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";s:7:"attribs";a:1:{s:0:"";a:1:{s:7:"version";s:3:"2.0";}}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:1:{s:0:"";a:1:{s:7:"channel";a:1:{i:0;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:61:"
	
	
	
	




















































";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:1:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:16:"WordPress Planet";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:28:"http://planet.wordpress.org/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:8:"language";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:2:"en";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:47:"WordPress Planet - http://planet.wordpress.org/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"item";a:50:{i:0;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:57:"WPTavern: Jetpack 5.8 Adds Lazy Loading for Images Module";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://wptavern.com/?p=78112";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:68:"https://wptavern.com/jetpack-5-8-adds-lazy-loading-for-images-module";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:2079:"<p>Jetpack 5.8 <a href="https://jetpack.com/2018/02/06/jetpack-5-8-release/">is available</a> for download and includes a handful of new features for Professional, Premium, and Personal plan users. In <a href="https://wptavern.com/jetpack-5-4-introduces-beta-version-of-new-search-module-powered-by-elasticsearch-for-professional-plan-users">October of last year</a>, Jetpack 5.4 began beta testing a new <a href="https://jetpack.com/support/search/">search module</a> based on <a href="https://www.elastic.co/">Elasticsearch</a>. Jetpack 5.8 concludes the beta and the new search service is available to Professional plan customers.</p>
<p>The new search module replaces the native search functionality in WordPress and Jetpack developers claim sites with a large amount of content, images, or products will see significant speed improvements and more relevant results. Developers can fine-tune the user experience by using custom queries and template tags. Users can sort results by categories, tags, month/year, post type, or any taxonomy.</p>
<p>In addition to the Content Delivery Network, users have another method to optimize their sites with a new module named Lazy Load Images. When activated, Jetpack will display a page&#8217;s textual content first. When a user scrolls down the page, Jetpack will request and download images so they appear when that section of the page comes into view. Sites with a large amount of images will benefit most from having this module activated.</p>
<p>Premium plan customers can now perform security scans on their sites at any time, upload an unlimited amount of videos, and access SEO tools that were once restricted to Business plan customers.</p>
<p>Other notable improvements include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Support for timezone and site language settings</li>
<li>Improved display of notices</li>
<li>The GettyImages shortcode now uses the new format required by GettyImages</li>
</ul>
<p>To view all of the additions in this release, check out the <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/jetpack/#developers">Jetpack 5.8 changelog</a>.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Fri, 09 Feb 2018 07:54:14 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:1;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:15:"Matt: The Laity";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:22:"https://ma.tt/?p=47918";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:32:"https://ma.tt/2018/02/the-laity/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:310:"<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
    <p>In the last analysis, every profession is a conspiracy against the laity.</p><cite>The Sir Patrick Cullen character in George Bernard Shaw’s play <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Doctor%27s_Dilemma_(play)">The Doctor’s Dilemma</a></cite></blockquote>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Thu, 08 Feb 2018 21:48:55 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:4:"Matt";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:2;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:86:"WPTavern: WPWeekly Episode 304 – DesktopServer, Life, and Health with Marc Benzakein";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:58:"https://wptavern.com?p=78105&preview=true&preview_id=78105";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:91:"https://wptavern.com/wpweekly-episode-304-desktopserver-life-and-health-with-marc-benzakein";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:1931:"<p>In this episode, <a href="http://jjj.me">John James Jacoby</a> and I are joined by <a href="https://twitter.com/MarcBenzak">Marc Benzakein</a>, Operations Manager for ServerPress, LLC. We discussed recent updates to DesktopServer and received a progress report on 4.0. Marc also shared some of the struggles the team encountered throughout 2017.</p>
<p>We learned what&#8217;s new with <a href="https://wpsitesync.com/">WP SiteSync</a> and what customers can look forward too later this year. We also talked about <a href="https://wordpress.tv/2017/12/08/marc-benzakein-fat-happy-and-fifty/">Marc&#8217;s journey</a> of becoming a healthier person both physically and mentally. He recalls the issues he had to overcome and shares advice on how others can improve their health.</p>
<h2>Stories Discussed:</h2>
<p><a href="https://wptavern.com/woocommerce-3-3-1-released-addresses-template-conflicts">WooCommerce 3.3.1 Released, Addresses Template Conflicts</a><br />
<a href="https://wptavern.com/wordpress-4-9-4-fixes-critical-auto-update-bug-in-4-9-3">WordPress 4.9.4 Fixes Critical Auto Update Bug in 4.9.3</a><br />
<a href="https://thehackernews.com/2018/02/wordpress-dos-exploit.html">Unpatched DoS Flaw Could Help Anyone Take Down WordPress Websites</a></p>
<h2>WPWeekly Meta:</h2>
<p><strong>Next Episode:</strong> Wednesday, February 14th 3:00 P.M. Eastern</p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wordpress-weekly/id694849738">WordPress Weekly via Itunes</a></p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="https://www.wptavern.com/feed/podcast">WordPress Weekly via RSS</a></p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/wordpress-weekly-podcast?refid=stpr">WordPress Weekly via Stitcher Radio</a></p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Ir3keivkvwwh24xy7qiymurwpbe">WordPress Weekly via Google Play</a></p>
<p><strong>Listen To Episode #304:</strong><br />
</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Thu, 08 Feb 2018 01:48:04 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:3;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:55:"HeroPress: Becoming a Better Designer Through WordPress";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:56:"https://heropress.com/?post_type=heropress-essays&p=2441";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:142:"https://heropress.com/essays/becoming-better-designer-wordpress/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=becoming-better-designer-wordpress";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:19189:"<img width="960" height="480" src="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/020718-1024x512.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Pull Quote: The connections I've made, the skills I've honed, and the mentorship I've received have all contributed to making me the designer I am today." /><h3>The early years</h3>
<p>I’ve always been an art kid. One of my first school memories is of drawing a clown and my art teacher being so enamored with it, she hung it up on her door for the whole year.</p>
<p>The first time in my educational life I didn’t take an art class was my first year of college. By the end of the year, my fingers were itching and I was ready to scream — I had to take art. It didn’t take long for me to declare a Studio Art minor, which eventually became an Arts and Technology minor my senior year.</p>
<p>I’ve also always been an internet kid. We received our first internet-connected Windows desktop in 1997. I’ll never forget the sound of dial-up as I signed into AOL, day after day for years to come. When my older brother started working for an ISP, we were able to go beyond just using AOL to connect, and I started spending more time exploring websites (rather than just AOL’s apps and chat rooms). I wanted to be like my older brother and learn how to make sites. I taught myself basic HTML by using View Source on existing sites — even back then, I was benefiting from the open web!</p>
<p>Angelfire was my earliest web canvas. A couple of my friends eventually got into making websites, but I was always a little disdainful of them for using Homestead’s GUI builder, while I was making my sites from scratch. I had a blast making image-rich personal and fan sites with tables and HTML styles. Landing a copy of Photoshop Elements in high school only intensified my enjoyment of web design. I kept that passion up through college, when I found my first design gig.</p>
<p><a href="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/old_web_site.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-2442 aligncenter" src="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/old_web_site-1024x479.jpg" alt="Old Website, best viewed on AOL" width="960" height="449" /></a></p>
<h3>Could this be a career?</h3>
<p>My first year of college got off to a bit of a rough financial start. By the time my financial aid was finalized and I was finally able to pick a work study job, my options were pretty limited. A dance professor needed an assistant to help her with some photocopying and organization tasks, along with helping her build out a print and web portfolio.</p>
<p>I was honestly a terrible assistant, but I did a pretty good job with the design work. I continued to refine my skills working in the computers labs in subsequent years, and in my Junior year of college (ten years ago!) I landed an internship at a local web design agency. That internship turned into a part-time job, which opened up doors to more local web design opportunities, and soon I was graduating college and pretty well situated into the start of my career.</p>
<p><a href="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/early-site.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2443" src="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/early-site-1024x666.jpg" alt="Skeumorphic website design that looks like a notepad with pen ink all over it." width="960" height="624" /></a></p>
<p>It was at these agencies that I started learning how to build WordPress websites. I’d used WordPress a couple times in college and felt comfortable with it, but now I was focusing a lot more on building my skills as a designer and front-end developer. My girlfriend (who was working at the same web agency) and I managed to convince our boss to start letting us create totally custom websites, rather than customizing existing themes, and that opened up a whole new world of design opportunities.</p>
<h3>My first WordCamp</h3>
<p>It was around then that my girlfriend, who attended WordCamp NYC the previous year, noticed the conference organizers were <a href="https://2010.nyc.wordcamp.org/volunteer-designer-needed/">looking for some volunteer designers</a> to help create some graphics. She passed along the information, and I got in touch.</p>
<p>I collaborated with a few other designers to create the WordCamp branding, which was used across the website, t-shirt, signage, and stickers:</p>
<p><a href="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/wcnyc.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2444" src="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/wcnyc.png" alt="WCNYC Banner" width="429" height="286" /></a></p>
<p>It was amazing to see it everywhere at the WordCamp. It felt really special. Though I didn’t get “props” for this, I still consider it my first contribution to WordPress.</p>
<p>WordCamp NYC was a ton of fun. I met interesting people, learned a lot about WordPress, and started to get a feel for the community. I left with a desire to get more involved. I browsed through WordPress.org, stumbling upon the “Make” section. I was stoked to see that there was a design group. I couldn’t write much code beyond CSS, but I could contribute my design skills. I joined a couple of the core channels on IRC, including the design channel (#wordpress-ui), and observed for while. I watched how the other designers in the project communicated, what they worked on, where they presented their work, etc. By observing before participating, I could learn the social queues and mores of the community. I didn’t want to embarass myself — I wanted to do things the established way based on community standards.</p>
<p>What I found to be one of the most difficult parts of contributing was adapting to the technology used to build WordPress. I had to learn how to use command line and SVN. Getting set up in SVN and terminal was probably the biggest thing that stopped me from contributing code during my early years.</p>
<p>But most of all, it came down to conquering fear. Fear that my design skills would be unwanted and unwelcome; fear that other contributors would look down on me or ignore me, or that they’d find me irritating; fear that I just wasn’t good enough to contribute. Some of this fear persists today, albeit greatly reduced.</p>
<p>There’s a point at which I managed to conquer a little bit of that fear, stop observing, and really start to pitch in. Slowly, I started chiming in and volunteering for design tasks in IRC and the Make Design p2. I ended up doing a lot of small projects on the community side (rather than the core side) at first — some new landing pages and redesigns of sections on WordPress.org, graphics, and design for my own local meetups. I started feeling more and more confident with my contributions.</p>
<h3>Core Props</h3>
<p>By this point, I had done some wireframes and mockups for the core WordPress software — I’d even spoken at a WordCamp! — but I hadn’t actually gotten any code committed. Which meant, at this point in time, I didn’t have any “core props.” I was still really intimidated by Trac and SVN. I was a designer, and most design conversations happened in explicitly design space. But I really wanted to get some code committed into core, so I needed to find a CSS bug I felt qualified to fix.</p>
<p>At WordCamp Philly in 2012, I finally got a chance. Sunday was devoted to contributing to WordPress. There were experienced core contributors present who could teach people how to make a patch, how to submit a ticket, and suggest tickets for people to work on.</p>
<p>Aaron Jorbin, a core contributor and fellow speaker (and, now a friend), found a CSS issue I could work on: bringing the alternate “blue” color scheme into sync with the default “grey” scheme. He helped me get set up, helped me through saving my changes as a patch, and then helped me submit that patch to Trac. Andy Nacin, another core contributor (and future friend!) subsequently committed that patch, and I received my first core props.</p>
<p><a href="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/first-props2.png"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2445" src="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/first-props2-1024x370.png" alt="Screenshot of ticket giving Mel props" width="960" height="347" /></a></p>
<p>After creating my first patch, contributing became easier and easier. My confidence grew, and I spent more time participating in IRC, p2s, and Trac discussions. Then, in January of 2013, major design changes started coming to WordPress.</p>
<h3>My WordPress apprenticeship</h3>
<p>It started with icons.</p>
<p>Ben Dunkle, WordPress’s official icon designer, proposed some shiny new icons for the WordPress dashboard. They were “flat” — one color, not a ton of details. The icons were awesome, but they didn’t really fit stylistically with the rest of the admin. The flat styles clashed with WordPress’ heavy use of gradients.</p>
<p>So, I helped imagine what the admin could look like totally flat. We tried out a couple ideas, got them committed, and refined in code. The stark styles looked really fresh after years of gradients!</p>
<p>Unfortunately, flattening the admin unearthed a whole lot of other issues. There wasn’t enough time to flesh out the new design before the next version of WordPress launched, so the flat styles got reverted and tabled for another time.</p>
<p>Pretty soon after, I received an email via my site’s contact form:</p>
<p><em><strong>Name</strong>: Matt</em><br />
<em><strong> Comment</strong>: Add me on Skype when you get a chance.</em></p>
<p>I think my heart stopped when I realized I had been emailed by the co-founder of WordPress, Matt Mullenweg. Matt invited me to come join a group that would take a broader look at redesigning the admin (codenamed “MP6”). It meant a lot for someone as important as Matt to recognize my skills. I spent a lot of my early years as a designer plagued with self-doubt, and suddenly I had someone pointing at me, going “I believe in you!”</p>
<p>I leapt at the chance.</p>
<p>Our group worked together on Skype. We quickly scoped the goal of MP6 to only update CSS and a little bit of JS. I helped Ben make some new vector icons, gave feedback and critiqued design proposals, and made some design proposals of my own. It was an intimate group where we all felt free to safely share and critique each other’s work. The mentorship I received from more experienced WordPress designers was invaluable to my growth. Working with these veterans of WordPress really helped me to grow into my fledgling wings.</p>
<p><a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2013/10/23/mp6-3-8-proposal/">WordPress 3.8 shipped with the updated admin interface</a>, and I knew it was time to take my design career to a new level.</p>
<p><a href="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/4-8-credits-smaller.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2446" src="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/4-8-credits-smaller-1024x895.jpg" alt="WordPress 4.8 Credits" width="960" height="839" /></a></p>
<h3>Leaving the nest</h3>
<p>I’d had my eye on Automattic, the makers of WordPress.com, the Jetpack plugin, and many other products, for most of my time contributing to WordPress. A couple of the designers I worked with on MP6 were Automattic designers, and it was an absolute joy to collaborate with them. At this point I’d spent so much of my career as either a lone designer, or in a competitive environment, that having a supportive, collaborative group of people helping me improve my work was a revelation.</p>
<p>I desperately wanted to work at Automattic.</p>
<p>While MP6 was in the works, I participated in a three month long design apprenticeship at a local agency. I worked alongside experienced mentors and fellow apprentices to hone my interface and user experience design skills. It was challenging and thrilling and totally complemented the mentorship I was receiving from WordPress folks. Plus, working in a positive environment reinforced my desire to work somewhere similar.</p>
<p>After the apprenticeship, I finally felt like I had the skills and confidence to apply. I spent a lot of time writing my cover letter, and redesigning my portfolio to use in-depth case studies on a small number of recent projects. I finally sent off my application and crossed my fingers.</p>
<p>A couple weeks later, I received a reply back asking to schedule an interview. I was terrified, but luckily, Automattic conducts interviews via text, so I was able to hide my fear behind my keyboard and hopefully try to project confidence. (Aside: I also show all my emotions on my face, so online communication is the best.)</p>
<p>It must have worked, because I was moved on to the next phase of the application, doing a self-contained trial project, which was a whole ton of fun. I was able to put my recently refined research, interviewing, and user testing skills to use. I loved being given a real challenge to tackle. My trial went well, so I was moved along to the final interview with Matt Mullenweg. We spent a couple hours chatting on Skype, and at the end of our conversation I was given an offer. Welcome to Automattic!</p>
<p>After working so hard on my apprenticeship, and on MP6, joining Automattic felt incredibly validating. The work I put in, the mentorship I received, all of the collaboration, led to this moment. I felt like I had graduated from apprentice and was now embarking on my adventure as a design journeyman. And boy, has it been an adventure!</p>
<h3><a href="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/automattic-2-smaller.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2447" src="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/automattic-2-smaller-1024x678.jpg" alt="Automattic Group Photo" width="960" height="636" /></a></h3>
<h3>Design leadership</h3>
<p>The past four and a half years at Automattic have been fantastic. I have the best coworkers anyone can ask for. I’ve worked with some incredibly talented and empathetic designers, whose guidance and feedback constantly encourage me to improve my skills.</p>
<p>I’ve continued to contribute to WordPress, slowly gaining more responsibility in the project the longer I stuck around. That’s the secret to becoming an open source leader, I discovered — <strong>decisions are made by the people who show up</strong>.</p>
<p>In 2016, I was asked to by the Release Design Lead for <a href="https://wordpress.org/news/2016/04/coleman/">WordPress 4.5 “Coleman.”</a> I worked alongside the other release leads to make design-related decisions that impacted the release. This was the first release we experimented with having a Design Lead. I felt like design finally had a seat at the table.</p>
<p>This continued to be the case last year, when Matt Mullenweg announced core focuses for the year: Editing, Customization, and the API. Both Editing and Customization had designers co-leading their focus. I was named the Customization co-lead. I’d been working on customization and site building on WordPress.com for over a year, so I had relevant experience.</p>
<p>I worked with my developer co-lead, Weston Ruter, on low-hanging fruit, most of which we released in WordPress 4.8. The release was smaller, focused more on improvements than new features. We made a lot of updates to widgets, which had been long neglected.</p>
<p>After that, we turned our sights to some more ambitious projects: drafting and scheduling changes in the Customizer, improvements to code editing in the WordPress admin, even more widget updates, and upgrades around the flow of changing themes and building menus for your site. We took a design-first approach to building out these new features, and I think it really shows in the work that we produced during the 4.9 release cycle, which Weston and I co-led.</p>
<p><a href="https://wordpress.org/news/2017/11/tipton/">WordPress 4.9 “Tipton”</a> launched in November. Since then, I’ve pivoted to work on <a href="https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/">Gutenberg</a>, the new editing experience for WordPress which should be released in 5.0. Once the editing experience wraps up, we’re going to start looking at how we can extend Gutenberg to cover site building and customization. It’s a big, audacious goal that I hope to pursue with caution, humility, and a spirit of adventure.</p>
<p>I owe WordPress a great deal. The connections I’ve made, the skills I’ve honed, and the mentorship I’ve received have all contributed to making me the designer I am today. I hope to give back for years to come!</p>
<p><a href="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/community-summit-smaller.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2448" src="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/community-summit-smaller.jpg" alt="Community Summit Group Photo" width="960" height="556" /></a></p>
