Introduction to the FAIR Project

The FAIR project, a Linux Foundation initiative, aimed to create an independent repository of themes and plugins, was launched in mid-2025. This project was a response to the controversy surrounding Matt Mullenweg’s decision to replace WP Engine’s Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin in the official repository with his own version, known as a fork. Mullenweg also restricted WP Engine and its customers from accessing the official WordPress.org theme and plugin repository, as well as related update services.

Background of the FAIR Project

Mullenweg’s actions sparked significant criticism, highlighting the WordPress ecosystem’s single point of failure. This led to a movement to decentralize the plugin and theme repository by creating a federated group of independent hosted repositories. Joost de Valk, founder of Yoast SEO, played a central role in advocating for independent repositories and co-founded the FAIR project. He helped get the project off the ground and into the hands of a neutral governance model.

Joost de Valk Steps Away From FAIR

Recently, de Valk announced that he would be stepping away from the FAIR project. He cited the lack of financial support as one of the primary reasons holding the project back from becoming a more viable entity. De Valk explained that despite conversations with hosting companies and large ecosystem players, they were unwilling to invest in the project due to the associated costs, risks, and potential political tensions. Although de Valk did not explicitly mention the source of these tensions, it is likely related to the ongoing dispute between Matt Mullenweg and WP Engine.

Implications of the Lack of Support

The reluctance of web hosts to support the FAIR project is not surprising, given the high stakes involved. Supporting FAIR could be perceived as taking sides in the dispute, potentially risking millions or even billions of dollars in earnings. This lack of support may hinder the project’s progress, at least in the short term.

FAIR Project’s Response

The FAIR project acknowledged de Valk’s decision to step away and confirmed that funding had been a persistent issue. In a blog post, the project emphasized that FAIR was never exclusively focused on WordPress but aimed to provide an industry-wide solution for software supply-chain security. The project’s architecture is designed to address issues like supply chain security, decentralized distribution, trust, and verification, which are becoming increasingly urgent.

Future of the FAIR Project

Although the FAIR project will continue, it may do so in a diminished state without a high-visibility spokesperson like de Valk. However, once the controversy surrounding Mullenweg and WP Engine is resolved, the project may gain more traction. The EU’s Cyber Resilience Act, set to arrive in December 2027, will make software supply chain integrity a regulatory requirement, which could potentially boost the project’s viability.

Conclusion

The FAIR project’s journey highlights the challenges of creating independent repositories and the need for industry-wide solutions to address software supply-chain security. While the project faces significant hurdles, its continued existence and potential for future growth demonstrate the importance of addressing these issues. As the WordPress ecosystem and the broader software industry evolve, the need for secure, decentralized, and trustworthy solutions will only continue to grow, making projects like FAIR increasingly relevant.