WordPress Foundation Launches Website

[andreasnrb]

Seems pretty self explanatory to me.

Then explain it to me. There is A LOT of unknowns at this point.
The whole support thing is a huge one. We now know that they have gotten money to sponsor streaming of WordCamps. That is something I like very much.
Other than that we don't know. Just the fact that people have already donated money is somewhat scary.

I wonder if that means Automattic will be gifting the trademarks to the WordPress foundation. That seems overly generous if it is the case. Those domains must be worth mega bucks.

If not then the foundation will be saving money for Automattic. Don't really like the idea of the foundation protecting a companies assets.

[davecoveney]

An awful lot of unknowns.

We're all, as developers, expected to contribute to WordPress. And we do - with themes and plugins. These cost a small fortune to develop. For example, at commercial rates our free GPL contributions would have cost something like £20,000 to develop. Compare that to what we pay for our developer's copy of Sharepoint and Visual Studio (and everything else by MS) - £200 a year. That's all MS want from us. So - we contribute 10x as much to the WP project yet it seems we get little more say in the matter.

Yes, the end client pays more to MS. But from our perspective, that doesn't really matter unless that end client pays us less because of it. Ultimately, we decided that we liked the open 'everyone is equal' ways of open source. Sadly it would appear that some people are more equal than others. I always said a foundation was a good idea, I'm just not entirely comfortable with the benign dictatorship approach. I am however willing to wait and see.

[Jeffro]

If you were in Matt's shoes, what would you have done? Just a question out of curiosity to explore better options if they exist.

"benign dictatorship approach"

[Jane]

We now know that they have gotten money to sponsor streaming of WordCamps.
...... Just the fact that people have already donated money is somewhat scary.

<argh>It is the bane of my existence when people make categorical statements as if they are fact, when they are still just rumors/ideas/discussion topics. It's particularly frustrating when these statements are based on a game of telephone via twitter and something I've said at a WordCamp or in IRC or wherever gets twisted into something it's not. Words like "target," "maybe," "my own personal opinion," or "idea" are used for a reason, after all.</argh>

"they have gotten money to sponsor streaming of WordCamps"
This was suggested as a possible use, not as a done deal. I would love it if that's one of the ways money gets spent, because I think it is keeping with the educational mission, but nothing is nailed down yet.

"people have already donated money"
Oh look, me again! Steve Bruner and I (co-organizers of WordCamp NYC 2009) decided to donate our budget surplus to the foundation for the reasons we stated. I do not know of anyone else to have donated any money, nor would I suggest to anyone that they donate money until there are clear programs identified for the use of funds and potential donors could feel like they were able make an informed decision. If we were putting up an FAQ on the site today, I'd include something like this:

Q. Can I make a tax-deductible donation to the Foundation?
A. There are already some great ways to use your money to strengthen the community. How about sponsoring a local WordCamp? Donating to the authors of your favorite plugins? Becoming a patron for a developer to contribute to WordPress core? These are better ways to give back to the community for now if you're set on spending money. Once we have a good handle on the scope of the Foundation's activities, donating to the Foundation may be an excellent way to share the wealth (and yes, it will be tax-deuctible).

To all the people in this thread who advocated patience as the plans are determined, rock on. The site was put together very quickly because I wanted to announce the NYC donation at WordCamp Boston, but we felt it shouldn't be announced if there wasn't a site people could go and look at right away. As more is figured out, programs etc., that site will contain more information. Grab the feed and you'll be the first to know everything. :)

[Jeffro]

Boy, don't I know this first hand. It's struck a chord with me and I'll try not to be the spark in the future to ignite such discussions. Or at least, word my statements better.