<div class="rtsocial-container rtsocial-container-align-right rtsocial-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-twitter-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-twitter-horizontal-button"><a title="Tweet: Becoming a Better Designer Through WordPress" class="rtsocial-twitter-button" href="https://twitter.com/share?text=Becoming%20a%20Better%20Designer%20Through%20WordPress&via=heropress&url=https%3A%2F%2Fheropress.com%2Fessays%2Fbecoming-better-designer-wordpress%2F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a></div></div><div class="rtsocial-fb-horizontal fb-light"><div class="rtsocial-fb-horizontal-button"><a title="Like: Becoming a Better Designer Through WordPress" class="rtsocial-fb-button rtsocial-fb-like-light" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fheropress.com%2Fessays%2Fbecoming-better-designer-wordpress%2F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a></div></div><div class="rtsocial-linkedin-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-linkedin-horizontal-button"><a class="rtsocial-linkedin-button" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fheropress.com%2Fessays%2Fbecoming-better-designer-wordpress%2F&title=Becoming+a+Better+Designer+Through+WordPress" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Share: Becoming a Better Designer Through WordPress"></a></div></div><div class="rtsocial-pinterest-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-pinterest-horizontal-button"><a class="rtsocial-pinterest-button" href="https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://heropress.com/essays/becoming-better-designer-wordpress/&media=https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/020718-150x150.jpg&description=Becoming a Better Designer Through WordPress" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Pin: Becoming a Better Designer Through WordPress"></a></div></div><a rel="nofollow" class="perma-link" href="https://heropress.com/essays/becoming-better-designer-wordpress/" title="Becoming a Better Designer Through WordPress"></a></div><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://heropress.com/essays/becoming-better-designer-wordpress/">Becoming a Better Designer Through WordPress</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://heropress.com">HeroPress</a>.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Wed, 07 Feb 2018 12:00:30 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:10:"Mel Choyce";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:4;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:66:"WPTavern: WooCommerce 3.3.1 Released, Addresses Template Conflicts";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://wptavern.com/?p=78089";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:76:"https://wptavern.com/woocommerce-3-3-1-released-addresses-template-conflicts";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:1330:"<p>WooCommerce 3.3.1 <a href="https://woocommerce.wordpress.com/2018/02/06/woocommerce-3-3-1-fix-release-notes/">is available</a> and fixes template conflicts discovered in a handful of WordPress themes that forced the team to <a href="https://wptavern.com/woocommerce-3-3-removed-from-plugin-directory-due-to-theme-conflicts">revert WooCommerce 3.3</a>. The team reviewed handful of the most common themes running WooCommerce and tested them for compatibility with 3.3.1.</p>
<p><a href="https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce/wiki/Template-File-Guidelines-for-Devs-and-Theme-Authors#hook-vs-override---when-to-use-what">WooCommerce developers recommend</a> that theme authors use hooks instead of template overrides to ensure maximum compatibility.</p>
<p>According to Mike Jolley, WooCommerce lead developer, this release highlighted issues with the template system&#8217;s extensibility and a disconnect between theme authors on external marketplaces. &#8220;We hope to find solutions to these problems in the near future,&#8221; Jolley said.</p>
<p>WooCommerce 3.3.1 has at least <a href="https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce/compare/3.3.0...3.3.1">90 commits</a>. Users are encouraged to create a full-backup of their sites and then browse to Dashboard &gt; Updates to update WooCommerce from within WordPress.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Wed, 07 Feb 2018 09:46:24 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:5;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:65:"WPTavern: WordPress 4.9.4 Fixes Critical Auto Update Bug in 4.9.3";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://wptavern.com/?p=78087";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:76:"https://wptavern.com/wordpress-4-9-4-fixes-critical-auto-update-bug-in-4-9-3";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:1984:"<p>Hours after <a href="https://wptavern.com/wordpress-4-9-3-released-fixes-34-bugs">WordPress 4.9.3 was released</a>, the WordPress development team followed it up <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/02/06/wordpress-4-9-4-release-the-technical-details/">with 4.9.4</a> to fix a critical bug with the auto update process. The bug generates a fatal PHP error when WordPress attempts to update itself.</p>
<p>This error requires WordPress site owners and administrators to manually update to WordPress 4.9.4 by visiting your Dashboard and clicking the Update Now button on the Updates page. Alternatively, you can update by uploading the files via SFTP or by using WP-CLI.</p>
<p>Dion Hulse, WordPress lead developer, says managed hosts that apply updates automatically for their customers will be able to update sites as they normally do. This may explain why some users have reported that sites running 4.9.3 have automatically updated to 4.9.4 without issue.</p>
<p>The bug stems from an attempt to <a href="https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/43103">reduce the number of API calls</a> made when the auto update cron job is run. Unfortunately, the code committed had unintended consequences. &#8220;It triggers a fatal error as not all of the dependencies of <code>find_core_auto_update()</code> are met,&#8221; Hulse said.</p>
<p>A postmortem will be published once the team determines how to prevent this mistake from happening in the future. &#8220;We don’t like bugs in WordPress any more than you do, and we’ll be taking steps to both increase automated coverage of our updates and improve tools to aid in the detection of similar bugs before they become an issue in the future,&#8221; Hulse said.</p>
<p>While WordPress 4.9.3 and 4.9.4 do not include any security fixes, it&#8217;s important to note that in order to receive automatic security updates in the future, sites using the 4.9 branch must be running at least 4.9.4. Older branches are unaffected.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Wed, 07 Feb 2018 09:19:38 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:6;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:45:"Dev Blog: WordPress 4.9.4 Maintenance Release";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:34:"https://wordpress.org/news/?p=5559";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:71:"https://wordpress.org/news/2018/02/wordpress-4-9-4-maintenance-release/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:1814:"<p>WordPress 4.9.4 is now available.</p>
<p>This maintenance release fixes a severe bug in 4.9.3, which will cause sites that support automatic background updates to fail to update automatically, and will require action from you (or your host) for it to be updated to 4.9.4.</p>
<p>Four years ago with <a href="https://wordpress.org/news/2013/10/basie/">WordPress 3.7 &#8220;Basie&#8221;</a>, we added the ability for WordPress to self-update, keeping your website secure and bug-free, even when you weren&#8217;t available to do it yourself. For four years it&#8217;s helped keep millions of installs updated with very few issues over that time. Unfortunately <a href="https://wordpress.org/news/2018/02/wordpress-4-9-3-maintenance-release/">yesterdays 4.9.3 release</a> contained a severe bug which was only discovered after release. The bug will cause WordPress to encounter an error when it attempts to update itself to WordPress 4.9.4, and will require an update to be performed through the WordPress dashboard or hosts update tools.</p>
<p>WordPress managed hosting companies who install updates automatically for their customers can install the update as normal, and we&#8217;ll be working with other hosts to ensure that as many customers of theirs who can be automatically updated to WordPress 4.9.4 can be.</p>
<p>For more technical details of the issue, we&#8217;ve <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/02/06/wordpress-4-9-4-release-the-technical-details/">posted on our Core Development blog</a>. For a full list of changes, consult the <a href="https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=closed&milestone=4.9.4&group=component">list of tickets</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://wordpress.org/download/">Download WordPress 4.9.4</a> or visit Dashboard → Updates and click “Update Now.”</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Tue, 06 Feb 2018 16:17:55 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:10:"Dion Hulse";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:7;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:49:"WPTavern: WordPress 4.9.3 Released, Fixes 34 Bugs";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://wptavern.com/?p=78081";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:59:"https://wptavern.com/wordpress-4-9-3-released-fixes-34-bugs";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:681:"<p>WordPress 4.9.3 <a href="https://wordpress.org/news/2018/02/wordpress-4-9-3-maintenance-release/">is available</a> and fixes 34 bugs. Customizer changesets, the visual editor, widgets, and compatibility for PHP 7.2 highlight this release. You can view all of the changes via the <a href="https://core.trac.wordpress.org/log/branches/4.9?rev=42630&stop_rev=42521">changelog</a> or <a href="https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=closed&milestone=4.9.3&group=component">trac tickets</a>. Most sites will update automatically. However, if you want to trigger the update ahead of time or manually update, visit your Dashboard, click the Updates link, and click Update Now.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Tue, 06 Feb 2018 08:35:20 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:8;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:66:"WPTavern: Liquid Web Acquires iThemes in Multi-Million Dollar Deal";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://wptavern.com/?p=77907";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:77:"https://wptavern.com/liquid-web-acquires-ithemes-in-multi-million-dollar-deal";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:4149:"<p>Liquid Web, a managed hosting service founded in 1997, <a href="https://www.liquidweb.com/blog/liquid-web-acquires-ithemes/">has acquired</a> <a href="https://ithemes.com/">iThemes</a>. iThemes recently <a href="https://ithemes.com/10-years-in-wordpress/">celebrated its 10th year</a> in business. <a href="https://poststatus.com/liquid-web-acquired-ithemes/">PostStatus reports</a> that it was an all cash deal and sources confirmed to the Tavern that it was a multi-million dollar acquisition.</p>
<p>iThemes will continue to operate as an independent unit within Liquid Web. Cory Miller will remain as General Manager of iThemes and the company will keep its office and employees in Oklahoma City, OK.</p>
<p>iThemes was founded in 2008 and is part of a group of WordPress focused companies that started <a href="https://medium.com/@jasonpatricksc/a-brief-history-of-a-wordpress-theme-business-3847e16fcba4">around the same time</a>. The group includes WooThemes, Revolution Themes now known as StudioPress, Press75, WPZoom, and others.</p>
<p>WooThemes was <a href="https://wptavern.com/automattic-acquires-woocommerce">acquired by Automattic</a>. StudioPress has branched off into content marketing with CopyBlogger and hosting via StudioPress sites. Press75 was acquired by Westwerk in 2014 and WPZoom continues to operate independently.</p>
<p>iThemes diversified its business a number of times over the years, adding plugins and services to its portfolio. Some of the most notable products include, FlexxTheme, BackupBuddy, Builder, iThemes Sync, and iThemes Security. In 2013, the company branched off into the e-commerce space <a href="https://wptavern.com/ithemes-launches-e-commerce-plugin-exchange">with Exchange</a>. In 2017, <a href="https://ithemes.com/2017/07/13/ithemes-exchange-new-home-exchangewpcom/">Exchange was acquired</a> by AJ Morris allowing the company to focus on iThemes Sales Accelerator, a new product that works exclusively with WooCommerce.</p>
<p>Considering Liquid Web recently launched <a href="https://www.liquidweb.com/products/managed-woocommerce-hosting/">its managed WooCommerce hosting</a>, iThemes Sales Accelerator should pair nicely with its services.</p>
<p>This isn&#8217;t the first time a large webhosting company has acquired a WordPress business. In the last two years, GoDaddy has acquired three companies with a presence in the WordPress ecosystem.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>April 2013</strong> EIG Acquires MOJO-Themes</li>
<li><strong>September 2016</strong> GoDaddy Acquires ManageWP</li>
<li><strong>December 2016</strong> GoDaddy Acquires WP Curve</li>
<li><strong>March 2017</strong> GoDaddy Acquires Sucuri</li>
</ul>
<h2>After 10 Years, Cory Miller Lets Go</h2>
<p>Miller founded iThemes 10 years ago and helped navigate it through the ups and downs that come with running a business. Although Miller no longer owns the company he founded, he&#8217;s excited about the next chapter and the opportunities it presents to him and his team.</p>
<p>&#8220;One of the keys that has contributed greatly to our success over the last 10 years is being willing to adapt and to innovate and to try new things,&#8221; Miller said. &#8220;For instance, If we’d kept focusing solely on WordPress themes, which was our primary business for the early years, we wouldn’t be around today.</p>
<p>&#8220;As we surveyed the landscape in WordPress, one thing was very obvious to us: hosting is the future. As a bootstrapped company from the beginning, with our DNA as a software company, and seeing where Liquid Web is going, it just made sense for us to join forces.</p>
<p>&#8220;We view this is as another chapter in our story of our willingness to adapt and try new things so we can keep doing what we do best — Make People’s Lives Awesome. So we&#8217;re tremendously excited about our future with Liquid Web, and what we’re going to be able to do for the WordPress community together.&#8221;</p>
<p>Miller says they&#8217;re in the middle of the transition process and are working towards tighter integration between iThemes&#8217; products and Liquid Web&#8217;s managed hosting services.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Tue, 06 Feb 2018 00:33:58 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:9;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:45:"Dev Blog: WordPress 4.9.3 Maintenance Release";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:34:"https://wordpress.org/news/?p=5545";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:71:"https://wordpress.org/news/2018/02/wordpress-4-9-3-maintenance-release/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:3408:"<p>WordPress 4.9.3 is now available.</p>
<p>This maintenance release fixes 34 bugs in 4.9, including fixes for Customizer changesets, widgets, visual editor, and PHP 7.2 compatibility. For a full list of changes, consult the <a href="https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=closed&milestone=4.9.3&group=component">list of tickets</a> and the <a href="https://core.trac.wordpress.org/log/branches/4.9?rev=42630&stop_rev=42521">changelog</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://wordpress.org/download/">Download WordPress 4.9.3</a> or visit Dashboard → Updates and click “Update Now.” Sites that support automatic background updates are already beginning to update automatically.</p>
<p>Thank you to everyone who contributed to WordPress 4.9.3:</p>
<p><a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/jorbin/">Aaron Jorbin</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/abdullahramzan/">abdullahramzan</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/adamsilverstein/">Adam Silverstein</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/afercia/">Andrea Fercia</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/andreiglingeanu/">andreiglingeanu</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/azaozz/">Andrew Ozz</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/bpayton/">Brandon Payton</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/chetan200891/">Chetan Prajapati</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/coleh/">coleh</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/darko-a7/">Darko A7</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/desertsnowman/">David Cramer</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/dlh/">David Herrera</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/dd32/">Dion Hulse</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/flixos90/">Felix Arntz</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/frank-klein/">Frank Klein</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/pento/">Gary Pendergast</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/audrasjb/">Jb Audras</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/jbpaul17/">Jeffrey Paul</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/lizkarkoski/">lizkarkoski</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/clorith/">Marius L. J.</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/mattyrob/">mattyrob</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/monikarao/">Monika Rao</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/munyagu/">munyagu</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/ndavison/">ndavison</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/nickmomrik/">Nick Momrik</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/peterwilsoncc/">Peter Wilson</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/rachelbaker/">Rachel Baker</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/rishishah/">rishishah</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/othellobloke/">Ryan Paul</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/sasiddiqui/">Sami Ahmed Siddiqui</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/sayedwp/">Sayed Taqui</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/seanchayes/">Sean Hayes</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/sergeybiryukov/">Sergey Biryukov</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/shooper/">Shawn Hooper</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/netweb/">Stephen Edgar</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/manikmist09/">Sultan Nasir Uddin</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/tigertech/">tigertech</a>, and <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/westonruter/">Weston Ruter</a>.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Mon, 05 Feb 2018 19:47:45 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:15:"Sergey Biryukov";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:10;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:57:"Mark Jaquith: Tips for configuring WordPress environments";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:40:"http://markjaquith.wordpress.com/?p=5476";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:89:"https://markjaquith.wordpress.com/2018/02/05/tips-for-configuring-wordpress-environments/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:4626:"<p>Many WordPress hosts will give your site a &#8220;staging&#8221; environment. You can also use tools like <a href="https://local.getflywheel.com/">Local by Flywheel</a>, or <a href="https://www.mamp.info/">MAMP Pro</a> to run a local &#8220;dev&#8221; version of your site. These are great ways of testing code changes, playing with new plugins, or making theme tweaks, without risking breaking your live &#8220;production&#8221; site.</p>
<p>Here is my advice for working with different WordPress environments.</p>
<h2>Handling Credentials</h2>
<p>The live (&#8220;production&#8221;) version of your site should be opt-in. That is, your site&#8217;s Git repo should <strong>not</strong> store production credentials in <strong>wp-config.php</strong>. You don&#8217;t want something to happen like <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/cscareerquestions/comments/6ez8ag/accidentally_destroyed_production_database_on/">when this developer accidentally connected to the production database</a> and destroyed all the company data on his first day.</p>
<p>Instead of keeping database credentials in <strong>wp-config.php</strong>, have <strong>wp-config.php</strong> look for a <strong>local-config.php</strong> file. Replace the section that defines the database credentials with something like this:</p>
<pre class="brush: php; title: ; notranslate">if ( file_exists( __DIR__ . '/local-config.php' ) ) {
    include( __DIR__ . '/local-config.php' );
} else {
    die( 'local-config.php not found' );
}</pre>
<p>Make sure you add <strong>local-config.php</strong> to your <strong>.gitignore</strong> so that no one commits their local version to the repo.</p>
<p>On production, you&#8217;ll create a <strong>local-config.php</strong> with production credentials. On staging or development environments, you&#8217;ll create a <strong>local-config.php</strong> with the credentials for those environments.</p>
<h2>Production is a Choice</h2>
<p>Right after the section that calls out <strong>local-config.php</strong>, put something like this:</p>
<pre class="brush: php; title: ; notranslate">if ( ! defined( 'WP_ENVIRONMENT' ) ) {
    define( 'WP_ENVIRONMENT', 'development' );
}</pre>
<p>The idea here is that there will always be a <strong>WP_ENVIRONMENT</strong> constant available to you that tells you what kind of environment your site is being run in. In production, you will put this in <strong>local-config.php</strong> along with the database credentials:</p>
<pre class="brush: php; title: ; notranslate">define( 'WP_ENVIRONMENT', 'production' );</pre>
<p>Now, in your theme, or your custom plugins, or other code, you can do things like this:</p>
<pre class="brush: php; title: ; notranslate">if ( 'production' === WP_ENVIRONMENT ) {
    add_filter( 'option_gravityformsaddon_gravityformsstripe_settings', function( $stripe_settings ) {
        $stripe_settings['api_mode'] = 'live';
        return $stripe_settings;
    });
} else {
    add_filter( 'option_gravityformsaddon_gravityformsstripe_settings', function( $stripe_settings ) {
        $stripe_settings['api_mode'] = 'test';
        return $stripe_settings;
    });
}</pre>
<p>This bit of code is for the Easy Digital Downloads Stripe gateway plugin. It makes sure that on the production environment, the payment gateway is always in <strong>live</strong> mode, and the anywhere else, it is always in <strong>test</strong> mode. This protects against two very bad situations: connecting to live services from a test environment (which could result in customers being charged for test transactions) and connecting to test services from a live environment (which could prevent customers from purchasing products on your site).</p>
<p>You can also use this pattern to do things like hide Google Analytics on your test sites, or make sure debug plugins are only active on development sites (more on that, in a future post!)</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t rely on complicated procedures (&#8220;step 34: make sure you go into the Stripe settings and switch the site to test mode on your local test site&#8221;) — make these things explicit in code. Make it impossible to screw it up, and working on your sites will become faster and less stressful.</p>
<hr />
<p><b>Do you need <a href="https://coveredwebservices.com/">WordPress services?</a></b></p>
<p>Mark runs <a href="https://coveredwebservices.com/">Covered Web Services</a> which specializes in custom WordPress solutions with focuses on security, speed optimization, plugin development and customization, and complex migrations.</p>
<p>Please reach out to start a conversation!</p>
[contact-form]";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Mon, 05 Feb 2018 14:59:04 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:12:"Mark Jaquith";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:11;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:40:"Matt: National Magazine Award Nomination";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:22:"https://ma.tt/?p=47900";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:57:"https://ma.tt/2018/02/national-magazine-award-nomination/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:761:"<p>Longreads <a href="http://www.magazine.org/asme/about-asme/pressroom/asme-press-releases/ellies-2018-finalists-announced">was nominated today</a> for its first-ever <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Magazine_Awards">National Magazine Award</a>, in the category of columns and commentary, alongside ESPN The Magazine, BuzzFeed News, Pitchfork, and New York magazine. Laurie Penny&#x27;s Longreads columns <a href="https://longreads.com/tag/metoo-and-consent/">explore important questions of consent and female desire</a> that have strongly resonated in our current moment. In addition to this nomination, Penny&#x27;s columns have been translated and republished in Italian and German newspapers, and will be collected in a forthcoming book.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Fri, 02 Feb 2018 21:37:36 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:4:"Matt";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:12;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:46:"Dev Blog: The Month in WordPress: January 2018";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:34:"https://wordpress.org/news/?p=5541";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:71:"https://wordpress.org/news/2018/02/the-month-in-wordpress-january-2018/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:3861:"<p>Things got off to a gradual start in 2018 with momentum starting to pick up over the course of the month. There were some notable developments in January, including a new point release and work being done on other important areas of the WordPress project.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator" />



