The WordPress Rift: Automattic Cuts Back, Community Revolts
The world's most popular content management system, powering millions of websites.
Matilda
The WordPress Rift: Automattic Cuts Back, Community Revolts
The WordPress ecosystem is currently embroiled in a dramatic conflict that threatens to reshape the future of the world's most popular content management system. At the heart of the storm lies a bitter feud between Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, and WP Engine, a leading WordPress hosting provider. The dispute centers on a fundamental question: Who is responsible for sustaining the open-source project that powers millions of websites worldwide? The Spark: Automattic's Contribution Cuts The latest salvo in this escalating conflict came in January 2025, when Automattic, led by WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, announced a significant reduction in its contributions to WordPress core. This move, designed to mirror the perceived "lack of contribution" from WP Engine, sent shockwaves through the WordPress community. Automattic, long considered a cornerstone of WordPress development and support, justified its decision by citing the need for "fairness and …