WordPress Core loses key contributor as Scott Kingsley Clark exits project

On October 12th, 2024, long-time WordPress core contributor Scott Kingsley Clark announced he is officially terminating his core contributions and involvement with the WordPress project. Clark made the announcement in an update to the README file of the Fields API GitHub repository, a project he had been leading.

In his statement, Clark wrote: "I am done making excuses for Matt's actions and will not associate myself with core any longer." The "Matt" referred to is Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic.

Clark had been a key contributor to WordPress for over a decade, serving as co-lead of the Fields API project from 2013-2016 and then as lead developer since 2016. The Fields API project aimed to provide a unified PHP API for working with forms in the WordPress admin area.

In addition to his work on the Fields API, Clark is known as the lead developer of the popular Pods Framework plugin and worked as a Senior Software Engineer at Pagely/GoDaddy.

The announcement comes amid ongoing tensions within the WordPress community. While Clark did not provide specific details about his reasons for leaving, his statement alludes to disagreements with Mullenweg's leadership and actions.

Several other prominent WordPress contributors and community members reacted to the news on social media. Morten Rand-Hendriksen, a WordPress educator and advocate, tweeted: "Core contributors are the pilots of open source projects. When the pilots leave the bridge, you better pay attention to what's happening."

Clark's departure raises questions about the future of the Fields API project and broader concerns about contributor retention in the WordPress ecosystem. The Fields API repository has been archived following Clark's announcement, making it read-only.

As one of the most widely-used content management systems powering over 40% of websites globally, changes to WordPress's core contributor base can have far-reaching impacts on the web development landscape.

Clark encouraged anyone interested in leading the Fields API project to do so in the #core-fields channel on the Make WordPress Slack. However, the loss of his expertise and leadership on the project represents a significant setback for its development.

Context

Recent reporting from PPC Land reveals a tumultuous period in the WordPress ecosystem, providing crucial context for Scott Kingsley Clark's departure.

On October 2, 2024, WP Engine filed a lawsuit against Automattic and Matt Mullenweg, alleging extortion and trademark abuse. This legal action followed a series of escalating events, including Automattic sending a cease-and-desist letter to WP Engine in late September and Mullenweg publicly criticizing WP Engine, resulting in the hosting company being banned from WordPress.org resources.

The dispute has extended to popular plugins, with the Advanced Custom Fields plugin becoming embroiled in a trademark controversy just days ago, and WP Fusion's developer filing a cease-and-desist against WordPress.com over trademark concerns. Amidst this legal turmoil, Automattic announced an 8.4% staff cut on October 5, 2024.

These events paint a picture of significant upheaval and conflict within the WordPress community, likely contributing to Clark's decision to distance himself from the project.

Key facts

• Announcement date: October 12th, 2024
• Scott Kingsley Clark's roles: Lead developer of Fields API project (since 2016), lead developer of Pods Framework plugin
• Project affected: Fields API, aimed at unifying form handling in WordPress admin
• Reason given: Disagreement with actions of WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg