I recently had the chance to join the Crossword podcast for a conversation about open source, WordPress, and what meaningful contribution really looks like beyond writing code.
On this episode of Crossword.fm, we talked about how I got involved in the WordPress project, why non-technical contributors play such a critical role in open source, and what I’ve learned from spending nearly a decade working at the intersection of product, community, and engineering within the open web.
A few of the themes we explored include the value of organizers and facilitators in large open source projects, how text-first and asynchronous collaboration (meaning Slack-based meetings and regular meeting summaries and decision documenting via WordPress.org posts) helps WordPress scale globally, what sponsored contribution looks like inside agencies, and how to think about the future of WordPress in a way that brings people along rather than leaving them behind.
As with most good conversations, there were a few things I wanted to expand on but simply ran out of time during the recording.
One important example worth calling out is the continued leadership coming from Human Made, particularly through the work of John Blackbourn. During the episode we touched on agencies noticeably contributing to the project and I would be remiss without plugging John’s work. Their sustained investment in leading and supporting the WordPress Security Team is a strong example of what high-impact, long-term contribution looks like when a company aligns its expertise with a critical need in the project.
We also touched briefly on the question of how to get companies to agree to contribute to open source. In practice, the most realistic path forward usually starts with business alignment. What improvements to WordPress would directly support a company’s products, services, or clients? Advocating for and contributing toward those outcomes is often the clearest way to earn leadership buy-in. That contribution may not always be in core, and that’s completely fine. Sustainable participation tends to start where incentives overlap.
Finally, a quick clarification on a phrase used during the conversation. When Luke referenced “skating to where the puck is going to be,” that’s a sports reference that means anticipating demand rather than reacting to it. For folks like my dear friend Weston Ruter and others who do not live in the world of sportsball, that was what Luke meant.
If you’re interested in contributing to WordPress, supporting open source from inside an organization, or just want a grounded look at how large community-driven projects actually function, I think you’ll enjoy the conversation.
You can listen to the full episode here: https://crossword.fm/s10/e14/.
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