Automattic, the company that runs WordPress.com, is reducing its contributions to the WordPress open-source project, according to An announcement on ThursdayThe company says its contributions pale in comparison to the time companies like WP Engine spend on the ecosystem, leading to tension between Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg and the community.
Now, instead of spending 3,988 hours per week Developing the WordPress project, Automattic says it will now contribute approximately 45 hours as part of its five for the future – A program that encourages companies to give five percent of their resources back to WordPress.org. “These hours will likely go toward security and critical updates,” Automattic says.
Automattic attributed the cuts to “significant time and money” related to Ongoing legal battle with WP EngineIt also points to the “intense criticism” he has faced from “members of the 'community' who want Matt and others to step away from the WordPress project”:
We have decided to reallocate resources due to the lawsuits from WP Engine. This legal action wastes significant time and energy that could otherwise be directed toward supporting the growth and health of WordPress. We hope that WP Engine will reconsider this legal attack, allowing us to refocus our efforts on contributions that benefit the broader WordPress ecosystem.
Last year, many employees left the company after Automatic offered to buy out employees Those who did not agree with its fight against WP Engine. Mullenweg also laid off the WordPress project's stability team this week A screenshotted Slack message Mullenweg said, “It's probably a good time to officially disband the team altogether,” adding that “it doesn't feel like building a team around it will further any of its goals. ” This move has sparked criticism in the community, Including journalist Kara Swisher,
Correction, January 10: A previous version of the article stated that Automattic had shut down its stability team. The stability team closed down by Mullenweg was in the WordPress.org open source project, not Automattic.