#Enterprise Product Development

[tudip123]

Navigating the Seas of Enterprise Product Development

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, enterprises face the daunting task of staying ahead of the curve by continuously innovating and delivering products that meet the ever-changing needs of their customers. Enterprise product development, therefore, becomes not just a process, but a strategic imperative for sustained success.

Understanding Enterprise Product Development:

Enterprise product development encompasses the end-to-end process of conceiving, designing, building, testing, launching, and supporting products tailored specifically for large-scale organizations. Unlike consumer-facing products, enterprise products often serve niche markets or address complex business challenges, requiring a unique approach to development.

Key Components of Enterprise Product Development:

1. Market Research and Analysis:

   - Identify market needs and opportunities within the enterprise sector.

   - Conduct competitor analysis to understand existing solutions and market gaps.

   - Gather feedback from potential customers to validate product concepts and features.

2. Product Strategy and Planning:

   - Define clear objectives and goals for the product.

   - Develop a roadmap outlining key milestones and release schedules.

   - Align product strategy with broader business objectives and market trends.

3. Cross-functional Collaboration:

   - Foster collaboration between product management, engineering, design, marketing, and sales teams.

   - Ensure clear communication channels and alignment of priorities across departments.

   - Encourage a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

4. Agile Development Methodologies:

   - Embrace agile methodologies to adapt to changing requirements and market dynamics.

   - Break down development tasks into smaller iterations or sprints for faster feedback and iteration.

   - Prioritize features based on customer value and business impact.

5. User-Centric Design:

   - Place emphasis on user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design to create intuitive and user-friendly products.

   - Conduct usability testing and iterate based on user feedback to refine the product interface.

6. Scalability and Security:

   - Design products with scalability in mind to accommodate growing user bases and evolving business needs.

   - Implement robust security measures to protect sensitive enterprise data and mitigate cybersecurity risks.

7. Continuous Delivery and Deployment:

   - Implement automated testing and deployment pipelines to streamline the release process.

   - Adopt DevOps practices to ensure seamless collaboration between development and operations teams.

Challenges in Enterprise Product Development:

Despite its potential rewards, enterprise product development comes with its own set of challenges:

   - Complex stakeholder dynamics and decision-making processes.

   - Regulatory compliance requirements in highly regulated industries.

   - Integration with existing enterprise systems and legacy infrastructure.

   - Balancing innovation with stability and reliability.

Enterprise product development is a multifaceted journey that requires careful planning, collaboration, and agility. By understanding the unique needs of enterprise customers, leveraging modern development practices, and embracing a culture of innovation, organizations can create products that drive value, foster growth, and stay ahead of the competition in today's dynamic business landscape.

[lenievi]

I rewatched The Galileo Seven and you know, there’s just a lot of ??? moments and this time, I’m like

how come McCoy was okay with the delay when there was medicine to be delivered?

Like, on one hand, it’s pretty much fine with my own interpretation of McCoy - i.e. he thinks about now, he doesn’t think about the bigger picture, New Paris colony is “out of his mind” and he’s also a scientist, so he would probably like to go and explore the quasar - if we assume quasars also have some biological reasons for him to go idk, I’m not a scientist (I guess observing the effects it could have on the crew is one of the reasons, but is that really something a CMO needs to attend to? honestly, McCoy’s presence is a big WTF)

on the other hand, I don’t think it fits the “McCoy cares so much for lives of others” that’s more common than my own interpretation

but Kirk said, hey, quasar, go and study it, and it seems that neither Spock nor McCoy had any problems with it, or they were at least okay with Kirk’s reasoning “we have two days, we can afford the delay”

and I wonder if Kirk and McCoy at least argued a bit about it. Or, if McCoy was actually the one who pushed Kirk to allow him to go because “wanna study this, Jim, let me go”

idk just me rambling because the episode made me wonder

[coderower]

Best Software Development Trends to Follow in 2024

Explore the best software development trends for 2024, including AI, low-code solutions, and cybersecurity, to elevate your business and stay competitive.

