Latest Updates in the WordPress World: GoDaddy’s Donation, Interface Changes, and New Acquisitions

The WordPress ecosystem continues to surprise us with exciting developments, from GoDaddy’s generous donation to the WordPress Community Collective (WPCC) to WordPress.com’s interface overhaul and the acquisition of Post Status by the founders of Yoast SEO. Let’s dive into these updates that are shaping the future of the world’s most popular open-source platform.

GoDaddy Donates $520,000 to the WordPress Community Collective

GoDaddy recently announced a staggering $520,000 donation to the WordPress Community Collective (WPCC). This collective is dedicated to supporting and funding WordPress contributors, aiming to ensure the continuous growth and innovation of the open-source platform.

How Will the Funds Be Used?

According to GoDaddy, the donation will be used to:

• Strengthen open-source communities
• Promote collaboration among developers
• Launch new paid Fellowship opportunities

These Fellowships will allow many developers to dedicate their full time to WordPress development. GoDaddy’s support for WordPress is nothing new: they currently employ two full-time developers working on the WordPress core and support 46 contributors across 17 teams.

Want to support the WPCC too? You can join the collective with memberships starting at just $5. A small contribution can make a big difference!

WordPress.com’s Interface Overhaul: Goodbye Calypso, Hello wp-admin

Another significant change is WordPress.com’s transition from its custom Calypso interface to the classic wp-admin, already used on WordPress.org.

Why the Change?

Managing two separate interfaces was becoming increasingly complex for developers. Adopting wp-admin aims to provide a consistent and intuitive experience for all users, regardless of the platform.

User Reactions

The feedback has been mixed: some appreciate the uniformity, while others miss the efficiency of Calypso. As one user said: “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”

What about you? Do you prefer the new interface or were you a fan of Calypso?

Post Status Acquired by Yoast SEO Founders

In another major development, the founders of Yoast SEO, Joost de Valk and Marieke van de Rakt, have acquired Post Status, a community for WordPress professionals. The most intriguing part? Post Status will become a nonprofit foundation based in the Netherlands.

What Does This Mean for the Community?

Thanks to Slack’s discounts for nonprofits, membership fees will be reduced, making the community more accessible. Post Status is already a valuable resource, with over 1,700 active Slack members, a job board, and a weekly newsletter.

According to Joost de Valk, this transition will help Post Status become an even stronger hub for WordPress professionals.

Fun Facts and Statistics About WordPress

Here are some stats that highlight WordPress’s global impact and significance:

• 61% of enterprise organizations contribute to the WordPress project, up from 38% in 2023 (Source: State of Enterprise WordPress 2024).
• 69% of global spam targets WordPress sites due to its popularity.
• The debate over the pronunciation of “GIF” continues: 84% of people say it like “gift,” while the other 16%… well, they’re wrong. 😉

Conclusion

From GoDaddy’s financial support to the WordPress community, to structural changes on WordPress.com and new opportunities for Post Status, the future of WordPress looks more dynamic and promising than ever. These developments reflect the community’s commitment to ensuring innovation, collaboration, and sustainability.

What do you think? Which of these updates excites you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to follow us on our social media channels to stay updated with all the latest WordPress news and insights!