Issue #140 Loop WP

Hi, friend. 👋

Welcome to Issue #140 of Loop WP!

Last week, we reviewed the previous few weeks' events, including notable highlights and a plugin update.

This week, contributions are on the table again. I was going to chat about some plugins, but I wanted to share some thoughts on “contribution”.

Let’s go! 👇

Setting the Context

🚨 Before I continue, I want to provide some critical context. These are my opinions, and I’m happy to express them when I feel it’s appropriate.

There are Automatticians who subscribe to my newsletter; I am also very friendly with many of the Woo team.

✅ Not all Automatticians align with Matt, so let’s clarify that. I am also not necessarily criticising (positively or negatively) everyone associated with Automattic.

Not all Automatticians who stayed with Matt after the two previous “Re-alignments” had good alternatives.

💪 Some Automatticians love the community deeply and can’t use their voice but continue to serve the community by doing excellent work for the good of the community.

⚡️ An excellent example is James Kemp and the rest of the associated Woo team, who are actively working closer to the community than ever before.

Contributing to WordPress

My poll was sparked by Automattic’s announcement that their “aligning“ would reduce their contribution hours to match WP Engine (WPE).

🫠 In my opinion, there is a lot of spin in the announcement. Automattic could have matched any other contributor's hours but intentionally chose WPE.

Yes, they could have chosen much less than WPE, but they could have chosen much more.

💡 When I asked the question below on X (voting is still open), some people felt they couldn’t vote due to how Matt/Automattic defines contribution, and others echoed this.

The results are perhaps not surprising.

🚨 I’m not saying “Yes” or “No” is right or wrong, but some comments for those who have decided to continue contributing are inspiring.

The Potential Impact

🤔 It’s hard to measure the impact at this stage, but based on comments in the poll (and comments on the wider internet):

• Some contributors will stop organising Wordcamps.

• Some contributors will stop organising Meetups.

• Some sponsorship for Wordcamps will stop.

• Some contributors will be shifting their focus to other platforms.

🫠 The broader impact of Automattic’s decision alone will impact WordPress’ roadmap and the development of new features, potentially causing stagnation.

These are only broad brushstrokes, and the picture will be painted over the coming months.

What is Contribution?

😔 I’ve often felt like I can’t or don’t contribute to the community; maybe you’ve felt the same way, friend?

You can “officially“ contribute in many ways, either as an organisation or individual, and you can find more information in Five For The Future.

💡 Yes, those contributions are significant, but they are too narrow, and so many in the community contribute in other valuable ways.

Remkus de Vries has written on this topic, and I encourage you to read it. You might be surprised that you have contributed more than you think.

Rise Up

Let’s try to finish more positively, friend.

🏈 I think it’s time to “Rise Up”, a nearly 15-year-old slogan for my favourite American Football team that is a rallying cry for individuals, a team and a city to “rise up” together.

The WordPress community has perhaps never been so fractured.

Individuals and community groups are already trying to do this (and that’s great). Still, maybe it’s time for us to “rise up” as a community and move WordPress forward together.

• Aspirational - yes

• Improbable - perhaps

• Impossible - no

That’s it for this week 👋

⏩ I might expand on Matt’s post about the potential closure of WordPress.org due to ongoing legal action with WPE.

Still, I will “try“ and focus on the many positives happening within the community. 🎉

Sponsorship Opportunities

🚨 The Google Doc contains all the details if you’re interested in sponsoring the Loop WP Newsletter.

Weekly WordPress News, Tips & Black Friday Deals

This week's excellent and insightful WordPress News & Tips:

• Office Hours - The Future of WooCommerce Themes. (WooCommerce)

• AI Services - Playground Walkthrough. (Felix Arntz)

• Dark Mode vs Light Mode - The Perfect Colour Hack Web Designers Swear By! (WP Tuts)

• Telemetry - How to Block Website Tracking Data in WooCommerce®. (Robert DeVore)

• New Feature - Dynamic Plugin Loading is here! (WP Engine)

• This Is Fine - WordPress showcasing the hidden sunset of web and digital. (Mario Peshev)

• It’s Here! - WS Form Releases Version 1.10 Featuring a Powerful New Form Styler for WordPress. (WS Form)

• Accessibility - An open letter to WordPress theme designers. (Brian Gardner)

• Webmasters - An AI Crash Course for WordPress Users and Developers ft. Keanan Koppenhaver. (Brian Coords)

• New Launch - WordPress.com Launches Studio Sync. (Wordpress.com)

• Removal - How & Why You Should Remove Unused WordPress Plugins. (Patchstack)

• Feedback Request - Adding order fulfillments to WooCommerce. (WooCommerce)

If you have a question about this email or WordPress, reply, and I will answer you as soon as possible.

👋 Until next time,