For the first time in its history, WordPress.org will be pausing several services during the holiday season. The announcement, made by WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg via his blog, aims to give much-needed rest to the volunteers and contributors who power the platform.
Services on Pause
The temporary suspension includes:
– New Account Registrations: No new user accounts can be created on WordPress.org during the break.
– Plugin Reviews and Submissions: Plugin creators won’t be able to submit or review plugins during this period.
– Theme and Photo Directory Submissions: New submissions to these directories are also on hold.
Why the Pause?
In his blog post, Mullenweg emphasized the importance of giving volunteers a break while acknowledging the strain of ongoing legal battles with WP Engine, a popular managed WordPress hosting company. He stated, “In order to give myself and the many tired volunteers around WordPress.org a break for the holidays, we’re going to be pausing a few of the free services currently offered.”
However, he clarified that WP Engine would retain full access to WordPress.org services due to legal obligations, humorously pointing out the irony of being legally required to assist them despite their lawsuits against him and Automattic, the company he founded.
A Cloud of Uncertainty
No specific date for resuming these services has been announced. Mullenweg explained that much of his time is currently consumed by legal disputes with WP Engine, which he said could leave him personally liable for millions of dollars in damages if WP Engine prevails in court.
He concluded his post with a sardonic note: “If you would like to fund legal attacks against me, I would encourage you to sign up for WP Engine services. They have great plans starting at $50/month and scaling all the way up to $2,000/month. Alternatively, you could switch to any other web host not suing me.”
Community Reactions
The announcement has sparked mixed reactions. While many applauded the break as a well-deserved respite for overworked volunteers, others expressed concern over the potential disruption to the WordPress ecosystem, particularly for WordCamp events.
Temporary Adjustments for WordCamp Registrations
A significant issue arose from the suspension of new user registrations, which are required for purchasing WordCamp tickets. Major upcoming events like WordCamp Europe and WordCamp Asia were at risk of losing participants due to the freeze.
In response to community feedback, WordPress contributor Dion Hulse enabled user registrations specifically for WordCamp-related activities. According to the Trac update, “Login: Enable user account creations when the referer is WordCamp. This allows for WordCamps tickets to continue to be bought. Per Matt.”
This quick adjustment ensured that WordCamps could proceed without disruption, preserving the momentum of these critical community events.
Ongoing Discussions
The announcement and its implications continue to be a hot topic across platforms like Reddit and GitHub. While some view the break as a necessary step for the well-being of WordPress volunteers, others are calling for clearer communication and timelines for resuming services.
What This Means for You
For most WordPress users, the pause is unlikely to cause significant disruption unless you’re directly involved in submitting plugins, themes, or purchasing WordCamp tickets. However, the situation highlights the importance of community-driven platforms like WordPress.org and the challenges they face in balancing sustainability with service continuity.
As the new year approaches, all eyes will be on how WordPress.org navigates these challenges and resumes its full suite of services. Stay tuned for updates!
In order to give tired volunteers around https://t.co/B0aO4FanL0 a break for the holidays, we’re going to be pausing a few of the free services currently offered.
— WordPress (@WordPress) December 20, 2024