As we step into 2024, the software improvement panorama continues to conform swiftly, shaped by using technological improvements, changing person expectations, and rising enterprise needs. Staying ahead of these traits is critical for organizations aiming to remain aggressive and progressive. In this blog, we’ll explore the fine software development tendencies to comply with in 2024, specializing…

[kingslongbag]

One vacuum backpack will let your trip more easy and interested in. #cac...

[jcmarchi]

📽 [Webinar] Beat GPT-4 with a Small Model and 10 Rows of Data*

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/webinar-beat-gpt-4-with-a-small-model-and-10-rows-of-data/

📽 [Webinar] Beat GPT-4 with a Small Model and 10 Rows of Data*

Small language models (SLMs) are increasingly rivaling the performance of large foundation models like GPT-4. However, the need for high-quality datasets for fine-tuning these models presents a persistent challenge. 

On August 8th, Predibase is going to showcase an approach for fine-tuning an SLM that outperforms GPT-4 with synthetic data generated from only 10 real-world examples.

The Data Dilemma

While fine-tuning SLMs with high-quality datasets can consistently produce task-specific models that outperform large foundation models, many teams face a significant barrier: assembling sufficient training data. This challenge has often been a bottleneck in AI development, limiting the ability of teams to develop production-ready models quickly and cost-effectively.

Synthetic Data Through Distillation

Our upcoming webinar introduces an innovative solution to this persistent challenge. By leveraging the capabilities of large language models such as GPT-4 and Llama-3.1-405b, we’ve developed techniques to generate high-quality synthetic data for fine-tuning task-specific SLMs. This approach enables teams to achieve GPT-4 level results with as few as 10 real-world examples, dramatically reducing the data collection burden and accelerating the path to production.

In this comprehensive session, we’ll delve into the following key areas:

The Data Insufficiency Challenge: We’ll explore the persistent issue of insufficient training data in AI development, discussing the limitations it imposes on teams working with SLMs.

Synthetic Data Generation Techniques: Our ML team will demonstrate methods for generating high-quality synthetic data based on as few as 10 data rows using Llama-3.1-405B and GPT-4. 

Achieving GPT-4 Level Performance: We’ll show how SLMs fine-tuned with synthetic data can match or exceed the performance of GPT-4 across various tasks. Attendees will gain insights into the fine-tuning process, hyperparameter optimization, and performance evaluation metrics.

Streamlining the Development Process: We’ll discuss strategies for significantly reducing data collection efforts and accelerating the journey from concept to production. This includes techniques for identifying key seed examples, automating the synthetic data generation pipeline, and optimizing the fine-tuning workflow.

Join us on August 8th

Whether you’re an AI practitioner, startup founder, or enterprise decision-maker, this session will equip you with knowledge to effectively use synthetic data and SLMs. Join us to explore how synthetic data and fine-tuned SLMs can unblock your AI initiatives. Register today.

*This post was written by Will Van Eaton from Predibase. We thank Predibase for their insights and ongoing support of TheSequence.

[intelliatechsolutions]

Top 10 Java Frameworks for Web Development in 2024

Java is always the language taken on priority when it comes to software development. And no doubt, it is a programming language most extensively used as well.

Whenever we think of building web applications or starting a new project, choosing the right set of development tools is of utmost importance. Java frameworks make it to the top choice in such cases since they are not only reliable but efficient as well.

But with so many options available out there, it can really get you confused about which Java frameworks you should consider for your projects. This blog post is going to be all about that. We have listed out some of the best Java frameworks for web development in 2024 for you.

But before diving right into it, let’s walk through Java frameworks to get a basic understanding about them.

What are Java Frameworks?

Java frameworks are basically a collection of pre-written codes. These are used by developers and programmers to develop web applications. These Java development frameworks control hardware, communicate with system applications, and process input. They help save time by writing the code for a developer. Since Java is a backend technology, these frameworks come handy for backend development.

Benefits of Java frameworks in web development

Since they already consist of pre-written codes, there is no need to write codes individually. 

