How Matt Mullenweg’s Ecosystem Thinking Drives Open Source Success
WordCamp US 2024 is currently underway, and one of the highlights of the event was the insightful talk by Matt Mullenweg, the co-founder of WordPress. Mullenweg took the opportunity to discuss a powerful philosophy that he believes drives the success of open-source projects – Ecosystem Thinking.
In his speech, Mullenweg emphasized that while Open Source licenses are essential for guaranteeing freedom and preventing authoritarian control, it is the ethos behind the software that truly makes it thrive. Ecosystem Thinking, as he calls it, is the mindset that separates ordinary open-source software from projects that are alive and buzzing with contributions from countless sources.
So, what does Ecosystem Thinking entail? Mullenweg outlined four essential elements that make up this philosophy. The first is to always be in a state of learning, embracing the beginner’s mindset and constantly engaging with new ideas. The second element is evolution, which involves applying what is learned to the next iteration and allowing real-world feedback to guide the development process. The third element is teaching – sharing knowledge and reinforcing one’s own understanding by helping others within the ecosystem. Lastly, Mullenweg emphasized the importance of nourishing the community by sharing the fruits of success with the broader community, helping everyone thrive.
The concept of nourishing the community is exemplified by WordPress’s Five For the Future initiative. This initiative encourages companies and individuals to commit a portion of their resources to support the WordPress project and ecosystem. It is this ethos of giving back that keeps the Open Source movement alive and vibrant.
However, Mullenweg also addressed some of the challenges faced by the Open Source community. He expressed concern about the mislabeling of software as Open Source when it doesn’t adhere to the true principles of the movement. Mullenweg specifically mentioned Meta’s “open-source” AI model, Llama, as an example. While Llama is technically free, its license restricts its use for companies with over 700 million active users. Mullenweg argued that labeling such software as “Open Source” is misleading to the public.
To combat this, Mullenweg urged the community to “vote with their wallet” and support companies that actively contribute to the Open Source ecosystem. He applauded organizations like Newfold, Awesome Motive, 10up, Godaddy, Hostinger, and Google for their contributions. However, he also warned against “parasitic entities” that seek to benefit from the Open Source community without giving anything back.
To illustrate his point, Mullenweg compared the contributions of Automattic and WP Engine, two competitors of similar size. Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, contributes a staggering 3,786 hours per week to the Open Source ecosystem, whereas WP Engine’s contribution is just 47 hours. Mullenweg emphasized the importance of supporting companies that give back, as they are the ones truly invested in building something substantial and long-lasting.
Mullenweg concluded his speech by urging the community to be mindful of their choices and to consider supporting companies that prioritize giving back to the Open Source community. He reminded everyone that freedom isn’t free and that by supporting companies that contribute more, they will ultimately benefit more as well.
This is not the first time Mullenweg has emphasized the importance of supporting companies that align with the principles of Open Source. In 2022, he stated, “Those who care about the future of WordPress should spend their dollars with less parasitic companies.” It is clear that Mullenweg’s Ecosystem Thinking philosophy is not only driving the success of Open Source but also shaping the choices and values of the community.
In a world where technology plays an increasingly prominent role, it is refreshing to see individuals like Matt Mullenweg championing a philosophy that prioritizes collaboration, learning, and giving back. As the Open Source movement continues to evolve, it is clear that Ecosystem Thinking will be at the forefront, driving success and ensuring a vibrant and thriving community for generations to come.