<h2>WordPress 4.9.2 Security and Maintenance Release</h2>



<p>On January 16, <a href="https://wordpress.org/news/2018/01/wordpress-4-9-2-security-and-maintenance-release/">WordPress 4.9.2 was released</a> to fix an important security issue with the media player, as well as a number of other smaller bugs. This release goes a long way to smoothing out the 4.9 release cycle with the next point release, v4.9.3, <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/01/31/wordpress-4-9-3-release-pushed-to-february-5th/">due in early February</a>.</p>



<p>To get involved in building WordPress Core, jump into the #core channel in the<a href="https://make.wordpress.org/chat/"> Making WordPress Slack group</a>, and follow<a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/"> the Core team blog</a>.</p>



<h2>Updated Plugin Directory Guidelines</h2>



<p>At the end of 2017, <a href="https://developer.wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-org/detailed-plugin-guidelines/">the guidelines for the Plugin Directory</a> received a significant update to make them clearer and expanded to address certain situations. This does not necessarily make these guidelines complete, but rather more user-friendly and practical; they govern how developers build plugins for the Plugin Directory, so they need to evolve with the global community that the Directory serves.</p>



<p>If you would like to contribute to these guidelines, you can make a pull request to <a href="https://github.com/WordPress/wporg-plugin-guidelines">the GitHub repository</a> or email <a href="mailto:plugins@wordpress.org">plugins@wordpress.org</a>. You can also jump into the #pluginreview channel in the<a href="https://make.wordpress.org/chat/"> Making WordPress Slack group</a>.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator" />



<h2>Further Reading:</h2>



<ul>
    <li>Near the end of last year a lot of work was put into improving the standards in the WordPress core codebase and now <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2017/11/30/wordpress-php-now-mostly-conforms-to-wordpress-coding-standards/">the entire platform is at nearly 100% compliance with the WordPress coding standards</a>.</li>
    <li>Gutenberg, the new editor coming to WordPress core in the next major release, <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/01/25/whats-new-in-gutenberg-25th-january/">was updated to v2.1 this month</a> with some great usability and technical improvements.</li>
    <li>The Global Community Team is <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/community/2018/01/16/2018-goals-for-the-global-community-team-suggestions-time/">taking suggestions for the goals of the Community program in 2018</a>.</li>
    <li><a href="https://online.wpcampus.org/">WPCampus Online</a>, a digital conference focused on WordPress in higher education, took place on January 30. The videos of the event sessions will be online soon.</li>
    <li>A WordPress community member <a href="https://wptavern.com/new-toolkit-simplifies-the-process-of-creating-gutenberg-blocks">has released a toolkit</a> to help developers build blocks for Gutenberg.</li>
    <li>The community team that works to improve the WordPress hosting experience is relatively young, but <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/hosting/2018/01/25/hosting-meeting-notes-january-10-2018/">they have been making some great progress recently</a>.</li>
</ul>