Makes tasks and processes quick by reducing the time, thus increasing efficiency.

Offer a diverse range of features and options for developers to explore and choose from.

They provide support and help developers with problem-solving.

Always perform 100% and are reliable and secure.

Top Java frameworks for 2024:

1. Spring:

Spring Framework is one of the best open-source frameworks which has been built for the entire software development process in Java. These are also compatible with XML configurations and can establish JDBC connections. Some of its features include externalized configurations, admin features, properties files, and web development.

2. Hibernate:

Hibernate framework can extend Persistence API Support in Java. It is an ORM tool which is lightweight and high-performing. It does performance optimization so you do not have to worry about the implementations. It enhances developer’s productivity and efficiency.

3. Struts:

Struts framework is majorly used for web applications and is based on technologies such as XML, JSP, etc. Some of its key features include integration support, configurable MVC components, template support, and more.

4. Grails:

Grails framework is beginner-friendly and written in Groovy, which is similar to Java but has more features. Its key features include seamless Java integration, plugin library, spring boot foundation, etc.

5. Vaadin:

Vaadin framework supports cross-platform compatibility. Style alternatives from Java, two built-in themes, and deep linking support are some of its key features.

6. Java Server Faces (JSF):

 It works with technologies Java serves pages and Java Servlet API. It has been developed by Oracle and is based on MVC architecture. It supports automated state management and multiple output formats.

7. Play:

Play framework is written in Scala and supports both Java and Scala. It is fault-tolerant and highly flexible. It comes with built-in testing tools and has a hit refresh workflow.

8. Google Web Toolkit (GWT):

It has an open-source Java community to ensure applications are made using GWT. It is extremely developer-friendly and supports a wide range of APIs. It also provides cross-border portability.

9. Dropwizard:

It is great for developing RESTful web services. It enables rapid prototyping and is operations-friendly. It is compatible with both external and open-source libraries.

10. Apache Wicket

It is a component based framework that provides integration support. It is extremely fast and lightweight. It follows the POJO model and is based on JSP. It is also highly agile.

Conclusion

These were some of the best Java frameworks we have shortlisted for you. Java frameworks make for a popular choice especially when you are considering making enterprise applications. These frameworks prove helpful for a developer to improve scalability and productivity.

Also, we suggest readers to stay updated with the trends in the Java ecosystem since these frameworks also keep on improving their features. Visit us at Intelliatech!!!

[getweysltd]

Software Product Development

Software development and digital marketing services are provided to customers by Getweys. When using Getweys, experts in a variety of digital marketing techniques are used, including social media marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), website design, mobile app development, and software development. Getwey's main objective is to aid clients in enhancing their online presence and engaging with their target audience via the application of effective technological solutions and marketing techniques. Getweys uses a combination of marketing and technology to expand its clientele and maintain its dominance in the digital sector.

[rajaniesh]

Implementing Data Mesh on Databricks: Harmonized and Hub & Spoke Approaches

Explore the Harmonized and Hub & Spoke Data Mesh models on Databricks. Enhance data management with autonomous yet integrated domains and central governance. Perfect for diverse organizational needs and scalable solutions. #DataMesh #Databricks

[harrywatson4u]

Custom software development is the process of designing software applications that meet the specific needs of an individual or a company. Determining the precise Cost of Custom Software Development can be challenging given the diverse project scopes and needs. However, with Dev Technosys, a rough estimate typically falls between $8000 to $25000. This range accommodates various factors such as project complexity, features, and technology requirements. Custom software development entails tailored solutions to meet specific business objectives, making cost estimation variable. Factors like scalability, integration, and ongoing support further influence pricing.

[aixtor-technologies]

A web portal's most vital aspect relies on its significant UI/UX design, responsible for attracting and driving a more targeted audience towards it. Having an advanced and fast responsive UI/UX design carries long-term merits, making it way better for the business branding.

