Ask HN: Concerns on Keep Using WordPress

At this point, it's not even about the action against WPEngine anymore. Automattic/Wordpress hijacked ACF, one of the most popular community plugin, and then threatened other independent plugin creators. So Matt's willingness to continue escalating makes me too nervous to build anything new right now.

If you self-host Wordpress, and not rely on the built-in plugin library, you are probably safe. But now you are apparently responsible to do your due diligence to make sure any service you use is either a) is safely independent of WordPress's services or b) paying Automattic/WordPress royalties.

As someone who has used WP for a long time and still uses some of it, I would stay away if possible. I don't trust the WP dude and his bizarre behavior lately. Things could get worse. It may not impact little guys like me but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Just have a backup plan for distribution that doesn't involve touching any of Automattic/Matt's personal property (wordpress.org, wordpress.com, pressable, etc.) if you go that route.

I think the recent spat is just the eventual writing on the wall for WP, albeit a very long death. As an enterprise I wouldn't touch the WP ecosystem moving forward if I could help it but if you're writing plugins for the average joe there's probably still life there.

Everyone gaining bread in WP is in full damage control mode. WordPress’s credibility is burning fast, and the WP guy keeps fanning the flames. He maintains absolute control over the foundation, the org domain name, and the brand, keeping countless developers and companies silent, afraid of becoming the next target.

Everybody's waiting for either the guy to step down (improbable), or someone to get a credible fork going on.

It is melodrama of the sort people looking to be outraged engage with. There’s nothing in your question to suggest an actual impact on how you use Wordpress. Except that having abstract concerns is probably easier than the hard work of making awesome things. Good luck.