It’s been incredible to see WordPress evolve over the years.
The recent DE{CODE} 2023 event brought together some of the brightest minds in the WordPress community and I was particularly excited to hear the fireside chat with Matt Mullenweg and Matías Ventura.
Their insights about the future of WordPress were truly inspiring and I couldn’t wait to share them with you all.
Beyond the Blog: The Future of WordPress
The chat was a fantastic conversation about the past present and future of WordPress.
It’s amazing to think about the journey from a simple blogging platform to the powerful CMS it is today powering over 43% of the web.
The Power of Open Source
Matt emphasized the importance of WordPress’s open-source license which has been the foundation for its incredible success.
He said that open-source isn’t just about code; it’s about creating a positive and welcoming community where people can come together and share their ideas.
The Future is Gutenberg
During the conversation Matt made a bold statement: Gutenberg will be bigger than WordPress. What does that mean? Well Gutenberg is the new block-based editor that’s changing the way we create content. It’s not just about WordPress anymore; it’s about making a better web for everyone.
The Importance of Accessibility
One of the key aspects of Gutenberg’s future is accessibility.
Matías talked about the importance of making Gutenberg accessible for everyone regardless of their language or ability.
This means creating a tool that adapts to individual needs whether that means using a keyboard-only interface or reducing visual clutter.
Democratizing Publishing with AI
The conversation also explored the impact of AI on the future of WordPress.
Matt compared AI to a bicycle for the mind a tool that can augment creativity and generate ideas.
He emphasized the importance of using AI as a tool for inspiration rather than a crutch for creating unoriginal content.
WordPress: A Foundation for the Future
Matt’s prediction for WordPress in the next decade is a web that’s more open connected and controlled by users.
He envisions a world where we have choices about the software we use and aren’t just forced to accept whatever’s offered by large corporations.
The Power of a Community
This chat really reinforced the importance of community for the future of WordPress.
Matt and Matías both shared their passion for building a positive and supportive environment where everyone can contribute and learn from each other.
My Takeaways
For me this fireside chat was a reminder of why WordPress is so special.
It’s not just a CMS; it’s a movement.
It’s about empowering people to create and share their ideas and that’s a vision that I’m excited to be a part of.