Key components of an ideal web portal design include these major factors, explained in the blog here:

Smooth, Authentic and easy Single-Sign-In option

Attractive layout & Seamless navigation

Quicker content and workflow management

High-responsive collaboration

Want to have your own business web portal design with all these features?

Contact Aixtir now and get the best digital transformation based solutions at the best cost-effective options!

[saayamovers]

Top 5 Trending Business Topics in 2023: AI, Big Data, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, and Remote Work

Top 5 Trending Business Topics in 2023

The business world is constantly evolving, and new trends are emerging all the time. To stay ahead of the curve, it's important to be aware of the latest trends and how they are impacting businesses of all sizes.

Here are five of the top trending business topics in 2023:

Artificial intelligence (AI)

AI is rapidly changing the business landscape, and it's only going to become more important in the coming years. Businesses are using AI to automate tasks, improve customer service, and develop new products and services.

For example, AI is being used to develop chatbots that can answer customer questions and provide support 24/7. AI is also being used to develop personalized product recommendations and marketing campaigns.

If you're not already using AI in your business, now is the time to start. AI can help you improve efficiency, productivity, and profits.

Big data

Big data is another important trend that is impacting businesses of all sizes. Big data is the collection and analysis of large amounts of data. Businesses are using big data to gain insights into their customers, improve their products and services, and make better business decisions.

For example, businesses are using big data to identify customer trends and preferences. They are also using big data to develop targeted marketing campaigns and improve their pricing strategies.

If you're not already using big data in your business, you're missing out on a valuable opportunity. Big data can help you make better business decisions and improve your bottom line.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is a top concern for businesses of all sizes. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, it's important for businesses to take steps to protect themselves.

Businesses are investing in cybersecurity solutions such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption. They are also training their employees on cybersecurity best practices.

If you're not already investing in cybersecurity, you're putting your business at risk. Cybersecurity is essential for protecting your data and your bottom line.

Cloud computing

Cloud computing is another important trend that is impacting businesses of all sizes. Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services over the internet. Businesses are using cloud computing to store data, run applications, and develop new products and services.

For example, businesses are using cloud computing to store customer data and financial records. They are also using cloud computing to run applications such as CRM and ERP systems.

If you're not already using cloud computing in your business, you're missing out on a valuable opportunity. Cloud computing can help you reduce costs, improve efficiency, and scale your business more easily.

Remote work

Remote work is a growing trend that is being accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. More and more businesses are allowing their employees to work remotely, either full-time or part-time.

Remote work offers a number of benefits for both businesses and employees. Businesses can save money on office space and expenses, and employees can enjoy greater flexibility and work-life balance.

If you're not already offering remote work options to your employees, you should consider doing so. Remote work can help you attract and retain top talent, and it can also boost employee productivity and satisfaction.

How to Prepare for the Future of Business

The business world is constantly changing, and it's important to be prepared for the future. Here are a few tips:

Stay up-to-date on the latest trends. Read industry publications, attend conferences, and network with other business professionals to stay informed about the latest trends and how they are impacting your industry.

Invest in new technologies. New technologies can help you improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability. Consider investing in AI, big data, cloud computing, and other new technologies that are relevant to your industry.

Upskill and reskill your workforce. As the economy changes, so too do the skills that are needed for success. Make sure your employees have the skills they need to succeed in the future by offering them training and development opportunities.

Be agile and adaptable. The business world is constantly changing, so it's important to be agile and adaptable. Be prepared to change your business strategy and operations as needed in response to new trends and challenges.

By following these tips, you can prepare your business for the future and ensure that it remains successful.

[ariana1576]

Top 12 SaaS Product Ideas Using Generative AI

Leveraging the capacity of generative AI, SaaS startups are now presenting groundbreaking products that transform how we work, build, and communicate with technology. Here In this blog post, we will discover the top 12 SaaS product ideas that harness the abilities of generative AI.

[rightfirmsflorida]

Looking to fintech software development? Search for Right Firms

Fintech software development firms have you covered if you want to explore the boundless potential of AI or enter the decentralized domain of web3.

