedand what impact it will have on the future of WordPress.
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Note: This article is based on the provided information and does not reflect the opinions of the author. It is intended to be a neutral and informative account of the events.
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