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Aaron Fernandes

Aaron Fernandes is a web developer, designer, and WordPress expert with over 11 years of experience.

Celebrating a Decade of Storytelling: HeroPress Turns Ten

By WordPress No Comments
HeroPress, a platform founded by Topher DeRosia to elevate voices within the WordPress community, has just celebrated its 10th anniversary. Initially created to shine a light on individuals who overcame personal and professional challenges through their connection to WordPress, HeroPress has grown into a unique storytelling hub. For a decade now, it has featured inspiring narratives from diverse individuals who have leveraged the platform for new opportunities and successes. The…
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WPGraphQL to Become Canonical WordPress Plugin with Automattic’s Backing

By WordPress No Comments
WPGraphQL, a popular plugin that brings powerful GraphQL functionality to WordPress sites, is gaining a new level of endorsement within the WordPress ecosystem. Its creator, Jason Bahl, recently joined Automattic, aligning WPGraphQL with WordPress’s parent company and positioning it to become an official “canonical plugin” on WordPress.org. What is WPGraphQL? WPGraphQL introduces a GraphQL API for WordPress, allowing developers to query WordPress data more efficiently and flexibly compared to traditional…
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Cloudflare Temporarily Blocks Automattic’s WP Engine Tracker Site for Phishing Concerns

By WordPress No Comments
Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, recently found its WP Engine Tracker website blocked by Cloudflare, flagged as a "suspected phishing" site. This temporary block sent ripples through the WordPress community, particularly on Reddit, where some users enthusiastically cheered Cloudflare’s move. Adding a twist to the story, a new domain similar to Automattic's site—WPEngineTracker.com—was registered, sparking even more interest. Background on Automattic's WP Engine Tracker Site Automattic, believed to be operating…
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What Elon Musk Stands to Gain from a Trump Second Term

By Technology No Comments
Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, recently experienced a massive financial surge, adding $15 billion to his net worth in a single day following the 2024 U.S. election. This 11,538 percent return on investment, from the estimated $130 million he poured into Donald Trump’s campaign, signals that Musk is looking at this victory as much more than a political shift. But what does Musk, and his various ventures, actually stand…
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How Google’s Latest AI Updates Could Impact Your Search and Shopping Experience

By SEO No Comments
Google is rolling out some big changes to its search engine—especially around AI-powered shopping results—which could shift what you see first when you search online. If you’re an online shopper or business owner, these updates might change how easily you reach your favorite products or new customers. Ads and AI: The Big Changes Google has been ramping up the presence of ads and shopping features in its AI-powered search results,…
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When to Use Nofollow on Links and When Not To: A Comprehensive Guide

By SEO No Comments
Understanding how and when to use the "nofollow" attribute is essential for anyone managing a website, especially if you’re aiming to maintain a strong SEO foundation. Let’s break down what "nofollow" means, when to use it, and how it fits into the larger SEO ecosystem. What Is the Nofollow Attribute? Introduced in 2005 to combat spam in blog comments, the “nofollow” attribute allows website owners to tell search engines, “Don’t…
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WooCommerce to Launch Bold New Logo in Early 2025

By WordPress No Comments
Exciting changes are on the horizon for WooCommerce as the eCommerce platform prepares to unveil a new logo in early 2025. The redesign aims to reflect WooCommerce’s evolving brand identity, aligning with its fresh product vision and setting the stage for continued growth in the world of online commerce. According to Chief Marketing Officer Tamara Niesen, this new look for WooCommerce isn’t just about aesthetics. "We saw an opportunity to…
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WP Engine Files for Preliminary Injunction in Battle Over WordPress Access

By WordPress No Comments
Date Filed: October 18, 2024 Hearing Scheduled: November 26, 2024, Northern California court WP Engine, a prominent website hosting platform, has officially filed a preliminary injunction seeking to regain access to WordPress.org, citing what it claims to be retaliatory actions by WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg and his company, Automattic. The hosting company alleges that it has been denied access to key resources, affecting its ability to serve customers and maintain…
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WordCamp Expands Kim Parsell Memorial Scholarship to Support Women Attending Global Events

By WordPress No Comments
In exciting news for the WordPress community, the Kim Parsell Memorial Scholarship has been extended to cover not only WordCamp US, but now also WordCamp Europe and WordCamp Asia. This expansion, announced at the 2024 WordPress Foundation Meeting, aims to help women who are active contributors to WordPress but face financial barriers in attending these flagship events. Honoring Kim Parsell’s Legacy The scholarship pays tribute to Kim Parsell, affectionately known…
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Why Some Plugin Developers Are Pulling Out of the WordPress.org Repository

By WordPress No Comments
Recently, the WordPress plugin ecosystem saw significant shifts as several well-known plugin developers decided to remove their plugins from the WordPress.org repository. This wave of departures follows controversies around the takeover of the Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin, and concerns about WordPress.org's governance and transparency. Here’s what’s happening and what it means for users. Gravity PDF Leaves WordPress.org Gravity PDF, a popular plugin used by over 50,000 sites, announced it’s…
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WordPress Splits from ACF Plugin with New Fork ‘Secure Custom Fields’: Here’s What You Need to Know

By WordPress No Comments
WordPress recently announced a new chapter for one of its most popular plugins, Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), with a forked version called Secure Custom Fields (SCF). The fork, led by WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, marks a significant development for plugin users and web developers alike. Let’s break down what happened, why it matters, and what you need to know if you’re using ACF on your site. What Happened? The WordPress…
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Jetpack 13.9.1: Essential Security Update to Fix Contact Form Vulnerability

By WordPress No Comments
Jetpack has just rolled out version 13.9.1 to address a critical security flaw in its Contact Form feature—a vulnerability present since 2016. This newly patched flaw could have allowed logged-in users on a website to access private information from form submissions, posing a risk for unauthorized data exposure. Discovery and Immediate Action The issue came to light during an internal security audit by the Jetpack team, who quickly joined forces…
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Automattic and Matt Mullenweg Request Dismissal of Major Claims in WP Engine Lawsuit

By WordPress No Comments
In a recent legal battle between Automattic and WP Engine, Automattic, founded by WordPress co-creator Matt Mullenweg, is pushing back against claims that it has unfairly restricted WP Engine's access to WordPress resources. Here's a breakdown of what's happening, why it matters, and what each side is arguing. Background of the Dispute On October 18, 2024, WP Engine, a managed WordPress hosting provider, filed a lawsuit against Automattic in a…
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