Predictive analytics tools, transformer models, bespoke generative AI models, multimodal models, and NLP-based tools are among the AI solutions and products they are developing.

Their knowledge of web3 technologies rivals their knowledge of AI, and Their web3 portfolio includes solutions and products such as decentralized applications, SDKs, protocols, and web3 ecosystem tools.

They prioritize a client-centric approach, which means we work closely with our customers to obtain a thorough knowledge of their specific business requirements in order to create tailor-made solutions geared at maximizing their company potential. 

So, if you are looking for a potential fintech software development firm, have a look on Right Firms, to get the list of right fintech companies at the curated budget.

[haupertechnologies]

This blog provides a brief overview of React JS and its advantages for enterprise-level web development. It highlights React JS's scalability, performance, reusability, ease of use, and mobile compatibility, and how it can improve the user experience of web applications while reducing development time and increasing developer productivity. The blog also recommends Hauper Technologies as a leading provider of enterprise-level web development services that utilize React JS and other modern technologies to deliver exceptional results.

[botreetech]

How to Choose the Best SaaS Application Development Company

Get functional and versatile software-as-a-service to place you in today’s cutthroat competition. Read this guide to learn how to choose the right SaaS provider.

Read More: https://botreetechnologies.medium.com/how-to-choose-best-saas-application-development-company-e42d1779c2a5

[tinystepsforward]

autocrattic (more matt shenanigans, not tumblr this time)

I am almost definitely not the right person for this writeup, but I'm closer than most people on here, so here goes! This is all open-source tech drama, and I take my time laying out the context, but the short version is: Matt tried to extort another company, who immediately posted receipts, and now he's refusing to log off again. The long version is... long.

If you don't need software context, scroll down/find the "ok tony that's enough. tell me what's actually happening" heading, or just go read the pink sections. Or look at this PDF.

the background

So. Matt's original Good Idea was starting WordPress with fellow developer Mike Little in 2003, which is free and open-source software (FOSS) that was originally just for blogging, but now powers lots of websites that do other things. In particular, Automattic acquired WooCommerce a long time ago, which is free online store software you can run on WordPress.

FOSS is... interesting. It's a world that ultimately is powered by people who believe deeply that information and resources should be free, but often have massive blind spots (for example, Wikipedia's consistently had issues with bias, since no amount of "anyone can edit" will overcome systemic bias in terms of who has time to edit or is not going to be driven away by the existing contributor culture). As with anything else that people spend thousands of hours doing online, there's drama. As with anything else that's technically free but can be monetized, there are:

Heaps of companies and solo developers who profit off WordPress themes, plugins, hosting, and other services;

Conflicts between volunteer contributors and for-profit contributors;

Annoying founders who get way too much credit for everything the project has become.

the WordPress ecosystem

A project as heavily used as WordPress (some double-digit percentage of the Internet uses WP. I refuse to believe it's the 43% that Matt claims it is, but it's a pretty large chunk) can't survive just on the spare hours of volunteers, especially in an increasingly monetised world where its users demand functional software, are less and less tech or FOSS literate, and its contributors have no fucking time to build things for that userbase.

Matt runs Automattic, which is a privately-traded, for-profit company. The free software is run by the WordPress Foundation, which is technically completely separate (wordpress.org). The main products Automattic offers are WordPress-related: WordPress.com, a host which was designed to be beginner-friendly; Jetpack, a suite of plugins which extend WordPress in a whole bunch of ways that may or may not make sense as one big product; WooCommerce, which I've already mentioned. There's also WordPress VIP, which is the fancy bespoke five-digit-plus option for enterprise customers. And there's Tumblr, if Matt ever succeeds in putting it on WordPress. (Every Tumblr or WordPress dev I know thinks that's fucking ridiculous and impossible. Automattic's hiring for it anyway.)

Automattic devotes a chunk of its employees toward developing Core, which is what people in the WordPress space call WordPress.org, the free software. This is part of an initiative called Five for the Future — 5% of your company's profits off WordPress should go back into making the project better. Many other companies don't do this.

