Jetpack - does it make developers angry?

[jtprattmedia]

I play a pretty good devil's advocate, and I'm interested in some constructive discussion here - because I know a lot of really talented and knowledgeable WP people hang out here.

When the new "Jetpack" plugin came out (jetpack.me) I was ecstatic. In fact I love the thing! Then I read a post over on WPCandy where some people were a bit pissed off about it - and also about Wordpress.com stats plugin (apparently sending data to Quantcast without telling anyone).

I got to thinking about it, and I now understand why some developers are angry. So I wrote an opinion piece and published it on Technorati:
http://technorati.com/blogging/artic...friend-of-foe/

Some people agree, some people don't - I get that.

At the time I wrote the article I wasn't even aware that Jetpack is now installed be default in all self-hosted WP installs. I kind of predicted that, but didn't know it was already going on.

Some people have contacted me saying the article will just confuse WordPress newbies. I get that too, but I can't see not debating something because some people just don't understand.

WordPress is free software maintained by a community made up of thousands of developers. Automattic is a for-profit company that maintains WordPress.com - and they make money from Akismet, VideoPress, VIP hosting, now VaultPress (which I got an email they just launched with Hostgator, one of the world's biggest web hosts).

So one person on twitter points out to me that Automattic != WordPress. And yet now everytime you install WordPress you see Akismet and Jetpack - both are Automattic plugins. It was also pointed out to me that "Automattic is a company that builds on WordPress", and yes they do. I'm grateful for all that they do as well.

But when you think about the fact that WordPress IS FREE open source software, and a third party company (Automattic) is putting plugins and services in there in the default install - is that right? I mean, WooThemes can't do that. StudioPress or iThemes can't do that. Why can Automattic do that?

I totally get why they can, don't get me wrong. And I will use Jetpack, and like the plugin and the service. By what is your stance on the argument that Automattic has an "unfair advantage" when it comes to positioning premium WordPress services?

[Ryan]

I sincerely hope JetPack is not going to be bundled with WordPress core. That would be quite twisted.

Are you perhaps confused with the deals Automattic has with specific hosts who will install WordPress along with the JetPack plugin?

[Ryan]

I just checked the latest nightly builds and there's no sign of the JetPack plugin in there. There's not even any mention of it on WPDevel. If it were incorporated into core, I'd be expecting a massive uproar about it as that would quite rightly tick off a huge number of people.

[jtprattmedia]

@Ryan - I'm glad you mentioned that, because you're actually right - I did do a 1-click install on Hostgator tonight (something I almost never do, but I was in a hurry). I was kind of shocked, because there was Jetpack automatically installed AND automatically ACTIVATED! The big banner in all it's glory "all you have to do now is activate it on WordPress.com!"

So, what you're saying is that the wordpress.org download is still standard, and this is just the special deals they've wrangled with all the big web hosts then? Wow. Is that how they get around it? Meaning, Automattic could just say (to other developers) well, just make your own deal with the webhosts for a branded version of WordPress then (knowing nobody but them has the ability to pull it off).

So, you're saying that if it was in the core in the wordpress.org, it really would inflame most developers then? Like I have thought all along, this would be a huge debate then...

[jtprattmedia]

Holy crap Batman - wait a minute! I went back to my email and RE-READ that Hostgator / VaultPress EMAIL I got. That wasn't some "VaultPress is available on Hostgator" thing after all.

You know what that was?

I did the 1-click WordPress install on my Hostgator account today (never used that before)

Jetpack was already installed and activated by default

I got an email 5 minutes later saying "click here to get started with VaultPress with Automattic for peace of mind...."

So Automattic did the one click install for the web hosts, so they could get their own plugin and services bundled with it, and auto-email you with products to signup for EVERY SINGLE TIME you use the 1-click install. WOW!

I don't know whether to be happy or sad....

[Ryan]

So, what you're saying is that the wordpress.org download is still standard, and this is just the special deals they've wrangled with all the big web hosts then?

Yup.

So, you're saying that if it was in the core in the wordpress.org, it really would inflame most developers then? Like I have thought all along, this would be a huge debate then...

Yeah, I think Matt and co. would get lynched if they tried that.




I see no problems at all with the current setup. Automattic has done a good job. I don't see any reason to complain about that. We're all capable of offering deals to web hosting companies.

[chipbennett]

Holy crap Batman - wait a minute! I went back to my email and RE-READ that Hostgator / VaultPress EMAIL I got. That wasn't some "VaultPress is available on Hostgator" thing after all.

You know what that was?

I did the 1-click WordPress install on my Hostgator account today (never used that before)

Jetpack was already installed and activated by default

I got an email 5 minutes later saying "click here to get started with VaultPress with Automattic for peace of mind...."

So Automattic did the one click install for the web hosts, so they could get their own plugin and services bundled with it, and auto-email you with products to signup for EVERY SINGLE TIME you use the 1-click install. WOW!

I don't know whether to be happy or sad....

I see this as a perfectly use of GPL software. Automattic are bundling JetPack with WordPress, and distributing that package to major web hosts.

I don't see any problem with that.

[Jeffro]

So Automattic did the one click install for the web hosts, so they could get their own plugin and services bundled with it, and auto-email you with products to signup for EVERY SINGLE TIME you use the 1-click install. WOW!

Actually, this is a pretty good business move by Automattic and I don't see any problem with it. However, I don't think Automattic is sending out the emails to you for those products. I believe that the HostGator one click install nets you a free golden ticket to VaultPress which is part of their partnership deal. It's not like Automattic will continue to hound one click install people for Akismet, or PollDaddy to get people to sign up.

[Elpie]

Where I have a problem with this is with the name. When WordPress, as an open source platform users can download and install, differs from WordPress, a hosted solution offered by wordpress.com, differs from WordPress, a one-click install on certain hosts, it causes confusion. If someone does a 1-click install then later decides to use a wordpress.org package, they get two different things. This has been a major issue for some GPL software over the years. 1-click installs via Fantastico are often customised packages of the downloadable code. This is permitted under the GPL and there's nothing wrong with it - until an enduser hits a problem. Then you have people seeking support for WordPress 3.1.1 and the community offering support - but the WP3.1.1 isn't necessarily the same thing.

I have no issue with Automattic packaging up a different product for hosts. I have no problem with Fantastico (or any other hosts auto-install packager) offering software that is different out-of-the-box to the version people can download. I have real problems with the confusion this causes endusers.

There needs to be a new section started on the wordpress.org forums, to try and direct users of the 1-click installs into one area. If people have to preface each post offering support with, "did you download from wordpress.org or did you do a 1-click install" they soon get fed up with trying to support anyone. In the end, everybody suffers.

The only way to prevent this kind of confusion and the problems it causes is to use names that are unique to each package.

[Ipstenu]

I'm a bit confused how we went from 'I ran Hostgator's 1-click installer, which included Jetpack' to 'Automattic got Hostgator to include Jetpack on their 1-click installer.'

Is there any basis for that one? It could just be coincidence.

And yeah, support for people who use 1-click installers has always been a PITA. Especially when those installers demand you use THEIR upgrade tool (see Fantastico) and then don't update fast enough. I doubt a separate section would help. People don't pay attention as is!