WordPress Development in Jeopardy
The WordPress community is facing a crisis, with a leaked Slack chat revealing that Matt Mullenweg, the founder of WordPress, is considering limiting future WordPress releases to just one per year from now through 2027. This decision is allegedly in response to a lawsuit filed by WP Engine against Automattic, a company founded by Mullenweg.
The Background
Mullenweg’s company, Automattic, has already reduced its contributions to WordPress core development, prompting concerns from the WordPress community. In January 2025, Automattic announced that it would be reducing its sponsored contributions to the WordPress project, citing the need to "regroup, rethink, and strategically plan" its contributions. The company stated that it would instead focus on for-profit projects, such as WordPress.com and WooCommerce.
The Leaked Slack Post
In a leaked Slack post, Mullenweg blamed WP Engine for the slowdown in WordPress development and encouraged others to put pressure on the company to drop the lawsuit. The post revealed that Mullenweg is considering modifying the release schedule, with the possibility of delaying the next release and making it the only one for the year. This decision would have significant implications for the WordPress community, which relies on regular updates and new features to stay competitive.
The Proposed Release Schedule
According to the leaked post, Mullenweg is considering the following release schedule:
- Delaying the next release, 6.8, and making it the only release for the year
- Releasing 6.9 in 2026
- Aiming for a 7.0 release in late 2027, assuming a positive outcome in the lawsuit
Response from the Community
The leaked post was met with a mixed reaction from the WordPress community. Some users accused Mullenweg of trying to "blackmail" the community into pressuring WP Engine to drop the lawsuit. Others were more sympathetic, feeling that the lawsuit is a significant distraction and that the community should focus on maintaining the core of WordPress rather than adding new features.
The Impact of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit between WP Engine and Automattic is having a significant impact on the WordPress community. According to Mullenweg, the lawsuit is diverting significant time and energy away from WordPress development, with both companies spending millions of dollars on legal fees. The community is calling for a resolution to the lawsuit, which would allow Automattic and other companies to refocus their efforts on contributing to WordPress.
Conclusion
The future of WordPress development is uncertain, with the leaked Slack post revealing a potential slowdown in releases. The lawsuit between WP Engine and Automattic is a significant factor in this decision, and the community is calling for a resolution. As the WordPress community waits for a resolution, it remains to be seen how this will impact the future of WordPress and its users. One thing is certain, however: the WordPress community will continue to advocate for the open-source platform and push for its continued development and growth.