There are lots of other companies in the space. GoDaddy, for example, barely gives back in any way (and also sucks). WP Engine is the company this drama is about. They don't really contribute to Core. They offer relatively expensive WordPress hosting, as well as providing a series of other WordPress-related products like LocalWP (local site development software), Advanced Custom Fields (the easiest way to set up advanced taxonomies and other fields when making new types of posts. If you don't know what this means don't worry about it), etc.

Anyway. Lots of strong personalities. Lots of for-profit companies. Lots of them getting invested in, or bought by, private equity firms.

Matt being Matt, tech being tech

As was said repeatedly when Matt was flipping out about Tumblr, all of the stuff happening at Automattic is pretty normal tech company behaviour. Shit gets worse. People get less for their money. WordPress.com used to be a really good place for people starting out with a website who didn't need "real" WordPress — for $48 a year on the Personal plan, you had really limited features (no plugins or other customisable extensions), but you had a simple website with good SEO that was pretty secure, relatively easy to use, and 24-hour access to Happiness Engineers (HEs for short. Bad job title. This was my job) who could walk you through everything no matter how bad at tech you were. Then Personal plan users got moved from chat to emails only. Emails started being responded to by contractors who didn't know as much as HEs did and certainly didn't get paid half as well. Then came AI, and the mandate for HEs to try to upsell everyone things they didn't necessarily need. (This is the point at which I quit.)

But as was said then as well, most tech CEOs don't publicly get into this kind of shitfight with their users. They're horrid tyrants, but they don't do it this publicly.

ok tony that's enough. tell me what's actually happening

WordCamp US, one of the biggest WordPress industry events of the year, is the backdrop for all this. It just finished.

There are.... a lot of posts by Matt across multiple platforms because, as always, he can't log off. But here's the broad strokes.

Sep 17

Matt publishes a wanky blog post about companies that profit off open source without giving back. It targets a specific company, WP Engine.

Compare the Five For the Future pages from Automattic and WP Engine, two companies that are roughly the same size with revenue in the ballpark of half a billion. These pledges are just a proxy and aren’t perfectly accurate, but as I write this, Automattic has 3,786 hours per week (not even counting me!), and WP Engine has 47 hours. WP Engine has good people, some of whom are listed on that page, but the company is controlled by Silver Lake, a private equity firm with $102 billion in assets under management. Silver Lake doesn’t give a dang about your Open Source ideals. It just wants a return on capital. So it’s at this point that I ask everyone in the WordPress community to vote with your wallet. Who are you giving your money to? Someone who’s going to nourish the ecosystem, or someone who’s going to frack every bit of value out of it until it withers?

(It's worth noting here that Automattic is funded in part by BlackRock, who Wikipedia calls "the world's largest asset manager".)

Sep 20 (WCUS final day)

WP Engine puts out a blog post detailing their contributions to WordPress.

Matt devotes his keynote/closing speech to slamming WP Engine.

He also implies people inside WP Engine are sending him information.

For the people sending me stuff from inside companies, please do not do it on your work device. Use a personal phone, Signal with disappearing messages, etc. I have a bunch of journalists happy to connect you with as well. #wcus — Twitter I know private equity and investors can be brutal (read the book Barbarians at the Gate). Please let me know if any employee faces firing or retaliation for speaking up about their company's participation (or lack thereof) in WordPress. We'll make sure it's a big public deal and that you get support. — Tumblr

Matt also puts out an offer live at WordCamp US:

“If anyone of you gets in trouble for speaking up in favor of WordPress and/or open source, reach out to me. I’ll do my best to help you find a new job.” — source tweet, RTed by Matt

He also puts up a poll asking the community if WP Engine should be allowed back at WordCamps.

Sep 21

Matt writes a blog post on the WordPress.org blog (the official project blog!): WP Engine is not WordPress.

He opens this blog post by claiming his mom was confused and thought WP Engine was official.