<p><em>If you have a story we should consider including in the next “Month in WordPress” post, please <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/community/month-in-wordpress-submissions/">submit it here</a>.</em></p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Fri, 02 Feb 2018 08:10:07 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:15:"Hugh Lashbrooke";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:13;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:54:"WPTavern: WordPress 4.9.3 Rescheduled for February 5th";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://wptavern.com/?p=78058";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:65:"https://wptavern.com/wordpress-4-9-3-rescheduled-for-february-5th";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:1336:"<p>WordPress 4.9.3 is a maintenance release and was originally scheduled to be available on January 30th. However, due to ongoing tickets and a short time frame to test the <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/02/01/wordpress-4-9-3-rc/">release candidate</a>, it has <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/01/31/wordpress-4-9-3-release-pushed-to-february-5th/">been pushed back</a> to February 5th.</p>
<p><a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/02/01/wordpress-4-9-3-rc/">WordPress 4.9.3 RC 1</a> is available for testing. This release <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/01/24/jshint-removed-from-codemirror-in-4-9-3/">removes JSHint from the code editors</a> due to conflicts with the GPL License. If your code relies on JSHint from Core, <a href="https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/42850">developers encourage</a> you to update it to use a copy of JSHint.</p>
<p>Other changes in 4.9.3 include, avoiding page scrolling when navigating the media modal, a handful of improvements to the customizer, <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/01/26/wordpress-4-9-3-beta/">and more</a>. Please test WordPress 4.9.3 on a staging site and if you encounter any bugs, you can report them on the <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/forum/alphabeta/">Alpha/Beta section</a> of the support forums.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Fri, 02 Feb 2018 08:09:02 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:14;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:78:"WPTavern: WooCommerce 3.3 Removed From Plugin Directory Due to Theme Conflicts";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://wptavern.com/?p=77962";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:89:"https://wptavern.com/woocommerce-3-3-removed-from-plugin-directory-due-to-theme-conflicts";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:3081:"<p>Earlier this week, WooCommerce 3.3 <a href="https://wptavern.com/woocommerce-3-3-increases-theme-compatibility-auto-regenerates-thumbnails">was released</a> and among the features was increased theme compatibility. However, soon after release, users of third-party themes <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wc-3-3-issues-with-categories-displaying-in-shop/">reported issues</a> with categories displaying improperly.</p>
<p>Despite it being a minor release that should be fully backwards compatible with previous releases up to 3.0, WooCommerce has removed 3.3 from the plugin directory and replaced it with 3.2.6.</p>
<p>According <a href="https://woocommerce.wordpress.com/2018/02/01/woocommerce-3-3-1-status-update/">to a post</a> on the project&#8217;s official blog, WooCommerce 3.3.1 will take the place of 3.3 and will include a fix for the category display issue.</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>The issue affected themes with template overrides from 3.2.x which hadn’t been made compatible with 3.3. In general, <a href="https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce/wiki/Template-File-Guidelines-for-Devs-and-Theme-Authors#hook-vs-override---when-to-use-what">we recommend that themes use hooks instead of template overrides.</a> Themes such as <a href="https://en-gb.wordpress.org/themes/storefront/">Storefront</a> (which does not use template overrides) were compatible at launch.</p>
<p><cite>WooCommerce Blog</cite></p></blockquote>
<p>If you&#8217;ve already updated to WooCommerce 3.3 and your theme is compatible, you don&#8217;t need to make any changes. If your theme is not compatible, WooCommerce recommends checking with your theme&#8217;s author to see if a compatibility fix has been released.</p>
<p>Users can also wait for the release of 3.3.1, update to the <a href="https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce/releases/tag/3.3.1-rc.1">pre-release version</a> of 3.3.1, or use the <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-rollback/">WP-Rollback plugin</a> and revert back to 3.2.6. WooCommerce developers suggest only going the WP-Rollback route if you&#8217;re not comfortable installing pre-release software.</p>
<p>Coen Jacobs, a former member of the WooCommerce development team, commented on Twitter that this was the first time he can remember that a release was reverted.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fun fact: As far as I recall, there has never been a release of WooCommerce that has been withdrawn before. During my time on the development team we have pushed fix releases on the same day as a big releases, but never was it reverted like this.</p>
<p>&mdash; Coen Jacobs (@CoenJacobs) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoenJacobs/status/958768816808497152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p></p>
<p>The development team has tested 3.3.1 with more than 40 different themes and believe it is stable. However, they are exercising caution and thoroughly testing the fixes with more themes. Users can expect to see 3.3.1 officially released the week of February 5th.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Fri, 02 Feb 2018 07:06:53 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:15;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:81:"WPTavern: WPWeekly Episode 303 – Interview With Zac Gordon, Technology Educator";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:58:"https://wptavern.com?p=77901&preview=true&preview_id=77901";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:87:"https://wptavern.com/wpweekly-episode-303-interview-with-zac-gordon-technology-educator";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:1902:"<p>In this episode, <a href="http://jjj.me">John James Jacoby</a> and I are joined by <a href="http://zacgordon.com/">Zac Gordon</a>. We discussed a wide range of topics including, balancing freelance work with educating, an overview of Gutenberg from an educator&#8217;s perspective, and potential brand issues if the Gutenberg name <a href="githubhttps://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/4681">was deprecated</a>. We also talked about some of the difficulties involved with <a href="https://gutenberg.courses/">creating a course</a> around a feature that&#8217;s not yet part of WordPress core.</p>
<h2>Stories Discussed:</h2>
<p><a href="https://ithemes.com/2018/01/31/ithemes-joining-the-liquid-web-family/">iThemes Acquired by LiquidWeb</a><br />
<a href="https://woocommerce.com/2018/01/whats-new-woocommerce-3-3/">WooCommerce 3.3 Released</a><br />
<a href="https://wptavern.com/updraftplus-acquires-easy-updates-manager-plugin">Easy Updates Manager Acquired by UpdraftPlus</a></p>
<h2>Picks of the Week:</h2>
<p>John James Jacoby suggested <a href="https://www.beamauthentic.com/">Beam Authentic</a>. Beam Authentic is a wearable, connected, smart button that can be programmed to display different images through an app.</p>
<h2>WPWeekly Meta:</h2>
<p><strong>Next Episode:</strong> Wednesday, February 7th 3:00 P.M. Eastern</p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wordpress-weekly/id694849738">WordPress Weekly via Itunes</a></p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="https://www.wptavern.com/feed/podcast">WordPress Weekly via RSS</a></p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/wordpress-weekly-podcast?refid=stpr">WordPress Weekly via Stitcher Radio</a></p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Ir3keivkvwwh24xy7qiymurwpbe">WordPress Weekly via Google Play</a></p>
<p><strong>Listen To Episode #303:</strong><br />
</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Thu, 01 Feb 2018 02:12:47 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:16;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:100:"WPTavern: Efrain Rivera, A Longtime Community Member, WordCamp Organizer, and Volunteer, Passes Away";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://wptavern.com/?p=77893";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:107:"https://wptavern.com/efrain-rivera-a-longtime-community-member-wordcamp-organizer-and-volunteer-passes-away";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:2776:"<p>Efrain Rivera, who helped organize and volunteer at numerous WordCamps in Florida has passed away at the age of 47. The news was shared on Facebook by his sister on January 28th.</p>
<img />Efrain Rivera and his wife at WordCamp Miami. Photo courtesy of David Bisset
<p>David Bisset, organizer of WordCamp Miami and a well-known figure in the Florida WordPress community, <a href="http://davidbisset.com/efrain-rivera/">shared his thoughts</a> on Rivera&#8217;s passing.</p>
<blockquote><p>Efrain wasn’t just a fellow organizer, but also a supporter of the local WordPress meetups. There was no ulterior motive in anything that he did. Never once did he ask for anything – he was just happy to be there and help out. He was 100% about giving back to the WordPress community, but even if the community didn’t exist he would find a way to help out folks.</p>
<p>Efrain wasn’t just a supporter and volunteer. He was a good friend to have – someone you could speak frankly too.</p></blockquote>
<p>Rivera is being remembered as a kind, compassionate, and happy person by members of the community.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’m so sorry, he was a pleasure volunteering with,  <a href="https://twitter.com/EfrainWp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EfrainWp</a> was always happy to help and answer questions.</p>
<p>&mdash; Rian M. Kinney, Esq. (@TheKinneyFirm) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheKinneyFirm/status/958855848784252928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I remember his kindness David. What a great person and sad loss.</p>
<p>&mdash; Diane Kinney (@dkinney) <a href="https://twitter.com/dkinney/status/958858994843611138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Efrain was one of happiest, smiliest, caring people I’d ever hung out with at any WordPress event. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2.4/72x72/1f64f.png" alt="?" class="wp-smiley" /> <a href="https://t.co/qW7ChUmjX0">https://t.co/qW7ChUmjX0</a></p>
<p>&mdash; J ³ (@JJJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/JJJ/status/958448885030182913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://memorials.serenitymemorialchapels.com/efrain-rivera/3417849/obituary.php">Memorial services are scheduled</a> for Saturday, February 3, 2018 from 4:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. EST at Serenity Funeral Home and Cremation, 1450 S State Road 7, North Lauderdale, Florida 33068. The service will take place during visitation at 7PM. If you have any memories of meeting or hanging out with Efrain at any of the WordPress events in Florida, please share them in the comments.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Thu, 01 Feb 2018 01:13:15 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:17;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:44:"Post Status: Liquid Web has acquired iThemes";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"https://poststatus.com/?p=41738";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:51:"https://poststatus.com/liquid-web-acquired-ithemes/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:5096:"<p><a href="https://www.liquidweb.com/">Liquid Web</a> has acquired <a href="https://ithemes.com/">iThemes</a>, in an all cash deal that includes the entire iThemes team moving over to Liquid Web as an independent unit. Cory Miller &#8212; CEO of iThemes &#8212; will be the Business Manager of the new unit, with iThemes COO Matt Danner as the Director of Technology and Operations for iThemes. The entire team of twenty three people is staying on, and will continue to be headquartered in Oklahoma.</p>
<p>This is not the first or last time we&#8217;ll see longstanding WordPress companies get rolled into large hosting providers. It&#8217;s a trend that is natural in any ecosystem as it matures, and iThemes was a clear and quality candidate for a host to target. Cory said the culture around Liquid Web, including their &#8220;heroic support,&#8221; but also the quality he sees in their management team, was a key motivator for them to go work with Liquid Web.</p>
<p>As hosting companies evolve more and more to provide broader services for customers with managed WordPress offerings, there is less room for utility product creators to fill that gap.</p>
<p>Backups are a fine example: customers may see less need for external backups if they have confidence that their hosting is managing backups properly. Security is another. These have been great products for iThemes, and still are &#8212; but their current markets are more for hosts without a managed experience, and that slice of the pie has been narrowing.</p>
<p>iThemes has had a partnership with Liquid Web for about a year and a half now, which started by licensing iThemes Sync for Liquid Web&#8217;s WordPress hosting offering. They&#8217;ve slowly been integrating more features into the platform, and the acquisition will allow Liquid Web to further integrate iThemes&#8217; offerings, and allow iThemes to improve some of their product offerings with the backing of Liquid&#8217;s Web&#8217;s hosting infrastructure.</p>
<p>I spoke to Cory Miller about the move, which is occurring not long after iThemes&#8217; ten year anniversary in business. He said he looks back every year and sees them as chapters in the iThemes story, and this feels just the same. He&#8217;s excited about what the backing from Liquid Web will allow them to do, and most importantly for him, the ability to keep supporting the team they have built over the years.</p>
<p>Cory tells me he&#8217;s amazed that they&#8217;ve been able to build the company they have built, and neither he nor his business partners would have imagined it ten years ago. All equity holders had their shares purchased by Liquid Web, and Cory and the team will be Liquid Web employees.</p>
<p>iThemes has iterated on the business many times over the years &#8212; as the name implies. Their theme business slowly dwindled in terms of the overall ratio of sales revenue it provided. BackupBuddy has long been a flagship, and they&#8217;ve found great success the past couple of years since they acquired and iterated on the iThemes Security product. He said that it took them experimenting a great deal &#8212; and like Exchange for eCommerce, and others &#8212; it didn&#8217;t always work out the way they hoped. But because they stayed agile and kept working at it, they&#8217;ve consistently been able to grow and diversify their product line.</p>
<p>One practical component Liquid Web will be able to provide, as an example, is their data centers to power BackupBuddy and iThemes Stash storage and processing. iThemes has historically used Amazon, which Cory said really adds up and has started to eat into their own margins. Liquid Web will help them not only improve the offering but also to be able to perform those functions more affordably.</p>
<p>For Liquid Web, this acquisition furthers their goal to integrate WordPress-specific functionality into their suite of WordPress hosting tools. They recently launched WooCommerce hosting on their platform, and the iThemes Sales Accelerator product can now be a core component of that offering. Additionally, the technology iThemes has built with BackupBuddy and Sync will further add to their platform.</p>
<p>Beyond the technology and products, Liquid Web Vice President of Products and Innovation Chris Lema tells me it&#8217;s about the team:</p>
<blockquote><p>This adds so much to what we’re doing with managed WordPress and managed WooCommerce, that it just made a lot of sense — both from a product perspective, and even more from a team perspective.</p></blockquote>
<p>Having spent a lot of time with the management teams for each of these companies, I would agree that the culture fit is a really good one. And for Liquid Web, a company continuing to make its big push into the WordPress market, it is a solid strategic acquisition move that offers product dividends but more importantly adds a great and experienced WordPress team to their company.</p>
<p><a href="https://ithemes.com/2018/01/31/ithemes-joining-the-liquid-web-family/">Cory shares more</a> about the news on the iThemes blog.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Wed, 31 Jan 2018 17:12:29 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:15:"Brian Krogsgard";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:18;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:60:"HeroPress: The Journey: Curiosity, Challenge, Transformation";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:56:"https://heropress.com/?post_type=heropress-essays&p=2431";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:158:"https://heropress.com/essays/journey-curiosity-challenge-transformation/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=journey-curiosity-challenge-transformation";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:9293:"<img width="960" height="480" src="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/013118-2-1024x512.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Pull Quote: My place in the world has transformed." /><p>When I look back on the past five years I’ve been working with WordPress, I feel the real weight of the journey I’ve had to get where I am. Much of it has been filled with challenge of both of the difficult and welcome variety. I’m an optimist and problem-solver to the core, but I sometimes wonder how I got through these past years. One thing is for certain, my involvement with WordPress, the opportunities and community around it, has been a force for so much good, motivation, and satisfaction in my life.</p>
<h2>The Beginning</h2>
<p>When I was introduced to WordPress, I was going through one of the most trying times of my adult life. My dad had suddenly passed away just a few years before. We didn’t have the best relationship, but his quirkiness, interest in esoteric things, and passion for food certainly rubbed off on me.</p>
<p>I was living with roommates, but moved back home to be with my mom. Not too long after, she developed debilitating osteoarthritis in both of her hips. From a physically healthy yet grieving 52-year-old woman to eventually becoming handicap and walker-bound, needless to say, impacted our lives greatly. I became her caretaker, and I also worked retail part-time for the flexible schedule.</p>
<blockquote><p>I felt emotionally exhausted, uninspired and quite lost with what my next steps would be.</p></blockquote>
<p>I grew up using the internet fervently as a youth and in my college years. I met new friends, learned new skills, and traveled to new places thanks the endless source of information it provided for my active mind. So when a friend, now my mentor, John Bolyard, approached me to help him in his web marketing and development consultancy using “WordPress” I just said “yes.” It was mysterious, being unknown to me, and intriguing, which is usually a green light in my book!</p>
<p>I started doing administrative work on a website he helped develop for a national guild. Like many situations, he had finished their website and they would circle back to him for minor updates. I took on the minor updates, started tinkering on my own, and fell in love in the process.</p>
<p>The accessibility with which one could make changes and produce content dynamically was just mind blowing to me. It was my gateway to web development and now I could make web content with the ability to work with code, if I so chose. It seemed an endless source of learning and knowledge- it was a great fit.</p>
<h2>Levelling Up</h2>
<p>That went well and he brought me on a larger project to help the artist, Dorothy Braudy, create her website archive. I was able to blend my affinity for the technical and handy visual memory to help an all around amazing person (she&#8217;s still one of closest people in my life) tell her story through her art. I was thrilled to have the challenge and the privilege to bring her vibrant and prolific work (hundreds of pieces) to the web.</p>
<p>I also started assisting John with teaching WordPress classes at SCORE, a government organization that helps people develop and sustain small businesses.</p>
<blockquote><p>We volunteered our time teaching business owners WordPress to help them build their own websites.</p></blockquote>
<p>It was challenging yet rewarding to see them feel empowered that they could take a hands-on role in making their web presence.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, I ended up with several clients and that’s how my freelancing career began :). I also started going to meetups. John brought me to my first one in the San Fernando Valley. I was like wait&#8230;this software is cool and people gather to talk about it? I can also learn stuff too?! Get outta town!</p>
<p>Well, I started attending fairly frequently. Particularly, the meetup in the West Valley lead by Andrew Behla (then at the Topanga Canyon Library). I soaked up info from presentations given by Roy Sivan, Suzette Franck, and Lucy Beer (who is now my teammate). Just to name a few ;).</p>
<p>After building a consistent client base, I also started working part-time as a project assistant at a boutique museum exhibit development firm. My first project was for the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens supporting the development of an educational WordPress website for their Junípero Serra exhibition. What were the chances? My skills in WordPress proved helpful for the project and the firm&#8217;s website.</p>
<h2>Pivoting</h2>
<p>At this point, I had seen my mom through her first hip replacement and recovery, and she was moving on to her next one. I thought about where I saw myself and also where I could build a sustainable future given the circumstances. I thought WordPress, and so I did a trial as a Happiness Engineer at WordPress.com.</p>
<p>While I didn&#8217;t get the position, I met some great people and learned exponentially more in that short time than I had on my own. More so, I learned about the users, WordPress’ strengths and weaknesses, and how to fill that gap in an accessible way. I was sad, but also motivated. I took on more client work and just did the thing.</p>
<p>After three years, it was time to leave the exhibit development firm. It was fascinating, it provided me a design, development and project management vocabulary I had never encountered before. However, I needed a firmer career path and I still thought WordPress. My mom was recovered, I had also just recovered from some health issues, and I knew it was time for a change.</p>
<p>While doing client work for several months, I also explored options on how I could &#8220;level up.&#8221; Maybe it was my time to dig into web development: should I learn on my own, go to a school?</p>
<blockquote><p>In my gut, I knew I had to find work that supported my endeavors, so I started applying in the WordPress and tech ecosystem.</p></blockquote>
<p>I networked, attended workshops, and met some awesome folks in the local tech and WordPress communities. I was also approached about joining the organizer team for WordCamp Los Angeles (WCLAX). I said “yes” (that magic word) and last year we had a great event.</p>
<p>When we started planning, I had also heard from WP Media, (the company behind the WP Rocket and Imagify plugins), that I was hired for their Customer Support position. We’re a remote crew spread across 8 countries. However, I’ve been lucky enough to spend time with them at WordCamp Europe, WordCamp US, and our annual retreat last year.</p>
<h2>Transformation</h2>
<p>My place in the world has transformed. I&#8217;ve traveled to places once out of reach, work every day with some of the most brilliant and kind people in the WordPress space, and grow day by day with new challenges and opportunities. I&#8217;m happy, mom is healthy, and the journey continues…</p>
<div class="rtsocial-container rtsocial-container-align-right rtsocial-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-twitter-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-twitter-horizontal-button"><a title="Tweet: The Journey: Curiosity, Challenge, Transformation" class="rtsocial-twitter-button" href="https://twitter.com/share?text=The%20Journey%3A%20Curiosity%2C%20Challenge%2C%20Transformation&via=heropress&url=https%3A%2F%2Fheropress.com%2Fessays%2Fjourney-curiosity-challenge-transformation%2F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a></div></div><div class="rtsocial-fb-horizontal fb-light"><div class="rtsocial-fb-horizontal-button"><a title="Like: The Journey: Curiosity, Challenge, Transformation" class="rtsocial-fb-button rtsocial-fb-like-light" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fheropress.com%2Fessays%2Fjourney-curiosity-challenge-transformation%2F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a></div></div><div class="rtsocial-linkedin-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-linkedin-horizontal-button"><a class="rtsocial-linkedin-button" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fheropress.com%2Fessays%2Fjourney-curiosity-challenge-transformation%2F&title=The+Journey%3A+Curiosity%2C+Challenge%2C+Transformation" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Share: The Journey: Curiosity, Challenge, Transformation"></a></div></div><div class="rtsocial-pinterest-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-pinterest-horizontal-button"><a class="rtsocial-pinterest-button" href="https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://heropress.com/essays/journey-curiosity-challenge-transformation/&media=https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/013118-2-150x150.jpg&description=The Journey: Curiosity, Challenge, Transformation" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Pin: The Journey: Curiosity, Challenge, Transformation"></a></div></div><a rel="nofollow" class="perma-link" href="https://heropress.com/essays/journey-curiosity-challenge-transformation/" title="The Journey: Curiosity, Challenge, Transformation"></a></div><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://heropress.com/essays/journey-curiosity-challenge-transformation/">The Journey: Curiosity, Challenge, Transformation</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://heropress.com">HeroPress</a>.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Wed, 31 Jan 2018 11:00:30 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Renee Johnson";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:19;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:84:"WPTavern: WooCommerce 3.3 Increases Theme Compatibility, Auto Regenerates Thumbnails";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://wptavern.com/?p=77795";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:94:"https://wptavern.com/woocommerce-3-3-increases-theme-compatibility-auto-regenerates-thumbnails";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:3108:"<p>WooCommerce 3.3 <a href="https://woocommerce.com/2018/01/whats-new-woocommerce-3-3/">is available</a> and is considered a minor release. Based on the project’s <a href="https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce/wiki/Roadmap-and-release-process">new release process</a>, it should be fully backwards compatible with previous releases up to 3.0.</p>
<p>The orders screen has been redesigned with large buttons that indicate an order’s status. You can also view an order’s details from the order screen without having to edit the order.</p>
<img class="aligncenter" src="https://i2.wp.com/wptavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/WC33OrdersScreen.png?w=627&ssl=1" alt="" width="627" height="261" />WooCommerce 3.3 Orders Screen
<p>For products that are on backorder and have stock management enabled, WooCommerce 3.3 will automatically transition from ‘In stock’ to ‘On backorder’ or ‘Out of stock’ as the inventory decreases. Once inventory is added, the status will switch back to ‘In Stock’.</p>
<img class="aligncenter" src="https://i2.wp.com/wptavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/WC33OrderStatus.png?w=627&ssl=1" alt="" width="627" height="328" />WooCommerce 3.3 Order Status Screen
<p>For full compatibility, users generally needed to use a WordPress theme that specifically supported WooCommerce. In 3.3, improvements have been made so that WooCommerce renders on themes that don’t fully support it, making it compatible with nearly every WordPress theme.</p>
<p>Users can now set the number of columns and rows for shops with the ability to preview the results live via the Customizer. The columns will resize to fill the entire width of the area and is available on all themes.</p>
<p>In earlier versions of WooCommerce, shop owners needed to use the <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/regenerate-thumbnails/">Regenerate Thumbnails</a> after updating a product’s image as WordPress did not automatically resize the image and generate new thumbnails. WooCommerce 3.3 adds on-the-fly thumbnail regeneration and background thumbnail resizing.</p>
<p>In addition, users can customize the aspect ratios of product images. The choices are classic square images, custom cropped images, or uncropped images</p>
<img class="aligncenter" src="https://i2.wp.com/wptavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/WC33ImageAspectRatio.png?w=627&ssl=1" alt="" width="627" height="402" />WooCommerce 3.3 Image Aspect Ratio Options
<p>Shop owners can now view logs of product downloads with a couple of built-in filters including, by order, by product, by customer, and by file. You can also search for extensions now from the Extensions administration screen.</p>
<p>WooCommerce 3.3 includes more features and changes than what’s listed here. For a detailed overview of what’s new in 3.3, <a href="https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce/blob/release/3.3/readme.txt">check out the changelog</a>. If you think you’ve discovered a bug, please report it on the <a href="https://github.com/woothemes/woocommerce/issues">project’s GitHub page</a>.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Tue, 30 Jan 2018 22:53:45 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:20;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:48:"Mark Jaquith: Simple WordPress deploys using Git";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:40:"http://markjaquith.wordpress.com/?p=5422";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:80:"https://markjaquith.wordpress.com/2018/01/30/simple-wordpress-deploys-using-git/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:3328:"<p>A few weeks back, Clifton Griffin asked me a question about deploying WordPress sites:</p>
<div class="embed-twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/markjaquith?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@markjaquith</a> Hey Mark, quick question: Do you still use and recommend Capistrano?</p>
<p>&mdash; Clifton Griffin (@clifgriffin) <a href="https://twitter.com/clifgriffin/status/948373150680707073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p></div>
<p>I <b>do not</b> use Capistrano for deployments anymore, for one simple reason: it was massive overkill for most of the sites I manage, and maintaining it was not worth the benefit.</p>
<p>My current deployment system for WordPress sites is simple: I use Git.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m already using Git for version control of the site&#8217;s code, so using Git for deployments is not that much more work. There are a few ways to do this, but the simplest way is to just make your site root a Git checkout of your site files.</p>
<p>Then, if your server has read-access to your Git remote, you can run some Git commands to sync everything. Here are your options:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>git pull</strong> — Simple, but might fail if someone naughty has made code modifications on the server.</li>
