The creator of WordPress opens up about becoming an internet villain, why he’s taking a stand, and the future of open source | Matt Mullenweg (founder and CEO, Automattic)

Mar 2, 2025 1h 34m 23 insights Episode Page ↗
Matt Mullenweg, co-creator of WordPress and CEO of Automatic, discusses the ongoing drama with WP Engine, his open source philosophy, why Meta's Llama is "fake open source," how AI trains on open source code, and Automatic's acquisition strategy.
Actionable Insights

1. Build a Movement, Not Product

Give people a philosophy or worldview to believe in, incorporating art and soul (e.g., “code is poetry,” jazz musician release names) to inspire engagement beyond a product’s base utility.

2. Stand Up for Open Source Ideals

Fight to protect your open source ideals against ‘bullies’ or entities that might take advantage, as inaction can ultimately destroy what you’ve created.

3. Build on True Open Source

Choose to build businesses and projects on truly open source platforms to guarantee fundamental freedoms, ownership, and protection against platform changes or hostile actions.

4. Foster Community Around Software

Organize meetups, events, forums, office hours, and Q&As around your software to invite contributions, allow people to get involved, and enable them to build on top of it.

5. Prioritize Singular Vision for Software

Recognize that great software often reflects the singular vision of a leader, not a committee, enabling unpopular but necessary long-term decisions that ensure continued relevance and growth.

6. Act as a Steward, Not CEO

As a leader, act more like a mayor than a CEO, understanding that ultimate accountability is to the community and users, even when making final decisions.

7. Contribute to Open Source Projects

Devote even a few hours a week to contributing to open source projects that you use or like, leveraging any talent (coding, design, translation, support) to make a huge impact and level up your skills.

8. Focus on Core & Ruthless Editing

To improve product quality and user experience, go back to basics, improve core functionalities, and ruthlessly edit or cut less relevant features, especially when managing a large product surface area with limited resources.

9. Leverage AI for Automated Security

Utilize automated scanning and AI for security reviews in large codebases (e.g., open source plugins) to vastly upgrade security where human review is impossible.

10. Prioritize Maintenance in Software

Understand that writing code is only the first step; prioritize maintenance as a critical part of the software life cycle to ensure long-term viability and success.

11. Choose Long-Form for Nuance

When discussing complex or controversial topics, prioritize long-form mediums (like podcasts) over short-form social media to provide full context and prevent misinterpretation.

12. Seek Credibility-Weighted Support

Balance negative feedback by seeking support from credible individuals and core community members to maintain a positive, optimistic mindset for great work.

13. Evaluate Companies by Actions

Judge companies or entities by their long-term actions and track record, rather than their stated intentions or labels, to understand their true impact and reliability.

14. Acquire to Accelerate Success

For acquisitions, prioritize accelerating successful products or acquiring talented teams for existing projects, rather than undertaking complex and resource-intensive turnarounds.

15. Be Wary of Complex Turnarounds

Exercise caution with complex business turnarounds, as they are significantly more challenging and resource-intensive than accelerating already successful ventures.

16. Adopt a Barbell Approach to Philanthropy

Address fundamental needs (bottom of Maslow’s hierarchy) while also supporting initiatives that uplift the human spirit, like art, to create a balanced impact.

17. Implement Global Equal Pay

Consider implementing a global compensation strategy that pays the same salaries regardless of location to attract diverse talent and foster equity.

18. Prioritize User Safety Features

Integrate user safety features like an “undo” function (e.g., content revisions) as a critical component of a great product experience, as it is essential for user confidence.

19. Find Artistic Expression

Cultivate a method of artistic expression (e.g., photography, music) for personal fulfillment, especially when other forms become impractical due to lifestyle changes like extensive travel.

20. Work on Diverse Project Stages

To maintain excitement and engagement, work on projects at different stages of maturity, from early-stage development to optimizing established products.

21. Optimize Travel Gear by Weight

When optimizing for travel or efficiency, meticulously weigh and review all items to reduce unnecessary bulk and improve utility.

22. Engage with Community In-Person

Travel extensively to meet and engage with your community in person, especially for distributed teams or global projects, to build stronger connections.

23. Be Vigilant Against Open Source Washing

Actively challenge and correct instances where the term ‘open source’ is used for projects that do not adhere to its true definition, ensuring clarity and integrity in the community.