The blog post goes on about how WP Engine disabled post revisions (which is a pretty normal thing to do when you need to free up some resources), therefore being not "real" WordPress. (As I said earlier, WordPress.com disables most features for Personal and Premium plans. Or whatever those plans are called, they've been renamed like 12 times in the last few years. But that's a different complaint.)

Sep 22: More bullshit on Twitter. Matt makes a Reddit post on r/Wordpress about WP Engine that promptly gets deleted. Writeups start to come out:

Search Engine Journal: WordPress Co-Founder Mullenweg Sparks Backlash

TechCrunch: Matt Mullenweg calls WP Engine a ‘cancer to WordPress’ and urges community to switch providers

Sep 23 onward

Okay, time zones mean I can't effectively sequence the rest of this.

Matt defends himself on Reddit, casually mentioning that WP Engine is now suing him.

Also here's a decent writeup from someone involved with the community that may be of interest.

WP Engine drops the full PDF of their cease and desist, which includes screenshots of Matt apparently threatening them via text.

Twitter link | Direct PDF link

This PDF includes some truly fucked texts where Matt appears to be trying to get WP Engine to pay him money unless they want him to tell his audience at WCUS that they're evil.

Matt, after saying he's been sued and can't talk about it, hosts a Twitter Space and talks about it for a couple hours.

He also continues to post on Reddit, Twitter, and on the Core contributor Slack.

Here's a comment where he says WP Engine could have avoided this by paying Automattic 8% of their revenue.

Another, 20 hours ago, where he says he's being downvoted by "trolls, probably WPE employees"

At some point, Matt updates the WordPress Foundation trademark policy. I am 90% sure this was him — it's not legalese and makes no fucking sense to single out WP Engine.

Old text: The abbreviation “WP” is not covered by the WordPress trademarks and you are free to use it in any way you see fit. New text: The abbreviation “WP” is not covered by the WordPress trademarks, but please don’t use it in a way that confuses people. For example, many people think WP Engine is “WordPress Engine” and officially associated with WordPress, which it’s not. They have never once even donated to the WordPress Foundation, despite making billions of revenue on top of WordPress.

Sep 25: Automattic puts up their own legal response.

anyway this fucking sucks

This is bigger than anything Matt's done before. I'm so worried about my friends who're still there. The internal ramifications have... been not great so far, including that Matt's naturally being extra gung-ho about "you're either for me or against me and if you're against me then don't bother working your two weeks".

Despite everything, I like WordPress. (If you dig into this, you'll see plenty of people commenting about blocks or Gutenberg or React other things they hate. Unlike many of the old FOSSheads, I actually also think Gutenberg/the block editor was a good idea, even if it was poorly implemented.)

I think that the original mission — to make it so anyone can spin up a website that's easy enough to use and blog with — is a good thing. I think, despite all the ways being part of FOSS communities since my early teens has led to all kinds of racist, homophobic and sexual harm for me and for many other people, that free and open-source software is important.

So many people were already burning out of the project. Matt has been doing this for so long that those with long memories can recite all the ways he's wrecked shit back a decade or more. Most of us are exhausted and need to make money to live. The world is worse than it ever was.

Social media sucks worse and worse, and this was a world in which people missed old webrings, old blogs, RSS readers, the world where you curated your own whimsical, unpaid corner of the Internet. I started actually actively using my own WordPress blog this year, and I've really enjoyed it.

And people don't want to deal with any of this.

The thing is, Matt's right about one thing: capital is ruining free open-source software. What he's wrong about is everything else: the idea that WordPress.com isn't enshittifying (or confusing) at a much higher rate than WP Engine, the idea that WP Engine or Silver Lake are the only big players in the field, the notion that he's part of the solution and not part of the problem.

But he's started a battle where there are no winners but the lawyers who get paid to duke it out, and all the volunteers who've survived this long in an ecosystem increasingly dominated by big money are giving up and leaving.

Anyway if you got this far, consider donating to someone on gazafunds.com. It'll take much less time than reading this did.