<li><strong>git fetch &amp;&amp; git reset &#8211;hard origin/master</strong> — The hard reset method will wipe any local modifications that someone has mistakenly made.</li>
</ol>
<p>But wait. Before you implement this, it is very important that you ensure that your server&#8217;s <strong>.git</strong> directory is not readable, as it might be able to leak sensitive information about your site&#8217;s code. How you do this will depend on what web server you&#8217;re running. In Nginx, I do the following:</p>
<pre class="brush: plain; title: ; notranslate">location ~ /\.(ht[a-z]+|git|svn) {
deny all;
}</pre>
<p>In Apache, you could put the following in your <strong>.htaccess</strong> file:</p>
<pre class="brush: plain; title: ; notranslate">RedirectMatch 404 /\.git</pre>
<p>SSHing into your server every time is tedious, so let&#8217;s script that:</p>
<pre class="brush: bash; title: ; notranslate">#!/bin/bash
ssh example.com 'cd /srv/www/example.com &amp;&amp; git pull'</pre>
<p>Save that to <strong>deploy.sh</strong> in your Git repo, run <strong>chmod +x deploy.sh</strong>, and commit it to the repo. Now when you&#8217;re ready to deploy the site, just type <strong>./deploy.sh</strong> and the public site will pull down the latest changes from your main Git remote.</p>
<p>Bonus points if you make <strong>deploy.sh</strong> take an optional commit hash, so you can also use this tool to roll back to a previous hash, in case a commit goes wrong.</p>
<p>This method has served me well, for years, and has required no maintenance.</p>
<p>What methods are you using for WordPress code deploys?</p>
<hr />
<p><b>Do you need <a href="https://coveredwebservices.com/">WordPress services?</a></b></p>
<p>Mark runs <a href="https://coveredwebservices.com/">Covered Web Services</a> which specializes in custom WordPress solutions with focuses on security, speed optimization, plugin development and customization, and complex migrations.</p>
<p>Please reach out to start a conversation!</p>
[contact-form]";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Tue, 30 Jan 2018 15:31:09 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:12:"Mark Jaquith";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:21;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:58:"WPTavern: UpdraftPlus Acquires Easy Updates Manager Plugin";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://wptavern.com/?p=77700";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:69:"https://wptavern.com/updraftplus-acquires-easy-updates-manager-plugin";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:2048:"<p><a href="https://updraftplus.com/">UpdraftPlus</a>, a popular WordPress backup plugin actively installed on more than 1 million sites has acquired the <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/stops-core-theme-and-plugin-updates/">Easy Updates Manager</a> plugin for an undisclosed amount.</p>
<p>Easy Updates Manager disables core, theme, and plugin updates in WordPress and provides granular control over them. It was created in 2015, is actively installed on more than 100K sites, and is maintained by <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/kidsguide/">Matthew Sparrow</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/ronalfy/">Ronald Huereca</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/roary86/">Roary Tubbs</a>, and <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/bigwing/">BigWing Interactive</a>.</p>
<img />Easy Updates manager User Interface
<p>Burnout was a contributing factor for selling the plugin. &#8220;Matthew Sparrow and I were both burnt out on the project, so the offer to sell was a no-brainer,&#8221; Huereca said. &#8220;It’s bittersweet letting our baby go, but it’s in good hands.&#8221;</p>
<p>Without proper vetting, selling established plugins to individuals or companies can be harmful to sites and tarnish its reputation. Because UpdraftPlus is a well established company, Huereca didn&#8217;t have to do a lot of research.</p>
<p>&#8220;We were looking for more backend plugins that we understand and it&#8217;s a great plugin, highly rated and growing,&#8221; A company representative said. &#8220;Updates and backups go hand-in-hand as people should really backup before updating.&#8221;</p>
<p>UpdraftPlus will focus its marketing efforts towards <a href="https://updraftplus.com/updraftcentral/">UpdraftCentral</a> later this year. UpdraftCentral provides the ability for users to update, backup, and manage their sites from one dashboard. Easy Updates Manager and UpdraftCentral are complimentary products.</p>
<p>Users can expect to see more updates later this year and continued refinement of the user interface.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Tue, 30 Jan 2018 00:30:31 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:22;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:61:"BuddyPress: BuddyPress 2.9.3 Security and Maintenance Release";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:32:"https://buddypress.org/?p=270325";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:81:"https://buddypress.org/2018/01/buddypress-2-9-3-security-and-maintenance-release/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:1312:"<p>BuddyPress 2.9.3 is now available. This is a security and maintenance release. We strongly encourage all BuddyPress sites to upgrade as soon as possible.</p>
<p>The 2.9.3 release addresses two security issues:</p>
<ul>
<li>A dynamic template loading feature could be used in some cases for unauthorized file execution and directory traversal. Reported by <a href="https://pritect.net">James Golovich</a>.</li>
<li>Some permissions checks and path validations in the attachment deletion process were hardened. Reported by <a href="https://www.ripstech.com/">RIPSTech</a> and <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/slaFFik/">Slava Abakumov</a> of the BuddyPress security team.</li>
</ul>
<p>These vulnerabilities were reported privately to the BuddyPress team, in accordance with <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/handbook/testing/reporting-security-vulnerabilities/">WordPress&#8217;s security policies</a>. Our thanks to all reporters for practicing coordinated disclosure.</p>
<p>In addition, 2.9.3 includes a change that fixes the ability to install legacy bbPress 1.x forums. Please note that legacy forum support will be removed altogether in BuddyPress 3.0; see <a href="https://bpdevel.wordpress.com/2017/12/07/legacy-forums-support-will-be/">the announcement blog post</a> for more details.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Fri, 26 Jan 2018 18:11:30 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:12:"Boone Gorges";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:23;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:61:"Post Status: WordPress Market Opportunities — Draft podcast";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"https://poststatus.com/?p=41485";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:68:"https://poststatus.com/wordpress-market-opportunities-draft-podcast/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:2459:"<p>Welcome to the Post Status <a href="https://poststatus.com/category/draft">Draft podcast</a>, which you can find <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/post-status-draft-wordpress/id976403008">on iTunes</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Ih5egfxskgcec4qadr3f4zfpzzm?t=Post_Status__Draft_WordPress_Podcast">Google Play</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/krogsgard/post-status-draft-wordpress-podcast">Stitcher</a>, and <a href="http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1061/rss">via RSS</a> for your favorite podcatcher. Post Status Draft is hosted by Brian Krogsgard and co-host Brian Richards.</p>
<p>In this episode, Brian and Brian discuss market segmentation across the WordPress ecosystem. The focus for this discussion focused entirely on the entry-level segment of site assemblers and their small-business clients as well as the mid-level market of contractors and agencies selling additional levels of service. The duo talked through a few different strategies employed in each segment, including service differentiation, regional focus, building a network of complementary contractors, systemizing processes, delivering quality customer support flow, and selling ongoing service.</p>
<p>In addition to this look at market segmentation, the Brians shared a few useful resources for both Gutenberg and WP-CLI.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>Links</h3>
<ul>
<li>Mike McAlister&#8217;s <a href="http://gutenberg.news/">Gutenberg News</a></li>
<li>Ahmed Awais&#8217;s <a href="https://github.com/ahmadawais/create-guten-block">create-gutenberg-block</a></li>
<li>Delicious Brain&#8217;s <a href="https://deliciousbrains.com/wordpress-cli-packages-review/">WP-CLI packages reviews</a></li>
<li>WordPress Website: <a href="https://poststatus.com/wordpress-website-cost/">How much should it cost?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://wpsessions.com/sessions/selling-ongoing-service/">Selling Ongoing Services with Sara Dunn</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Sponsor: iThemes</h3>
<p>This episode is sponsored by <a href="https://ithemes.com/?utm_source=post_status&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=ps_ads">iThemes</a>. The team at iThemes offers WordPress plugins, themes and training to help take the guesswork out of building, maintaining and securing WordPress websites. For more information, check out their <a href="https://ithemes.com/?utm_source=post_status&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=ps_ads">website</a> and thank you to iThemes for being a Post Status partner.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Fri, 26 Jan 2018 16:50:22 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:14:"Katie Richards";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:24;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:72:"WPTavern: WPWeekly Episode 302 – Brian Gardner, Founder of StudioPress";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:58:"https://wptavern.com?p=77689&preview=true&preview_id=77689";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:78:"https://wptavern.com/wpweekly-episode-302-brian-gardner-founder-of-studiopress";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:1338:"<p>In this episode, <a href="http://jjj.me">John James Jacoby</a> and I are joined by <a href="https://briangardner.com/">Brian Gardner</a>, founder of <a href="https://www.studiopress.com/">StudioPress</a>. We talk about the past, present, and future of the company including various milestones such as the Genesis framework and merger with CopyBlogger Media in 2010. We also discuss the community surrounding StudioPress&#8217; products and the role it plays in the company&#8217;s continued success.</p>
<h2>Picks of the Week:</h2>
<p><a href="https://wptavern.com/new-toolkit-simplifies-the-process-of-creating-gutenberg-blocks">Ahmad Awais Create Guten Block toolkit</a>.</p>
<h2>WPWeekly Meta:</h2>
<p><strong>Next Episode:</strong> Wednesday, January 31st 3:00 P.M. Eastern</p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wordpress-weekly/id694849738">WordPress Weekly via Itunes</a></p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="https://www.wptavern.com/feed/podcast">WordPress Weekly via RSS</a></p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/wordpress-weekly-podcast?refid=stpr">WordPress Weekly via Stitcher Radio</a></p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Ir3keivkvwwh24xy7qiymurwpbe">WordPress Weekly via Google Play</a></p>
<p><strong>Listen To Episode #302:</strong> </p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Fri, 26 Jan 2018 04:15:18 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:25;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:38:"WPTavern: WordPress Turns 15 Years Old";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://wptavern.com/?p=77652";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:49:"https://wptavern.com/wordpress-turns-15-years-old";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:1120:"<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --><br />
WordPress, the free open source project, <a href="https://ma.tt/2003/01/the-blogging-software-dilemma/">turns 15 years</a> old today. Here is the comment that started it all.<br />
<!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/image {"id":51095} --></p>
<img src="https://i2.wp.com/wptavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/MikeLittleForkB2Comment.png?w=627&ssl=1" alt="Mike Little&#x27;s Comment" />Mike Little&#x27;s Comment
<p><!-- /wp:core/image --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --><br />
In addition to celebrating 15 years as a successful software project, it&#x27;s also a good opportunity to reflect on the number of people across the world who are making a great living and <a href="http://heropress.com/">turning dreams into reality</a> thanks to the project.<br />
<!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --><br />
Thank you Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little for creating WordPress, its contributors for keeping the ball rolling all these years, and providing opportunities for so many people. Happy birthday WordPress!<br />
<!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Fri, 26 Jan 2018 03:41:27 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:26;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:73:"WPTavern: WordCamp Miami Celebrates Its 10th Consecutive Year March 16-18";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://wptavern.com/?p=77595";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:84:"https://wptavern.com/wordcamp-miami-celebrates-its-10th-consecutive-year-march-16-18";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:3689:"<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><a href="https://2018.miami.wordcamp.org/">WordCamp Miami</a> is celebrating its 10th anniversary on March 16-18th. This year&#x27;s event is organized by twelve people and organizers expect more than 800 people to attend. Speakers will arrive from Italy, Germany, London, Brazil, and other international locations to share their knowledge.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>In addition to a <a href="https://2018.miami.wordcamp.org/kids/">two-day Kids Camp</a> with a Kids Panel, WordCamp Miami will feature two new workshops. The first is developer focused and will prepare developers for <a href="https://2018.miami.wordcamp.org/2017/12/19/developer-workshop-announcement-future-of-wordpress/">the future of WordPress</a>. The second is <a href="https://2018.miami.wordcamp.org/2017/12/21/ecommerce-workshop-coming-to-wcmia/">focused on eCommerce</a>.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>Attendees will receive their own site and be able to apply what they&#x27;ve learned to it. The sites will have pre-installed plugins and access to various tools mentioned by the workshop teachers.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>The &#x27;Learn JavaScript Deeply&#x27; track is returning this year, featuring local and international JavaScript developers. This is the third time WordCamp Miami has had this track and according to David Bisset, one of the organizers, the focus will be on JavaScript basics, React, plus using JavaScript to create &#x27;cool and unique&#x27; projects with or without WordPress.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>Joshua Strebel, Syed Balkhi, and Christie Chirinos will highlight Saturday&#x27;s business track. </p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>For the first time in recent years, WordCamp Miami will have a closing keynote on Saturday, March 17th by John James Jacoby. Jacoby was one of the founders of WordCamp Miami a decade ago, and his talk will cover both nostalgic moments and what the future of WordPress holds for users.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>Finally, WordCamp Miami will be doing a &#x27;game show hour&#x27; before the official after party. "We wanted to do something fun and interactive for everyone &#8211; and we think we found a great way to segue people from the talks to unwinding at the after party," Bisset explained. </p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>"We are even planning on having our sponsors form teams in a trivia contest battle. There will be provisions at the party for those who want to network or just relax in a quiet setting."</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>Bisset praised volunteers and organizers for helping make 10 years of WordCamp Miami a reality.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>"Each and every one of our organizers and speakers deserve a huge amount of thanks and praise for their hard work." He said. "We couldn&#x27;t have done ten years without the support of the WordPress community."</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>Tickets are <a href="https://2018.miami.wordcamp.org/tickets/">on sale</a> with a number of purchasing options. Workshops cost $15 each and general admission tickets are $40 each. General admission tickets provide access to Saturday and Sunday sessions, lunch, swag, and the after party. </p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Thu, 25 Jan 2018 01:56:52 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:27;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:30:"HeroPress: Believe In Yourself";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:56:"https://heropress.com/?post_type=heropress-essays&p=2420";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:112:"https://heropress.com/essays/believe-in-yourself/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=believe-in-yourself";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:10510:"<img width="960" height="480" src="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/012418-1024x512.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Pull Quote: Working in WordPress has allowed my curiosity to run wild." /><p>You ever have a moment where you blink your eyes and you wonder how you’ve gotten to where you are today? I’m having one of those moments right now as I sit here to share my story with you. It’s bizarre to think of how far I’ve come because I truly thought that I was not good enough to be where I am today. Let’s get into it.</p>
<h3>The Beginning</h3>
<p>As a child, I was always around technology. My dad was a computer scientist and considered it a great idea to get each of his four children their own computer so they would stay away from his. So as the years went by with system administrative tasks being “one of the hard-knocks of life”, I went off to Drexel University in 2005 to pursue a degree in Computer Science. I remember when I walked into my first class and instantly saw how different I was. Everyone was white. Everyone was male. And I was not. In fact, I couldn’t even check off one of those boxes. I was opposite. I was female and I was black.</p>
<p>The first year pursuing my degree actually went really well and finished off the year, completing my C++ final project to create a matching cards game using objects and classes. All was swell. I found that I was doing just as well as everyone else. And I found that was struggling in certain areas just like everyone else.</p>
<h3>Leaning In</h3>
<p>Next semester came and that’s when the more difficult course load began. There was one class in particular called “Data Algorithms &amp; Theories” that was incredibly and frustratingly difficult. As someone who always wanted to do well and is inclined to beat herself up for not being “perfect”, it was an incredibly stressful time for me. But once again, I was not the only one who was struggling because the class was difficult for all of my classmates. But as the class progressed, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and ask for help. This was the first time I would actually utilize the teaching assistant (TA) that was often present during this class. So our scheduled meeting comes around and it doesn’t go as I’d hoped. It wasn’t at all a welcoming atmosphere.</p>
<blockquote><p>The demeanor of the TA made it clear that he didn’t want to be there but my happy-go-lucky personality brushed it aside.</p></blockquote>
<p>To make things worse, I wasn’t understanding the “simple” concepts that he was explaining and was subject to the TA’s dismissive glances of judgement and shame. I remember at one point, my mind shifted into trying to make him like me rather than realize that he was discriminating against me. Then he said to me “You know, maybe this just isn’t for you. I’ve explained this to you multiple times and you’re just not getting.” This was a very upsetting moment in my life because someone who was supposed to be helping me learn was telling me that you’re too stupid to learn. Needless to say, I left that session very upset and I ultimately ended up changing my major to something “easier” because apparently it “wasn’t for me”.</p>
<h3>Accepting A Career</h3>
<p>After I graduated in 2010 with my degree in Information Technology, I moved to DC to pursue an unfulfilling Systems Engineering career in government contracting. Don’t get me wrong. I learned a plethora of valuable skills that I will use for the rest of my life. But I wasn’t doing something that was enriching me. Not only that, I was often made to feel ostracized in the work culture because of the lack of diversity.</p>
<blockquote><p>I’m not sure if anyone’s told you&#8230;but it’s extremely hard being a minority and working with people who don’t look like you and who can’t relate to you.</p></blockquote>
<p>If someone said something racially insensitive or offensive (and there have been multiple instances), that was always a battle I had to fight on my own. And to be honest, sometimes I didn’t fight because I knew no one would give a damn and the person would get away with it with a slap on the wrist.</p>
<h3>Remembering Joy</h3>
<p>So in the mist of all of this, no matter how upset, beaten-up and angry I felt after a work day, I could always come back to my love for the metal music genre. I would spend so much time listening to new metal music after work that co-workers nicknamed me “the DJ”. Which isn’t completely untrue. In college, one of my extracurriculars was to host a weekly metal radio show on the college radio station. But I didn’t have that anymore so I essentially felt a bit lost.</p>
<p>That’s when I decided to get it back! Not in the form of an actual radio show. But in the form of a metal music blog. Outside of having played around with making marque-filled pages on GeoCities and changing the backgrounds of my MySpace and Xanga profiles to be neon-colored or highly pixelated images, I didn’t have any experience making a website. So I GOOGLED it! And in that research I learned how hosting providers work and the best blogging platform for me to use for my blog. And that platform was WordPress. So in 2015, I launched my first website ever on WordPress: metalandcoffee.com. And this point I didn’t really know anything super WordPress-nerdy outside of being able to select a theme and add/organize content on the navigation bar. But I finally had my own voice live and anyone can see it!</p>
<h3>Looking Deep</h3>
<p>Now &#8211; the year was 2017 and words cannot describe how miserable I am in my current work position. I thought transferring to a position within the company that brought me back to Philadelphia would help my pain and suffering but it only numbed it for a couple months. I still didn’t like the environment, I didn’t like what I was doing, and although I was able to look at the occasional code snippet that would give me a spark of confidence when I understood what the code was doing, I wasn’t given an opportunity to be on the other side. This is what lit a fire under me to finally do everything in my power to move towards a developer career. I felt like that was where I was supposed to be. Sure, I was told that I wasn’t smart enough to be anywhere near code but why did it excite me to see it and recognize it? Why was I able to troubleshoot errors even though I wasn’t a developer? Why was I excelling at quality assuring software by being able to understand the code’s logic thus thinking of scenarios that were unaccounted for?</p>
<h3>Breaking Through</h3>
<p>So I signed up for a couple online courses focused on web development and eventually found myself having been accepted to <a href="http://www.interactivemechanics.com/fellowship">a front-end developer fellowship program</a> that provided me with an amazing mentor and a final project to work towards. For my final project, I chose to learn how to create a custom WordPress theme for my Metal &amp; Coffee website because the current one that I was using did not fully suite my needs.</p>
<blockquote><p>And there you have it &#8211; throughout the next 9 months, the doubt and shame instilled in me since college kept coming up and I kept having to find ways to break through it whether it’d be a pep talk from my mentor, talking to developers who look like me (black women) or using meditation to help me through the anxiety.</p></blockquote>
<p>And by the end of that, not only did I finish my final project (<a href="http://metalandcoffee.github.io">http://metalandcoffee.github.io</a>) and come to really love WordPress theming, I got a job offer from Tracy Levesque and Mia Levesque to work at their WordPress web agency, <a href="https://www.yikesinc.com/">Yikes Inc.</a></p>
<h3>Finding My Place</h3>
<p>Now, I’m a full-time WordPress developer and I couldn’t be more satisfied. Working at Yikes has sent my developer skills soaring over mountains and valleys. My curiosity is allowed to run wild and I’ve actually been diving into the plugin world, completely re-coding an internal plugin from the ground up and learning essential web programming practices in the process.</p>
<p>My next goal in the WordPress community is to see more WordPress developers who look like me. And one step I’ve taken towards that goal is to co-teach a Intro to WordPress workshop at Codeland 2018 which I’m very excited (and nervous) for. And I’ll continue to be as visible and outspoken as possible to encourage diversity in this community.</p>
<div class="rtsocial-container rtsocial-container-align-right rtsocial-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-twitter-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-twitter-horizontal-button"><a title="Tweet: Believe In Yourself" class="rtsocial-twitter-button" href="https://twitter.com/share?text=Believe%20In%20Yourself&via=heropress&url=https%3A%2F%2Fheropress.com%2Fessays%2Fbelieve-in-yourself%2F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a></div></div><div class="rtsocial-fb-horizontal fb-light"><div class="rtsocial-fb-horizontal-button"><a title="Like: Believe In Yourself" class="rtsocial-fb-button rtsocial-fb-like-light" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fheropress.com%2Fessays%2Fbelieve-in-yourself%2F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a></div></div><div class="rtsocial-linkedin-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-linkedin-horizontal-button"><a class="rtsocial-linkedin-button" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fheropress.com%2Fessays%2Fbelieve-in-yourself%2F&title=Believe+In+Yourself" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Share: Believe In Yourself"></a></div></div><div class="rtsocial-pinterest-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-pinterest-horizontal-button"><a class="rtsocial-pinterest-button" href="https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://heropress.com/essays/believe-in-yourself/&media=https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/012418-150x150.jpg&description=Believe In Yourself" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Pin: Believe In Yourself"></a></div></div><a rel="nofollow" class="perma-link" href="https://heropress.com/essays/believe-in-yourself/" title="Believe In Yourself"></a></div><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://heropress.com/essays/believe-in-yourself/">Believe In Yourself</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://heropress.com">HeroPress</a>.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Wed, 24 Jan 2018 13:00:37 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Ebonie Butler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:28;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:73:"WPTavern: New Toolkit Simplifies the Process of Creating Gutenberg Blocks";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://wptavern.com/?p=77521";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:84:"https://wptavern.com/new-toolkit-simplifies-the-process-of-creating-gutenberg-blocks";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:5470:"<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><a href="https://ahmadawais.com/">Ahmad Awais</a>, who <a href="https://wptavern.com/gutenberg-boilerplate-demonstrates-how-to-build-custom-blocks">created the Gutenberg Boilerplate</a> last year, has <a href="https://ahmadawais.com/create-guten-block-toolkit/">released</a> a <a href="https://github.com/ahmadawais/create-guten-block">Guten Block Toolkit</a>. The toolkit substantially simplifies the creation of Gutenberg Blocks by providing no configuration, one dependency, and no lock-in.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>Awais created the toolkit after receiving feedback that configuring things like Webpack, React, ES 6/7/8/Next, ESLint, Babel and keeping up with their development was too difficult.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>"Developers told me that they built Gutenberg blocks with ES5 because the amount of time required to configure, set up, and learn tools like Babel, Webpack, ESLint, Prettier, etc. wasn’t worth it," Awais said.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>"So, yes! I went ahead and built a solution — a zero-config-js #0CJS WordPress developers’ toolkit called create-guten-block!"</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>Creating blocks using the toolkit is a three-step process. </p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>Developers begin by installing Node version 8 or higher on a local server. The next step is to run the create-guten-block command and provide a name for the plugin that will be created. This command also creates the folder structure necessary to maintain the project. The last step is to run the NPM start command which runs the plugin in development mode.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>Once these steps are completed, the WordPress plugin will be compatible with Gutenberg and have React.js, ES 6/7/8/Next, and Babel, which also has ESLint configurations for code editors to detect and use automatically. </p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>The Guten Block Toolkit comes with the following:</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/list --></p>
<ul>
<li>React, JSX, and ES6 syntax support. </li>
<li>Webpack dev/production build process behind the scene. </li>
<li>Language extras beyond ES6 like the object spread operator. </li>
<li>Auto-prefixed CSS, so you don’t need -webkit or other prefixes. </li>
<li>A build script to bundle JS, CSS, and images for production with source-maps. </li>
<li>Hassle-free updates for the above tools with a single dependency cgb-scripts.</li>
</ul>
<p><!-- /wp:core/list --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>The project has received positive feedback, including from members of Gutenberg&#x27;s development team.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/GaryPendergast/status/954559771910193152"} --></p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mad props to <a href="https://twitter.com/MrAhmadAwais?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MrAhmadAwais</a> for making a super useful Gutenberg tool that I've been really looking forward to! ?</p>
<p>I'm excited about the possibilities for this, and I love how it's embraced WordPress' "decisions, not options" philosophy, doing all of the hard work for you. ?? <a href="https://t.co/hUAQVDL7S1">https://t.co/hUAQVDL7S1</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Gary (@GaryPendergast) <a href="https://twitter.com/GaryPendergast/status/954559771910193152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><br />