<argh>It is the bane of my existence when people make categorical statements as if they are fact, when they are still just rumors/ideas/discussion topics. It's particularly frustrating when these statements are based on a game of telephone via twitter and something I've said at a WordCamp or in IRC or wherever gets twisted into something it's not. Words like "target," "maybe," "my own personal opinion," or "idea" are used for a reason, after all.</argh>

[andreasnrb]

<argh>It is the bane of my existence when people make categorical statements as if they are fact, when they are still just rumors/ideas/discussion topics. It's particularly frustrating when these statements are based on a game of telephone via twitter and something I've said at a WordCamp or in IRC or wherever gets twisted into something it's not. Words like "target," "maybe," "my own personal opinion," or "idea" are used for a reason, after all.</argh>

We can only speculate when we know only very little. I think most of our discussions here at the Tavern got lots of disclaimers that we don't know anything really. Be happy that anyone even cares enough about the project/s to actually speculate and wonder about its future. What if nobody cared? Would that be better?
Personally I think its better to voice concerns first then to voice them later after all decisions are already made without any public discussions to speak of. Like the case with core plugins.
Like I've said in lots of places. Things should be openly discussed and in a place that is easily accessed preferably only only place. People may not be able to respond but they should at least be able to read.

This was suggested as a possible use, not as a done deal. I would love it if that's one of the ways money gets spent, because I think it is keeping with the educational mission, but nothing is nailed down yet.

I know it was just an idea I just shortened the whole. Its the only clear use case thats even been mentioned about the money the foundation controls. At least he could have linked to the WordCamp NYC page with the announcement.
Personally I think its the best idea ever since most users will never go to a WordCamp and the idea is easy to understand and setup rules for.

It's struck a chord with me and I'll try not to be the spark in the future to ignite such discussions. Or at least, word my statements better.

What have you done? Don't steal my spotlight, she only refers to me

PS
Writing, in my oppinion, as I see it, i only speculate here, maybe etc is totally unnecessary in any speculative discussions. It should just be assumed. Like with all Apple hype for example. Then there is an clarifying announcement/unveiling and people move on to other things.

[Jeffro]

What have you done? Don't steal my spotlight, she only refers to me

I've been responsible in the past for announcing something as fact when in reality, it was only an idea. For example, I've written cliff notes of developer chats and have stated that a decision was made to do something when in reality, it was an idea with no concrete decision. I was also the one who started spreading the rumor that the foundation would be committee based with board members because that is what I was told by someone involved with the project. Someone that I trust very much.

I need to become better at wording things as they are. Ideas as ideas, suggestions as suggestions, etc. I was told that quite a few people read this forum and what I publish on WPTavern.com as fact and when I don't word something correctly, it creates a domino effect of misinformation being spread throughout numerous other outlets. I don't think I want to be the Mac Rumors site for WordPress considering I'd be wrong way more than I'd be right.

I'm trying to slow down and adopt more of a wait and see approach instead of speculating to the point of things being called facts when it's not the case.

Besides, there is a lot at stake when it comes to WordPress.org, the software, the site, the community, WordPress.com etc. I guess I'm one of the few that steadily gives Matt and others the benefit of the doubt when it comes to things such as the foundation and such.

[andreasnrb]

Gah pressed wrong button so my response got lost.

Besides, there is a lot at stake when it comes to WordPress.org, the software, the site, the community, WordPress.com etc. I guess I'm one of the few that steadily gives Matt and others the benefit of the doubt when it comes to things such as the foundation and such.

Anyway I also expect Matt et al to do good but that is no reason not to voice concerns or speculate about the future. Through the whole core plugin debacle it was obvious they hadn't thought about the stuff people were ranting about until Carl Hancook talked to Mark Jaquith. Same goes with the privacy conundrum and data retention policy.

[Jeffro]

Sure. I'm not saying voicing concerns or speculating is a bad thing, but treating every idea that comes out of the box as if it will end WordPress as we know it, is. I'm also not saying you do that by the way.

[Jeffro]

By the way Andreas, how accurate do you think the answers to your questions are on this post lol.

http://wank.wordpress.com/2010/01/24...-founderation/