<p><!-- /wp:core/embed --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/igorbenic/status/955539392273281025"} --></p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tried the <a href="https://t.co/WkvhwSVBh6">https://t.co/WkvhwSVBh6</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/MrAhmadAwais?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MrAhmadAwais</a>, had a block within a minute. Now it's time to finish the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gutenberg?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gutenberg</a> course from <a href="https://twitter.com/zgordon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zgordon</a> to actually build something useful :D</p>
<p>&mdash; Igor Benić (@igorbenic) <a href="https://twitter.com/igorbenic/status/955539392273281025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><br />

<p><!-- /wp:core/embed --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>With a stable release now available to the public, Awais is working on <a href="https://github.com/ahmadawais/create-guten-block/issues/11">2.0.0</a>. "The next step is to get this toolkit tested and mature the entire app to release version 2.0.0 for that not only do I need your <a href="https://ahmadawais.com/contact/">support</a>, I ask that you hop on board and contribute — that’s the only way forward," he said.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>Create Guten Block Toolkit is <a href="https://github.com/ahmadawais/create-guten-block/blob/master/LICENSE">MIT licensed</a> and available for free <a href="https://github.com/ahmadawais/create-guten-block">on GitHub</a>. Contributions are welcomed! </p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Wed, 24 Jan 2018 03:30:09 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:29;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:97:"WPTavern: Free Conference Dedicated to WordPress in Higher Ed Takes Place January 30th at 9AM CST";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://wptavern.com/?p=77514";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:108:"https://wptavern.com/free-conference-dedicated-to-wordpress-in-higher-ed-takes-place-january-30th-at-9am-cst";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:1380:"<p>If you&#8217;re interested in learning how WordPress is used in Higher Ed, tune in to <a href="https://online.wpcampus.org/">WPCampus Online</a>, January 30th at 9AM Central Standard Time. WPCampus Online is a virtual conference that people can watch for free, no traveling necessary. The event uses <a href="https://www.crowdcast.io/">Crowdcast</a> allowing viewers to switch between rooms, interact with each other, and ask questions.</p>
<p>Some of the topics that <a href="https://online.wpcampus.org/schedule/">will be presented</a> include, <a href="https://online.wpcampus.org/schedule/wordpress-and-real-world-data-with-students/">WordPress and Real-World Data with Students</a>, <a href="https://online.wpcampus.org/schedule/headless-brainless-wordpress/">Headless and Brainless WordPress</a>, and <a href="https://online.wpcampus.org/schedule/using-wordpress-support-run-student-government-elections/">Using WordPress to Support and Run Student Government Elections</a>. If in-person conferences are more your style, keep an eye out for information on WPCampus 2018 tentatively planned for this Summer.</p>
<p>To learn more about WPCampus and the people behind it, <a href="https://wptavern.com/wpweekly-episode-301-wordpress-in-highered-accessibility-and-more-with-rachel-cherry">listen to our interview</a> with Rachel Cherry on episode 301 of WordPress Weekly.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Mon, 22 Jan 2018 22:14:36 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:30;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:70:"Mark Jaquith: How I fixed Yoast SEO sitemaps on a large WordPress site";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:40:"http://markjaquith.wordpress.com/?p=5392";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:102:"https://markjaquith.wordpress.com/2018/01/22/how-i-fixed-yoast-seo-sitemaps-on-a-large-wordpress-site/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:4852:"<p>One of my Covered Web Services clients recently came to me with a problem: <a href="https://yoast.com/wordpress/plugins/seo/">Yoast SEO</a> sitemaps were broken on their largest, highest-traffic WordPress site. Yoast SEO breaks your sitemap up into chunks. On this site, the individual chunks were loading, but the sitemap index (its &#8220;table of contents&#8221;) would not load, and was giving a timeout error. This prevented search engines from finding the individual sitemap chunks.</p>
<p>Sitemaps are really helpful for providing information to search engines about the content on your site, so fixing this issue was a high priority to the client! They were frustrated, and confused, because this was working just fine on their other sites.</p>
<p>Given that this site has over a decade of content, I figured that Yoast SEO&#8217;s dynamic generation of the sitemap was simply taking too long, and the server was giving up.</p>
<p>So I increased the site&#8217;s various timeout settings to 120 seconds.</p>
<p><strong>No good.</strong></p>
<p>I increased the timeout settings to 300 seconds. Five whole minutes!</p>
<p><strong>Still no good.</strong></p>
<p>This illustrates one of the problems that WordPress sites can face when they accumulate a lot of content: <strong>dynamic processes start to take longer</strong>. A process that takes a reasonable 5 seconds with 5,000 posts might take 100 seconds with 500,000 posts. I could have eventually made the Yoast SEO sitemap index work if I increased the timeout high enough, but that wouldn&#8217;t have been a good solution.</p>
<ol>
<li>It would have meant increasing the timeout settings irresponsibly high, leaving the server potentially open to abuse.</li>
<li>Even though it is search engines, not people, who are requesting the sitemap, it is unreasonable to expect them to wait over 5 minutes for it to load. They&#8217;re likely to give up. They might even penalize the site in their rankings for being slow.</li>
</ol>
<p>I needed the sitemap to be reliably generated without making the search engines wait.</p>
<p><strong>When something intensive needs to happen reliably on a site, look to the command line.</strong></p>
<h2>The Solution</h2>
<p>Yoast SEO doesn&#8217;t have <a href="http://wp-cli.org/">WP-CLI</a> (WordPress command line interface) commands, but that doesn&#8217;t matter — you can just use <a href="https://developer.wordpress.org/cli/commands/eval/"><b>wp eval</b></a> to run arbitrary WordPress PHP code.</p>
<p>After a little digging through the <a href="https://github.com/Yoast/wordpress-seo/blob/46802dbcf8e7d2ac0d6552f4de0923cd0eba2b07/inc/sitemaps/class-sitemaps.php#L345-L364">Yoast SEO code</a>, I determined that this WP-CLI command would output the index sitemap:</p>
<pre class="brush: bash; title: ; notranslate">wp eval '
$sm = new WPSEO_Sitemaps;
$sm-&gt;build_root_map();
$sm-&gt;output();
'</pre>
<p>That took a good while to run on the command line, but that doesn&#8217;t matter, because I just set a <a href="https://help.ubuntu.com/community/CronHowto">cron job</a> to run it once a day and save its output to a static file.</p>
<pre class="brush: plain; title: ; notranslate">0 3 * * * cd /srv/www/example.com &amp;&amp; /usr/local/bin/wp eval '$sm = new WPSEO_Sitemaps;$sm-&gt;build_root_map();$sm-&gt;output();' &gt; /srv/www/example.com/wp-content/uploads/sitemap_index.xml</pre>
<p>The final step that was needed was to modify a rewrite in the site&#8217;s Nginx config that would make the <b>/sitemap_index.xml</b> path point to the cron-created static file, instead of resolving to Yoast SEO&#8217;s dynamic generation URL.</p>
<pre class="brush: plain; highlight: [4]; title: ; notranslate">location ~ ([^/]*)sitemap(.*).x(m|s)l$ {
    rewrite ^/sitemap.xml$ /sitemap_index.xml permanent;
    rewrite ^/([a-z]+)?-?sitemap.xsl$ /index.php?xsl=$1 last;
    rewrite ^/sitemap_index.xml$ /wp-content/uploads/sitemap_index.xml last;
    rewrite ^/([^/]+?)-sitemap([0-9]+)?.xml$ /index.php?sitemap=$1&amp;sitemap_n=$2 last;
}</pre>
<p>Now the sitemap index loads instantly (because it&#8217;s a static file), and is kept up-to-date with a reliable background process. The client is happy that they didn&#8217;t have to switch SEO plugins or install a separate sitemap plugin. Everything just works, thanks to a little bit of command line magic.</p>
<p>What other WordPress processes would benefit from this kind of approach?</p>
<hr />
<p><b>Do you need <a href="https://coveredwebservices.com/">WordPress services?</a></b></p>
<p>Mark runs <a href="https://coveredwebservices.com/">Covered Web Services</a> which specializes in custom WordPress solutions with focuses on security, speed optimization, plugin development and customization, and complex migrations.</p>
<p>Please reach out to start a conversation!</p>
[contact-form]";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Mon, 22 Jan 2018 15:15:06 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:12:"Mark Jaquith";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:31;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:66:"Post Status: Hosted versus self-hosted eCommerce — Draft podcast";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"https://poststatus.com/?p=41084";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:73:"https://poststatus.com/hosted-versus-self-hosted-ecommerce-draft-podcast/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:2130:"<p>Welcome to the Post Status <a href="https://poststatus.com/category/draft">Draft podcast</a>, which you can find <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/post-status-draft-wordpress/id976403008">on iTunes</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Ih5egfxskgcec4qadr3f4zfpzzm?t=Post_Status__Draft_WordPress_Podcast">Google Play</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/krogsgard/post-status-draft-wordpress-podcast">Stitcher</a>, and <a href="http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1061/rss">via RSS</a> for your favorite podcatcher. Post Status Draft is hosted by Brian Krogsgard and co-host Brian Richards.</p>
<p>In this episode, Brian and Brian discuss self-hosted vs managed ecommerce and whether or not conferences have outlived their usefulness. Specifically, they look at WooCommerce vs other solutions and explore Shopify and Liquid Web’s Managed WooCommerce hosting as viable done-for-you strategies. On the conference front, they talk about the good and the bad of conferences and ponder how tech conferences of the future may need to change to attract more attendees.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>Links</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://marco.org/2018/01/17/end-of-conference-era">The End of the Conference Era</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.liquidweb.com/blog/liquid-web-announces-the-launch-of-managed-woocommerce-hosting/">Liquid Web introduces Managed WooCommerce</a></li>
<li><a href="https://github.com/liquidweb/woocommerce-order-tables">Liquid Web&#8217;s WooCommerce Order Tables Plugin</a></li>
<li><a href="https://metorik.com/">Metorik</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ecommercefuel.com/">eCommerceFuel</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Sponsor: Pippin&#8217;s Plugins</h3>
<p>This episode is sponsored by Pippin’s Plugins. <a href="http://pippinsplugins.com/">Pippin’s Plugins</a> creates a suite of plugins that work great alone, or together. Whether you need to restrict content, sell downloads, or start an affiliate program, they’ve got you covered. For more information, check out their <a href="http://pippinsplugins.com/">website</a> and thank you to Pippin’s Plugins for being a Post Status partner.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Fri, 19 Jan 2018 20:56:40 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:14:"Katie Richards";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:32;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:16:"Matt: R.I.P Dean";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:22:"https://ma.tt/?p=47840";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:33:"https://ma.tt/2018/01/r-i-p-dean/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:3493:"<p>Dean Allen, a web pioneer and good man, has passed away. I&#x27;ve been processing the news for a few days and still don&#x27;t know where to begin. Dean was a writer, who wrote the software he wrote on. His websites were crafted, designed, and typeset so well you would have visited them even if they were filled with Lorem Ipsum, and paired with his writing you were drawn into an impossibly rich world. His blog was called Textism, and among many other things it introduced me to the art of typography.</p>



<p>Later, he created Textpattern, without which WordPress wouldn&#x27;t exist. Later, he created Textdrive with Jason Hoffman, without which WordPress wouldn&#x27;t have found an early business model or had a home on the web. He brought a care and craft to everything he touched that inspires me to this day. As <a href="https://daringfireball.net/2018/01/dean_allen">John Gruber said</a>, "Dean strove for perfection and often achieved it." (Aside: Making typography better on the web led John Gruber to release Smarty Pants, Dean a tool called Textile, and myself something called Texturize all within a few months of each other; John continued his work and created Markdown, I put Texturize into WP, and Dean released Textile in Textpattern.)</p>



<p>Years later, we became friends and shared many trips, walks, drinks, and meals together, often with Hanni and <a href="https://om.co/2018/01/18/dean-allen-rest-in-peace/">Om</a>. (When we overlapped in Vancouver he immediately texted "I&#x27;ll show you some butt-kicking food and drink.") His zest for life was matched with an encyclopedic knowledge of culture and voracious reading (and later podcast listening) habits. I learned so much in our time together, a web inspiration who turned for me into a real-life mensch. He was endlessly generous with his time and counsel in design, prose, and fashion. I learned the impossibly clever sentences he wrote, that you assumed were the product of a small writing crew or at least a few revisions, came annoyingly easily to him, an extension of how he actually thought and wrote and the culmination of a lifetime of telling stories and connecting to the human psyche.</p>



<p>Dean, who (of course) was also a great photographer, didn&#x27;t love having his own photo taken but would occasionally tolerate me when I pointed a camera at him <a href="https://om.co/2018/01/18/dean-allen-rest-in-peace/">and Om has a number of the photos on his post</a>. There&#x27;s one that haunts me: before getting BBQ we were at his friend&#x27;s apartment in Vancouver, listening to Mingus and enjoying hand-crafted old fashioneds with <a href="https://ma.tt/files/2018/01/IMG_7147.jpg">antique bitters</a>, and despite the rain we went on the roof to see the art that was visible from there. He obliged to a photo this time though and we took photos of each other individually in front of a sign that said "EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT." It wasn&#x27;t, but it&#x27;s what I imagine Dean would say right now if he could.</p>



<div class="wp-block-gallery alignnone columns-2 is-cropped">
    <img src="https://i2.wp.com/ma.tt/files/2018/01/IMG_7151.jpg?w=604&ssl=1" />
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<img src="https://i1.wp.com/ma.tt/files/2018/01/104050690_ce98a95092_o.jpg?w=604&ssl=1" />
    When we first met, in 2006, <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/textdriveinc/104050690/in/photostream/">from Jason</a>.";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Fri, 19 Jan 2018 05:21:34 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:4:"Matt";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:33;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:100:"WPTavern: WPWeekly Episode 301 – WordPress in HigherEd, Accessibility, and More With Rachel Cherry";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:58:"https://wptavern.com?p=77497&preview=true&preview_id=77497";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:105:"https://wptavern.com/wpweekly-episode-301-wordpress-in-highered-accessibility-and-more-with-rachel-cherry";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:2840:"<p>In this episode, <a href="http://jjj.me">John James Jacoby</a> and I are joined by <a href="https://bamadesigner.com/">Rachel Cherry</a>, Senior Software Engineer for <a href="http://www.disneyinteractive.com/">Disney Interactive</a> and Director of <a href="https://wpcampus.org/">WPCampus</a>. Cherry describes how she got involved with WordPress, its use in higher education, the inspiration behind WPCampus, and her thoughts on accessibility both in WordPress and across the web. She also assigned everyone the following homework assignment.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Per my interview on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WordPress?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WordPress</a> Weekly, I’ve assigned everyone <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/accessibility?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#accessibility</a> homework: open your website and navigate using ONLY THE KEYBOARD. Can you access all content and functionality? Can you open AND close popups? Let me know what you learned.</p>
<p>&mdash; Rachel Cherry (@bamadesigner) <a href="https://twitter.com/bamadesigner/status/953742847831818240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p></p>
<p>If you want to learn how WordPress is being used in higher education, tune in to<a href="https://online.wpcampus.org/"> WPCampus Online</a> Tuesday, January 30, 2018. Viewers will be able to watch sessions and interact with the speakers for free. Near the end of the show, Jacoby provides a review of the Nintendo Switch he received for Christmas.</p>
<h2>Stories Discussed:</h2>
<p><a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/01/12/whats-new-in-gutenberg-12th-january/">Gutenberg 2.0 Released</a><br />
<a href="https://wptavern.com/wordpress-4-9-2-patches-xss-vulnerability">WordPress 4.9.2 Patches XSS Vulnerability</a><br />
<a href="https://wptavern.com/zac-gordon-launches-gutenberg-development-course-includes-more-than-30-videos">Zac Gordon Launches Gutenberg Development Course, Includes More Than 30 Videos</a></p>
<h2>Picks of the Week:</h2>
<p><a href="https://pippinsplugins.com/2017-in-review/">Pippin Williamson&#8217;s 2017 Year in Review</a></p>
<h2>WPWeekly Meta:</h2>
<p><strong>Next Episode:</strong> Wednesday, January 24th 3:00 P.M. Eastern</p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wordpress-weekly/id694849738">WordPress Weekly via Itunes</a></p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="https://www.wptavern.com/feed/podcast">WordPress Weekly via RSS</a></p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/wordpress-weekly-podcast?refid=stpr">WordPress Weekly via Stitcher Radio</a></p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Ir3keivkvwwh24xy7qiymurwpbe">WordPress Weekly via Google Play</a></p>
<p><strong>Listen To Episode #301:</strong><br />
</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Thu, 18 Jan 2018 02:42:56 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:34;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:62:"WPTavern: DesktopServer 3.8.4 Includes A Gift to the Community";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://wptavern.com/?p=77259";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:73:"https://wptavern.com/desktopserver-3-8-4-includes-a-gift-to-the-community";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:2802:"<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>DesktopServer <a href="https://serverpress.com/announcing-desktopserver-v3-8-4/">has released</a> version 3.8.4 of its local development software. This version includes a lot of refactored code, setting the foundation for faster updates in the future along with design-time plugins.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>One of the major changes in 3.8.4 is the use of the .dev.cc top level domain.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/quote --></p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p>Due to the latest changes with the .dev Top Level Domain and the fact that many browsers now force SSL on anything with the .dev extension, DesktopServer will now use .dev.cc as its TLD extension. This is a legitimate top level domain owned by ServerPress, LLC and will ONLY be used for local development purposes.</p>
<p><cite><a href="https://serverpress.com/announcing-desktopserver-v3-8-4/">Release Announcement Post</a></cite></p></blockquote>
<p><!-- /wp:core/quote --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>Marc Benzakein says the domain will work no matter which local development solution is being used and that it&#x27;s a gift to the community. Other domains such as .test will continue to work as expected. </p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>Other improvements include speed optimizations for Windows installs, a Windows compatibility plugin to fix long filename problems when updating from third-party plugin repositories such as Easy Digital Downloads, and a WordPress 4.9.1 Blueprint.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>If you use an Apple device with a Retina screen or Hi-DPI in Windows, you&#x27;ll likely appreciate the user-interface changes that are vastly improved on high resolution screens. Josh Eby does!</p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/josheby/status/953089139439751168"} --></p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Love the new scaling fix on <a href="https://twitter.com/DesktopServer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DesktopServer</a> 3.8.4!  Looks great on my 4K display now. Can't wait for 3.9 to get released!</p>
<p>&mdash; Josh Eby (@josheby) <a href="https://twitter.com/josheby/status/953089139439751168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><br />

<p><!-- /wp:core/embed --></p>
<p><!-- wp:core/paragraph --></p>
<p>DesktopServer 3.8.4 also includes a number of enhancements for premium service customers. To view these and other notes related to the release, check out <a href="https://serverpress.com/announcing-desktopserver-v3-8-4/">the announcement post</a>. </p>
<p><!-- /wp:core/paragraph --></p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Wed, 17 Jan 2018 19:12:14 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:35;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:51:"WPTavern: WordPress 4.9.2 Patches XSS Vulnerability";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://wptavern.com/?p=77438";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:62:"https://wptavern.com/wordpress-4-9-2-patches-xss-vulnerability";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:1106:"<p>WordPress 4.9.2 has been released and patches a cross-site scripting vulnerability in the Flash fallback files in the MediaElement library. <a href="https://wordpress.org/news/2018/01/wordpress-4-9-2-security-and-maintenance-release/">According to Ian Dunn</a>, the Flash files are rarely needed and have been removed from WordPress.</p>



<p>If you need access to the Flash fallback files, they can be obtained using the <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/mediaelement-flash-fallbacks/">MediaElement Flash Fallback</a> plugin. <a href="https://opnsec.com">Enguerran Gillier</a> and <a href="https://widiz.com/">Widiz</a> are credited with responsibly disclosing the vulnerability. ﻿</p>



<p>In addition to the patch, this releases fixes 21 bugs. JavaScript errors that prevented saving posts in Firefox has been fixed and switching themes will attempt to restore previous widget assignments, even if no sidebars exist.</p>



<p>You can view detailed information about the changes in 4.9.2 by <a href="https://codex.wordpress.org/Version_4.9.2">reading the following Codex article</a>. </p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Wed, 17 Jan 2018 09:19:39 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:36;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:37:"HeroPress: Growing WordPress in India";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:56:"https://heropress.com/?post_type=heropress-essays&p=2406";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:120:"https://heropress.com/essays/growing-wordpress-india/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=growing-wordpress-india";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:18306:"<img width="960" height="480" src="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/011718-1024x512.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Pull Quote: The world will know you for the path you have chosen." /><h3>Preface</h3>
<p>I was one of the first batch of participants in the initial version of HeroPress, which was video stories but I backed out due to multiple reasons. But, I’m glad HeroPress has survived in this current avatar, telling some really interesting stories of some real wonderful people. Few of whom I’ve had the pleasure of calling friends.</p>
<p><a href="https://heropress.com/about/">Topher</a> has umpteen number of times asked me to write my HeroPress story and I have always either given excuses or deadlines that I never planned on meeting. The few times that I did start writing this article I went into too much of a deep dive into my life story (that I never finished it&#8230;) which is quite the rollercoaster from having failed Std.10th (high School) in English or dropping out in College to having guest lectured(teaching WordPress, of course) in one of the biggest B-schools in India OR my work experience which includes Film, TV, dealing cards to even working as an assistant to the Union Minister of India for Youth Affairs and sports… There I go again!! While that does make for a good story I should save it for when you buy me a beer.</p>
<p>I wanted my HeroPress article to tell a story of how our WordPress Community is truly open source and always open for everyone’s participation. I think this version does the Job. Also would like to thank <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/andreamiddleton">Andrea Middleton </a>and <a href="https://twitter.com/adityakane?lang=en">Aditya Kane</a> who have been the most supportive of my efforts all these years. Last but not the least I’d like to thank Topher for this great space he has created and being a true friend with whom I could share some of my troubles.</p>
<p>I am <a href="https://twitter.com/gounder?lang=en">Alexander Gounder</a>, somewhat of a nobody who become somebody not only because I tried but also because WordPress is open enough to allow it and this is my story!</p>
<h3>Background</h3>
<p>I was born in a lower middle class household in Mumbai, India. I am the middle kid among three siblings. My Father works as a tailor in Saudi Arabia and visits every few years. My Mother is a strong willed woman, who would fight the world for her kids which was evident when she refused to listen to doctors that my sister who suffers from Cerebral Palsy be sent to Special school and instead went pillar to post to get her to study in her normal school, even if it meant that she had to wait outside class during school hours (in case my sister had to go to the restroom) or carry my sister (who then was about 8 yrs old) around.</p>
<blockquote><p>I live where 70%, if not more, of Mumbai’s population lives, the slum or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chawl">chawls</a> in the suburbs.</p></blockquote>
<p>So I’ve lived through the hunger for a day when I lost <u title="15 cents USD">Rs.10</u> on my way to buy bread, this was during the Gulf war when my father couldn’t send us any money for months; I’ve lived through the darkness of when there are frequent power cuts and still the power companies claim that there isn’t any load shedding in this city; I’ve lived through the annual ritual of walking in knee deep water to school, then college and now work as Monsoon water, thanks to clogged drains finds its way to the empty plot between our chawl and the main road.</p>
<p>In terms of education I was an above average student but somehow managed to fail my Std. 10 board exams (this is a very important milestones in the Indian education system). Failure has been my stepping stone to success. I learnt computers as I had free time because I had to wait six months for joining college. I got a job at a local cyber cafe which was run by a linux enthusiast, this was my introduction to Free and Open Source. Post that I attended college (but didn’t graduate) and had many jobs (I’ve been working since I was 17, almost 50% of my lifetime).</p>
<p>To conclude, the point I’m trying to make here is, I don’t come from a lot of money or have a lot in terms of education qualifications in spite of which I was able to do everything I did in the WordPress Community here in Mumbai and India at large.</p>
<h3>My first WordCamp</h3>
<p>I was an attendee at the first WordCamp in Mumbai in 2012. I was pretty excited about attending it, because only a few days before I saw a video from WordCamp San Francisco. I thought the idea of having a conference about WordPress was super cool. Though the tickets seemed a little expensive, I had just started freelancing and wasn’t attending events yet, so didn’t really have any benchmarks and thought it was worth it as this was an International/official event.</p>
<p>My excitement was short lived when talks were sponsor pitches or mostly not about WordPress. The arrangements too weren’t as expected. During a session that was delayed by over 45 mins because the speaker and his connectivity problems (which could have been resolved by just using another machine), I lost my cool and walked out, one of the volunteers struck a conversation with me where I began by complaining about the arrangements and wanted to speak with the organizers to complain, but anger turned to sympathy when I realized that these student volunteers were in fact the event organizers, with that fact in mind even putting together this event was a great achievement. I probed further trying to understand where things were going wrong, checked what they paid for the t-shirts, it was about 30-40% higher than market price, asked if everyone paid the sponsor amount listed on the site, they said &#8211; many had bargained for upto 50% less than the published sponsor slab and some agreed with speaker slots thrown in. I asked how many tickets they sold and was informed free tickets were distributed in their colleges and to some of their partners. Partners? These were a few individuals who in the guise of helping these kids organize WordCamp had brokered deals that got sponsors discounts and/or speaker slots, free tickets (over 50) for friends / colleagues / employees, speaker slots for themselves and even their companies or brands as in kind sponsors.</p>
<p>On the second day, things went to a confrontational stage with many (who paid to attend the event) questioning the Non-WordPress talks and long twitter threads ensued. While it is easy to blame the organizers of the WC Mumbai 2012, I think it was those few selfish individuals who weren’t part of the organizing team but tried to influence them while offering to help.</p>
<p>This showed there was a need for the Indian WordPress Community to come together so we started a small buddypress website which was inundated with spam registrations hence replaced it with a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/JaiWP/">FB group</a>.</p>
<p>This WordPress India FB group helped us co-ordinate our first meetup in Jan 2013.</p>
<h3>Visiting Other WordCamps</h3>
<p>While talking to others about bringing WordPress enthusiasts from all over India, I got a sense there&#8217;s mostly mistrust among people involved in WordCamps and those attending or speaking at it. That&#8217;s when something I read on plan.wordcamp.org struck me, it said that sponsoring a WordCamp is a great way to contribute and give back. So I sponsored the next WordCamp in India, WC Baroda. When asked what is the sponsoring brand, I named our BuddyPress website. Little did I realise that this helped others see I was genuinely interested in bringing people together than make a quick buck or get publicity for myself.</p>
<p>While the next few WordCamps were better than my experience at WC Mumbai 2012, but they shared some common threads, in terms of the people who spoke there, or how there was no clarity in terms of how speakers were selected. I had even applied to speak at a WordCamp through FB chat, because that&#8217;s how the organiser was handling it. To my disappointment I sat through a session at that WordCamp with someone from automattic presenting exactly what I had proposed, later to be told by the speaker that he didn&#8217;t intend to speak and this was a topic proposed by the organisers.</p>
<blockquote><p>I was disgusted by how these WordCamps were filled with shady underhand deals and zero transparency. While WordCamps had some set of guidelines and expectations, these organizers knowingly or unknowingly followed none of them.</p></blockquote>
<p>At that point of time, the idea of organising a WordCamp in Mumbai came to mind too, but then what if I would end up doing the same as what was already happening was the only thing that stopped me from applying for a WordCamp.</p>
<h3>Moment of truth</h3>
<p>WordPress turned 10, and there were meetups organised everywhere and with a little confusion we too managed to organise a meet-up at a coffee shop, here the attendees weren&#8217;t people who we normally meet at WordCamps but regular WordPress users who discovered the meetup through WordPress.org. They had some amazing stories to tell about their association with the software &#8211; I met Manish who 80k downloads for his theme on WordPress.org or Sachin who had been blogging since ‘98 even before WordPress.</p>
<p>So I realised the Meetups and WordCamps weren&#8217;t really reaching most WordPress users within our own neighborhood, these users were equally passionate about WordPress and they too wanted to have real world meetups to meet others like them.</p>
<h3>Then how did we do it</h3>
<h4>We not I</h4>
<p>While “I” claim to have broken WordCamps in India, I couldn’t have done it alone. Right from the beginning I started asking other to join and help out, because we were at the end of the day trying to build a community and that couldn’t be done alone. At first it was Aditya, then we had other regular members like Sahil and Vachan join in to help us organize regular meetups.</p>
<p>Getting more stock holders allowed us to bring a different perspective to everything that we were doing. Till then people blocked others from participating as organizers or volunteers because of their own insecurities and used the line that “meetups don’t work in India”. Maybe even peddling that lie to even WordPress Foundation which was then allowing these WordCamps in the hope they would kickstart local. We went the opposite way.</p>
<h4>Persevere</h4>
<p>When we started off with meetups we were told “Meetups don’t work in India”, but this wasn’t true because I was already attending Startup Saturday, a monthly Meetup for startups, Quora had a meetup, Many Bloggers had meetups. So we got started. A few meetups had 10-20 people showing up while others had 2-3 but we didn’t give up on meetups because we were meeting new people which was our end goal. Aditya once remarked that even if he met one new person and discussed WordPress that would be a successful, and has resulted in us having a fairly active meetup with so many different people speaking and attending it.</p>
<h4>Put a little thought</h4>
<p>I became very close friends with Aditya and we spent a lot of time discussing what we were doing here. We were a good cop / bad cop team many times. From our discussion we set up some guidelines for what we stood for inclusiveness and transparency. This was before we had a WordCamp Handbook which guides you through most of the challenges you would face.</p>
<p>We were the first WordCamp in India to publish the code of conduct and make sure it was accessible to everyone, we made repeated announcements on the run-up to the WordCamp and during the WordCamp about this Code of Conduct and how serious we were about following it. We even discussed thing amongst ourselves about handling any complaints about violations of the code of conduct, for e.g. as per Indian law you can’t disclose the identity of a person who is victim of Sexual Harassment and therefore we took care and had a system in place to take complaints and maintain the complainants privacy.</p>
<p>When we did our first WordCamp we tried to have ticket cost as low as possible (<u title="">INR 300</u> or pay more if you’d like) to allow anyone to afford it. ( Fun fact &#8211; WC Mumbai to date has the lowest Avg. ticket price per day among WordCamps in India ).</p>
<blockquote><p>At the first WordCamp Mumbai (2014) organized by our meetup group, I had someone come to me and tell me that he was glad to have attended and missed the last Mumbai WordCamp because the tickets were too expensive and his parents wouldn’t give him that kind of money.</p></blockquote>
<p>This reinforced my view of never making WordCamp tickets too expensive, in fact we picked up what WC Pune 2015 did and started offering Student Discounts among other discounts to aid inclusivity.</p>
<p>During the WordCamp preparation time all vendor information, speaker selection and accounts data was available to all organizers, post WordCamp Mumbai 2014, we published this account on our WordCamp website for everyone to review.</p>
<h4>Focus on Basics</h4>
<p>We want to build a community that shared information and talked about WordPress, So we focused on the basics that included having regular meetups. Even our first WordCamp was very low key in terms of the menu or swag at the event or international speakers or host of sponsors… the things that other used to say if they organized a successful WordCamp. We focused instead on getting good speakers, affordable tickets, reaching out and spreading the message about our WordCamp. Putting in a Processes / Guidelines for speakers selection and so on. We wanted to get the WordCamp right rather than find something that we could brag about, we knew if we delivered on the first we could then brag all we want. Some simple ideas helped us cut cost as we didn’t really have many sponsors For e.g. we had packed lunch packets which bought catering cost to <u title="$2.36">INR 150/day</u> from INR 350 &#8211; 450/day if we would have a simple buffet spread. We did mugs instead of tshirts because the quality ones costed us INR 80 instead of INR 150 for decent quality t-shirts.</p>
<h4>Keeping it open</h4>
<p>We didn’t discriminate amongst attendees or treat someone as more important than others, everyone from the organizing team was approachable and we wanted to help. The meetups too became a welcoming space, we tried to keep a check on behaviour that could harmful or make the space unwelcoming to other. We didn’t shy away from calling out sexist behaviour. We didn’t discriminate amongst people who wanted to volunteer, we have freelancers and students in our team and they are as important as someone who owns an IT firm employing several people.</p>
<h4>What the future holds for us</h4>
<p>Even before WordCamp Central had a rule for allowing a person to be lead organizer only for two consecutive years we had started on planning of grooming the next set of leaders so that, if we decide to become a little inactive meetups and WordCamps would continue as usual.</p>
<p>WordCamp Mumbai in a gist:</p>
<p>As a result of the above I can proudly say that WordCamp Mumbai is oldest actively running WordCamp/meetup group in India having had twice as many WordCamps than any other city.</p>
<p>I would like to leave you with this song which everyone here at our meetup group can Identify with.</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"></div>
<p>हमारी ही मुठ्ठी में आकाश सारा (Humari hi mutthi mein akash sara)<br />
जब भी खुलेगी चमकेगा तारा (Jab bhi khulenga chamkenga tara)<br />
कभी ना ढले जो, वो ही सितारा (Kabhi na dale jo, woh hi sitara)<br />
दिशा जिस से पहचाने संसार सारा (Disha jis se pehchane sansaar sara)</p>
<p>These lyrics roughly translate to</p>
<p>We have the skies in our fist. Whenever it opens, a star will shine.</p>
<p>One that never sets will be a Superstar and the world will know you for the path you have chosen.</p>
<div class="rtsocial-container rtsocial-container-align-right rtsocial-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-twitter-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-twitter-horizontal-button"><a title="Tweet: Growing WordPress in India" class="rtsocial-twitter-button" href="https://twitter.com/share?text=Growing%20WordPress%20in%20India&via=heropress&url=https%3A%2F%2Fheropress.com%2Fessays%2Fgrowing-wordpress-india%2F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a></div></div><div class="rtsocial-fb-horizontal fb-light"><div class="rtsocial-fb-horizontal-button"><a title="Like: Growing WordPress in India" class="rtsocial-fb-button rtsocial-fb-like-light" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fheropress.com%2Fessays%2Fgrowing-wordpress-india%2F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a></div></div><div class="rtsocial-linkedin-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-linkedin-horizontal-button"><a class="rtsocial-linkedin-button" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fheropress.com%2Fessays%2Fgrowing-wordpress-india%2F&title=Growing+WordPress+in+India" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Share: Growing WordPress in India"></a></div></div><div class="rtsocial-pinterest-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-pinterest-horizontal-button"><a class="rtsocial-pinterest-button" href="https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://heropress.com/essays/growing-wordpress-india/&media=https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/011718-150x150.jpg&description=Growing WordPress in India" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Pin: Growing WordPress in India"></a></div></div><a rel="nofollow" class="perma-link" href="https://heropress.com/essays/growing-wordpress-india/" title="Growing WordPress in India"></a></div><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://heropress.com/essays/growing-wordpress-india/">Growing WordPress in India</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://heropress.com">HeroPress</a>.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Wed, 17 Jan 2018 02:30:30 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:17:"Alexander Gounder";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:37;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:58:"Dev Blog: WordPress 4.9.2 Security and Maintenance Release";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:34:"https://wordpress.org/news/?p=5376";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:84:"https://wordpress.org/news/2018/01/wordpress-4-9-2-security-and-maintenance-release/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:3953:"<p>WordPress 4.9.2 is now available. This is a <strong>security and maintenance release</strong> for all versions since WordPress 3.7﻿. We strongly encourage you to update your sites immediately.</p>



<p>An XSS vulnerability was discovered in the Flash fallback files in MediaElement, a library that is included with WordPress. Because the Flash files are no longer needed for most use cases, they have been removed from WordPress.</p>



<p>MediaElement has released a new version that contains a fix for the bug, and <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/mediaelement-flash-fallbacks/">a WordPress plugin containing the fixed files</a> is available in the plugin repository.</p>



<p>Thank you to the reporters of this issue for practicing <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/handbook/testing/reporting-security-vulnerabilities/">responsible security disclosure</a>: <a href="https://opnsec.com">Enguerran Gillier</a> and <a href="https://widiz.com/">Widiz﻿</a>.</p>



<p>21 other bugs were fixed in WordPress 4.9.2. Particularly of note were:</p>



<ul>
    <li>JavaScript errors that prevented saving posts in Firefox have been fixed.</li>
    <li>The previous taxonomy-agnostic behavior of <code>get_category_link()</code> and <code>category_description()</code> was restored.</li>
    <li>Switching themes will now attempt to restore previous widget assignments, even when there are no sidebars to map.<br /></li>
</ul>



<p>The Codex has <a href="https://codex.wordpress.org/Version_4.9.2">more information about all of the issues fixed in 4.9.2</a>, if you&#x27;d like to learn more.</p>



<p>﻿<a href="https://wordpress.org/download/"></a><a href="https://wordpress.org/download/">Download WordPress 4.9.2</a> or venture over to Dashboard → Updates and click "Update Now." Sites that support automatic background updates are already beginning to update automatically.</p>



<p>Thank you to everyone who contributed to WordPress 4.9.2:</p>



<p><a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/0x6f0/">0x6f0</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/jorbin/">Aaron Jorbin</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/afercia/">Andrea Fercia</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/aduth/">Andrew Duthie</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/azaozz/">Andrew Ozz</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/blobfolio/">Blobfolio</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/boonebgorges/">Boone Gorges</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/icaleb/">Caleb Burks</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/poena/">Carolina Nymark</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/chasewg/">chasewg</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/chetan200891/">Chetan Prajapati</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/dd32/">Dion Hulse</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/hardik-amipara/">Hardik Amipara</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/ionvv/">ionvv</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/jaswrks/">Jason Caldwell</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/jbpaul17/">Jeffrey Paul</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/jeremyfelt/">Jeremy Felt</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/joemcgill/">Joe McGill</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/johnschulz/">johnschulz</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/juiiee8487/">Juhi Patel</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/obenland/">Konstantin Obenland</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/markjaquith/">Mark Jaquith</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/rabmalin/">Nilambar Sharma</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/peterwilsoncc/">Peter Wilson</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/rachelbaker/">Rachel Baker</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/rinkuyadav999/">Rinku Y</a>, <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/sergeybiryukov/">Sergey Biryukov</a>, and <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/westonruter/">Weston Ruter</a>.﻿<strong></strong><br /></p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Tue, 16 Jan 2018 23:00:14 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:8:"Ian Dunn";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:38;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:61:"Post Status: Two Brians are better than one — Draft podcast";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"https://poststatus.com/?p=41041";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:59:"https://poststatus.com/two-brians-better-one-draft-podcast/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:2210:"<p>Welcome to the Post Status <a href="https://poststatus.com/category/draft">Draft podcast</a>, which you can find <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/post-status-draft-wordpress/id976403008">on iTunes</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Ih5egfxskgcec4qadr3f4zfpzzm?t=Post_Status__Draft_WordPress_Podcast">Google Play</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/krogsgard/post-status-draft-wordpress-podcast">Stitcher</a>, and <a href="http://simplecast.fm/podcasts/1061/rss">via RSS</a> for your favorite podcatcher. Post Status Draft is hosted by Brian Krogsgard and his new co-host, Brian Richards.</p>
<p>Brian Richards, the creator of <a href="https://wpsessions.com/">WPSessions.com</a>, has been developing with WordPress since 2007 and training and leading development teams since 2011. In addition to investing his time into training, Brian has had the opportunity to work with many amazing WordPress agencies and experts over these last several years. This has allowed him to help develop sites for Microsoft, Disney, TIME, YMCA, and numerous others.</p>
<p>Brian has an affinity for self-directed learning and helping others to develop skills and workflows to better solve important and complicated problems. He can’t resist helping good people do great things!</p>
<p></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Links</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://wpsessions.com/">WPSessions.com</a></li>
<li><a href="https://crowdfavorite.com/">Crowd Favorite</a></li>
<li><a href="https://webdevstudios.com/">WebDevStudios</a></li>
<li><a href="http://rzen.net/">Ramblings from a nobody</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/rzen">Brian Richards on Twitter</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/wpsessions">WPSessions on Twitter</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Sponsor: Valet</h3>
<p>This episode is sponsored by <a href="https://www.valet.io/">Valet</a>. Valet helps keep your clients happy &amp; coming back. They offer expert services and keep the websites they manage functioning flawlessly. They offer preventative care that provides peace of mind around the clock. For more information, check out <a href="https://www.valet.io/">their website</a> and thank you to Valet for being a Post Status partner. </p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Tue, 16 Jan 2018 21:26:57 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:14:"Katie Richards";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:39;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:97:"WPTavern: Gutenberg 2.0 Released With Numerous Accessibility and Keyboard Navigation Improvements";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://wptavern.com/?p=77370";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:108:"https://wptavern.com/gutenberg-2-0-released-with-numerous-accessibility-and-keyboard-navigation-improvements";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:1337:"<p><a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/gutenberg/">Gutenberg 2.0</a> is available for testing and includes a <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/gutenberg/#developers">changelog</a> that&#x27;s a mile long. Accessibility, keyboard navigation, and the ability to drag-and-drop multiple images to the Gallery block are among the improvements listed.</p>



<p>Clicking the Publish button displays options in the sidebar rather than a drop-down menu to add polish to the publishing flow.<br /></p>



<img src="https://i0.wp.com/wptavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PublishButtonSidebarOptions.png?w=627&ssl=1" />
    Publish Button Options In The Sidebar




<p>The Table of Contents has <a href="https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/4288">been redesigned</a> to increase readability and copying and pasting has also significantly improved. </p>



<p>Gutenberg 2.0 covers a lot of ground and the changes are too numerous to list here. However, Matias Ventura does a great job <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/01/12/whats-new-in-gutenberg-12th-january/">listing the changes</a> with links to Pull Requests on GitHub where people can see how they were made.</p>



<p>If you haven&#x27;t tried or tested <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/gutenberg/">Gutenberg</a>, now is a great time to check it out.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Mon, 15 Jan 2018 22:48:55 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:40;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:17:"Matt: Thirty-Four";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:22:"https://ma.tt/?p=47801";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:34:"https://ma.tt/2018/01/thirty-four/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:2257:"<p>I am very thankful and grateful to have made it through the past year, which was a really special one personally and professionally. I learned to open myself up more to relationships, continued aspiring to be clear and direct with <a href="https://ma.tt/2017/01/rebirth-and-yellow-arrows/">yellow arrows</a>, and worked alongside some incredible people to tackle the biggest and hardest problems, whether it was getting plugin and theme support on WP.com or the start and growth of <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/gutenberg/">Gutenberg</a>.</p>



<p>I read a <a href="https://ma.tt/2017/12/books-in-2017/">lot more books</a>, traveled 337k miles between 91 cities, spent more time in Texas, kept my health in a good balance with weight training, running, and a better diet including several months of 16/8 intermittent fasting, while still getting in some excellent meals with friends and loved ones (up to 58% of top 50 list). As I&#x27;m solidly in my mid-thirties now, and I want to continue to live by: all things in moderation. I consider what I do with WordPress and Automattic my life&#x27;s work, and hope to continue it as long as I&#x27;m useful. Some days I pinch myself.</p>



<p>Thank you to all of you on this journey with me. I am imperfect but trying my darndest, and I&#x27;m lucky to have friends and colleagues doing the same.</p>



<img src="https://i1.wp.com/ma.tt/files/2018/01/IMG_1232.jpg?w=604&ssl=1" />



<p>Previously: <a href="https://ma.tt/2003/01/bday/">19</a>, <a href="https://ma.tt/2004/01/so-im-20/">20</a>, <a href="https://ma.tt/2005/01/hot-barely-legal-matt/">21</a>, <a href="https://ma.tt/2006/01/matt-22/">22</a>, <a href="https://ma.tt/2007/01/twenty-three/">23</a>, <a href="https://ma.tt/2008/01/twenty-four/">24</a>, <a href="https://ma.tt/2009/01/twenty-five/">25</a>, <a href="https://ma.tt/2010/01/twenty-six/">26</a>, <a href="https://ma.tt/2011/01/twenty-seven/">27</a>, <a href="https://ma.tt/2012/01/twenty-eight/">28</a>, <a href="https://ma.tt/2013/01/twenty-nine/">29</a>, <a href="https://ma.tt/2014/01/matt-3-0/">30</a>, <a href="https://ma.tt/2015/01/thirty-one/">31</a>, <a href="https://ma.tt/2016/01/thirty-two/">32</a>, and <a href="https://ma.tt/2017/01/thirty-three/">33</a>.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Fri, 12 Jan 2018 01:55:27 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:4:"Matt";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:41;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:39:"HeroPress: Make It Better, Give It Back";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:56:"https://heropress.com/?post_type=heropress-essays&p=2396";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:116:"https://heropress.com/essays/make-better-give-back/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=make-better-give-back";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13479:"<img width="960" height="480" src="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/011017-1024x512.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Pull Quote: Giving back makes me a better person and allows me to help others become better people." /><p>Recently, technology entrepreneur Anil Dash <a href="https://twitter.com/anildash/status/939137973240696832">tweeted the following question</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>Who is a person (not counting family) that opened doors for you in your career when they didn&#8217;t have to? Anytime is a good time to show gratitude!</p></blockquote>
<p>If you need a pick-me-up, go and read through the replies and threads that start with Anil&#8217;s question. There are replies from many people who are grateful to others for an unending variety of reasons, some large and immediate, some small and indirect, some that were only realised months or years later.</p>
<p>One commonality between many of the replies is that of selflessness. People who help others without expecting something in return. This prompted me to think about those people who&#8217;ve helped me in my career through their own selflessness, without my prompting, and without their expecting anything in return.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m lucky that several people have helped me in this way. My WordPress story started in around 1998 when, as a fourteen year old living in a house that was one among just sixteen in a forest in the English countryside, my divorced parents saved up and bought me a Windows 98 PC for Christmas. A personal computer was a big expenditure for my parents. We weren&#8217;t able to afford an Internet connection, and at that time I don&#8217;t recall being particularly aware of the Internet. As a result, I took an interesting route into web development.</p>
<p>Windows PCs at the time came bundled with Internet Explorer and promotional material from Internet service providers in HTML files. I wanted to find out how these pages were built, and I discovered Frontpage Express could edit the files, although often with many errors (which years later I attributed to the lack of HTML standards in use).</p>
<blockquote><p>One day my curiosity lead me to the View Source menu in Internet Explorer. <strong>Boom</strong>. What is all this code? What do all these angle brackets do? Is this how web pages are built? Can I change this?</p></blockquote>
<p>Naturally, everything I changed initially broke pages completely. The Undo command was my version control system. I figured out that text wrapped in <code>&lt;b&gt;</code> produced bold text. I hadn&#8217;t a clue how a <code>&lt;table&gt;</code> worked without breaking it. <code>&lt;marquee&gt;</code> ended up everywhere. Poor support for much of the markup in these files made Frontpage redundant. Looking back, I could say that the View Source menu in Internet Explorer was an important part of the progression of my career. Maybe also that of thousands of other web developers. If the inventor and early adopters of the web hadn&#8217;t been strong proponents of open data and information sharing, it&#8217;s possible that the View Source menu would never have existed and the open web would not have flourished to the extent that it has.</p>
<p>(The topic of open access to technology, both software and hardware, can be discussed all day. Consider if Adobe Photoshop would have had the same great commercial success that it did without its widespread piracy leading to an abundance of students leaving school with years of Photoshop experience. But I digress.)</p>
<p>I spent evenings after school hacking on HTML. My older brother Adam gave me a book titled &#8220;How to Create pages for the Web using HTML&#8221; which introduced me to the world of HTML 2.0. I learned about the available tags. I learned about inline CSS, which set me up for learning React twenty years later. And I learned that you can see the source behind any web page, hack on it, and learn from it.</p>
<h3>Getting Online</h3>
<p>I don&#8217;t remember the first web page that I put online when we eventually got Internet access. I doubt it was any good, but what the whole experience did do was help my curiosity grow, to which I&#8217;ve attributed much of my success so far. Being curious about a topic helps enormously when learning, self-teaching, and staying motivated.</p>
<p>I didn&#8217;t attend university, partly due to my excellent high school grades not being followed up by any good college grades (in the UK, there’s two years of sixth form college between high school and university). In hindsight I see that I got bored of state education, and two short years flew by with no time for me to to fix that attitude. Stay in school, kids.</p>
<p>The years after school saw me working barely above minimum wage in a supermarket by day and hacking on web projects at night. I was first introduced to WordPress by <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/lumpysimon/">my brother Simon</a> who built websites for customers of his printing business. After a brief period of building my own CMS (everyone&#8217;s done it, right?), I realised there were many advantages to using a free and community built CMS maintained by a relatively large number of people. I started building simple WordPress sites for myself. Along with Simon and his friend Tom, we played around with the idea of a hosted web service to make it even easier for people to publish online using WordPress. The project never went anywhere (hello wordpress.com), but the ideas we explored helped me learn a lot about WordPress.</p>
<blockquote><p>Who is a person (not counting family) that opened doors for you in your career when they didn&#8217;t have to? Anytime is a good time to show gratitude!</p></blockquote>
<p>I can pinpoint the start of my career with WordPress when Tom recommended me to someone who was looking for a WordPress plugin developer. That person, Conor O&#8217;Neill, became one of the people that opened a door for me in my career when they didn&#8217;t have to. Conor was pleased with the plugin work that I did for him, and selflessly passed my name onto several of his friends and acquaintances. He didn&#8217;t need to do that, it didn&#8217;t directly benefit him, but he did it because he knew it would help out his acquaintances and help me to get work.</p>
<h3>Becoming A WordPress Consultant</h3>
<p>I started building WordPress themes and plugins for people that Conor gave my name to. I didn&#8217;t have much experience at the time, but I had the advantage of personal recommendations. It&#8217;s difficult to overstate how valuable a personal recommendation is. All the advertising in the world can be useless when competing against a personal recommendation. If you&#8217;re looking to start or change a career, I recommend asking people to pass your name on to friends and colleagues whenever they can.</p>
<blockquote><p>I&#8217;m one of the lucky ones that got a good start through personal recommendations, and if you can do that too then it&#8217;ll set you up well.</p></blockquote>
<p>Conor passed my name onto a chap named Damien Mulley who was also instrumental in advancing my career by passing my name on when he didn&#8217;t need to. I owe a lot to the selflessness of Conor and Damien.</p>
<p>Around this time I started finding bugs in WordPress (a practice that I continue to this day). Another key point in my career came when I reported a bug on the WordPress bug tracking system, and was greeted with a pleasant welcome. One of the contributors, Lloyd Budd, was kind enough to take the time to explain to me that I could fix the bug myself and submit the fix to the WordPress project. He pointed me to resources for learning Subversion and creating patches. That small act of help lead to me becoming a regular WordPress contributor, and ultimately one of the core developers. Lloyd didn&#8217;t have to use his free time to help others out, but he did, and it had long-reaching impact on my career and on the WordPress project.</p>
<p>After a year of freelancing, I was able to get enough work that I could drop down to part time work at my supermarket job. I worked and self-taught for seventy hours a week for six months. I was afraid of leaving a stable job despite earning three times as much working as a freelance developer, but making that jump felt very scary before I made it. A combination of personal recommendations and working to get a name for myself in the WordPress sphere lead me to leave my supermarket job, freelance for a few years, become the first employee at WordPress agency <a href="https://codeforthepeople.com/">Code for the People</a>, and ultimately to join <a href="https://humanmade.com/">Human Made</a> as a senior WordPress engineer.</p>
<h3>Giving Back</h3>
<p>I’m lucky that I’m able to spend some of my time contributing back to WordPress, and I&#8217;ve been thinking a lot about how the principles of open source apply outside of software. I gave <a href="https://wordpress.tv/2016/05/31/john-blackbourn-rachel-mccollin-and-taco-verdonschot-lightning-sessions/">a short talk at WordCamp London in 2016</a> where I coined the phrase &#8220;<em>Make it better, give it back</em>&#8220;, which is how I interpret the fundamental principles of open source. It’s the idea of improving upon an existing process and giving it back to the community in order to embetter everyone, whether it’s through an open data project such as OpenStreetMap, a community initiative in your local area, or shared learning.</p>
<blockquote><p>Recently I came to realise that the &#8220;<em>it</em>&#8221; in &#8220;<em>Make it better, give it back</em>&#8221; doesn&#8217;t have to refer to the primary aspect of what you&#8217;re contributing to.</p></blockquote>
<p>Lloyd made WordPress better by writing code and giving it back, but he also made WordPress better by improving the knowledge and skills of its community members, many of whom in turn give back in a variety of ways.</p>
<p>Giving back allows me to improve many of my own skills. It allows me to challenge myself, not only technically but also in areas such as communication, compassion, critical thinking, and time management. Giving back makes me a better person and allows me to help others become better people.</p>
<a href="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/dsc_3097.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2398" src="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/dsc_3097-768x1024.jpg" alt="John and Francesca" width="350" height="467" /></a>John and Francesca
<p>Giving back has advanced my professional career thanks to the technical and people skills that I learn from it and the recognition gained by my contributions. In turn this has lead to many new friends, a career in a field that I enjoy very much, and it also lead to me finding the love of my life at a WordPress contributor day.</p>
<p>I hope that in one way or another I&#8217;ve given back to many people in the open source community. I&#8217;ve been involved with WordPress for twelve years now, and over those years I&#8217;ve given advice, pointers, and encouragement to others that might seem small or inconsequential at the time but can be just the sort of encouragement that somebody needs. The difference between not receiving a reply to a query, and receiving one which says &#8220;Thanks! That&#8217;s a good start&#8221; might mean the difference between never contributing again versus becoming a decade long community member.</p>
<div class="rtsocial-container rtsocial-container-align-right rtsocial-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-twitter-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-twitter-horizontal-button"><a title="Tweet: Make It Better, Give It Back" class="rtsocial-twitter-button" href="https://twitter.com/share?text=Make%20It%20Better%2C%20Give%20It%20Back&via=heropress&url=https%3A%2F%2Fheropress.com%2Fessays%2Fmake-better-give-back%2F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a></div></div><div class="rtsocial-fb-horizontal fb-light"><div class="rtsocial-fb-horizontal-button"><a title="Like: Make It Better, Give It Back" class="rtsocial-fb-button rtsocial-fb-like-light" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fheropress.com%2Fessays%2Fmake-better-give-back%2F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a></div></div><div class="rtsocial-linkedin-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-linkedin-horizontal-button"><a class="rtsocial-linkedin-button" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fheropress.com%2Fessays%2Fmake-better-give-back%2F&title=Make+It+Better%2C+Give+It+Back" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Share: Make It Better, Give It Back"></a></div></div><div class="rtsocial-pinterest-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-pinterest-horizontal-button"><a class="rtsocial-pinterest-button" href="https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://heropress.com/essays/make-better-give-back/&media=https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/011017-150x150.jpg&description=Make It Better, Give It Back" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Pin: Make It Better, Give It Back"></a></div></div><a rel="nofollow" class="perma-link" href="https://heropress.com/essays/make-better-give-back/" title="Make It Better, Give It Back"></a></div><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://heropress.com/essays/make-better-give-back/">Make It Better, Give It Back</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://heropress.com">HeroPress</a>.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Wed, 10 Jan 2018 08:00:35 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:15:"John Blackbourn";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:42;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"Matt: Ariel Levy in Longreads";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:22:"https://ma.tt/?p=47797";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:46:"https://ma.tt/2018/01/ariel-levy-in-longreads/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:769:"<p>I had originally planned last year to write <a href="https://ma.tt/2017/12/books-in-2017/">a review of each book as I read it</a>, but The Rules Do Not Apply threw a spanner in the works. I had no idea how to write about it, much less review it. The author, <a href="https://longreads.com/2017/03/14/ariel-levy-interview/">Ariel Levy, has a great interview in Longreads from when the book came out</a>.</p>



<p>Speaking of Longreads, <a href="https://longreads.com/2017/12/29/the-25-most-popular-longreads-exclusives-of-2017/">don&#x27;t forget to check out their top 25 exclusives from 2017</a>, and <a href="https://longreads.com/2017/12/11/longreads-best-of-2017-all-of-our-no-1-story-picks/">their number 1 picks overall</a>. Some amazing writing in there.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Mon, 08 Jan 2018 00:44:11 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:4:"Matt";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:43;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:67:"Lorelle on WP: Vulnerability in phpMyAdmin Requires Immediate Patch";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:37:"http://lorelle.wordpress.com/?p=14409";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:94:"https://lorelle.wordpress.com/2018/01/06/vulnerability-in-phpmyadmin-requires-immediate-patch/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:4273:"<p>A <a href="http://www.itprotoday.com/patch-management/critical-csrf-security-vulnerability-phpmyadmin-database-tool-patched" title="Critical CSRF Vulnerability in phpMyAdmin Database Tool Patched | IT Pro">critical CSRF Vulnerability in phpMyAdmin Database administration tool</a> has been found and a <a href="https://www.phpmyadmin.net/security/PMASA-2017-9/" title="phpMyAdmin - Security - PMASA-2017-9">patch is available</a> for all computers and servers running the MySQL database. </p>
<p>Does this include you?</p>
<p>If you are using WordPress, yes it does. </p>
<p>Contact your web host to ensure phpMyAdmin is updated immediately. </p>
<p>If you are self-hosted and manage your own server, update phpMyAdmin immediately. </p>
<p>If you are using WordPress or phpMyAdmin and MySQL on your computer through <a href="http://www.wampserver.com/en/" title="WAMP">WAMP</a>, <a href="http://www.mamp.info/en/index.html" title="MAMP">MAMP</a>, <a href="http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html" title="XAMPP">XAMPP</a>, <a href="http://www.instantwp.com/" title="Instant WordPress">Instant WordPress</a>, <a href="http://serverpress.com/products/desktopserver/" title="DesktopServer">DesktopServer</a>, <a href="http://bitnami.org/stack/wordpress" title="BitNami">BitNami</a> or any of the other ways you can install WordPress on your computer or a stick (USB), update phpMyAdmin by using the patch or check the install technique&#8217;s site for updates. </p>
<p><strong>If you are using WordPress.com, don&#8217;t worry.</strong> This does not apply to you or your site. </p>
<p>The flaw affects phpMyAdmin versions 4.7.x prior to 4.7.7. Hopefully, your server/web host company has been updating phpMyAdmin all along and you don&#8217;t need to worry, but even though this is a medium security vulnerability, it is your responsibility as a site owner and administrator to ensure that your site is safe. Don&#8217;t just rely on GoDaddy, Dreamhost, or whatever hosting service you use to take care of these things for you. Sometimes they are on top of these before an announcement is made public. Other times, they are clueless and require customer intervention and nagging. </p>
<p>Now, what is phpMyAdmin?</p>
<p>MySQL is an open source database program, and <a href="https://www.phpmyadmin.net/" title="phpMyAdmin">phpMyAdmin</a> is the free, open source tool that makes the administration and use of MySQL easier to manage. <em>It is not a database. It is a database manager.</em> You can <a href="https://lorelle.wordpress.com/2014/08/10/find-search-replace-and-delete-in-the-wordpress-database/" title="Find, Search, Replace, and Delete in the WordPress Database « Lorelle on WordPress">easily search and replace data</a> in the database, make changes, and do other maintenance and utility tasks in the database.</p>
<p>Every installation of WordPress requires PHP and MySQL along with a variety of other web-based programming packages and software. Most installations by web hosts and portable versions of WordPress add phpMyAdmin to manage the WordPress site. It is not required for WordPress to work, but don&#8217;t assume that it is or isn&#8217;t installed. CHECK. </p>
<p>To find out if phpMyAdmin is installed on your site:</p>
<ol>
<li>Check with your web host and ask. Don&#8217;t expect their customer service staff to know for sure. Make them check your account and verify whether or not it is installed, and if they&#8217;ve updated. Push them for a specific answer.</li>
<li>Check the site admin interface (cPanel, Plesk, etc.) to see if it is installed.</li>
<li>Log into your site through secure FTP into the root (if you have access) and look for the installation at <em>/usr/share/phpmyadmin</code> or <code>localhost/phpmyadmin</code>. Unfortunately, it could be anywhere depending upon the installation as these are virtual folders, not folders found on your computer, so it must be assigned to a location.</li>
<li>If running a portable installation of MySQL and/or WordPress, follow the instructions for that tool and download and install all patches to ensure phpMyAdmin is updated to the latest secure version.</li>
</ol>
<div class="sig">
<p><img src="https://lorelle.files.wordpress.com/2006/08/sig.gif" alt="" /></p>
<hr /> </div>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Sat, 06 Jan 2018 16:55:40 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:17:"Lorelle VanFossen";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:44;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:88:"WPTavern: Zac Gordon Launches Gutenberg Development Course, Includes More Than 30 Videos";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://wptavern.com/?p=77285";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:98:"https://wptavern.com/zac-gordon-launches-gutenberg-development-course-includes-more-than-30-videos";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:2756:"<p><a href="https://zacgordon.com/">Zac Gordon</a>, a technology educator, has released his <a href="http://gutenberg.courses/">Gutenberg Development course</a>. The course is $79 but is available for $49 using the coupon code <strong>earlyadopter</strong>.</p>



<p>Gordon says the course is aimed at developers who want to update their themes, plugins, shortcodes, etc. to work with Gutenberg and take advantage of blocks. <br /></p>



<p>"There is also some content I am adding geared towards theme developers, but honestly there is not much to that," Gordon said. "I think plugin developers will fill a lot of the needs of theme developers and help prevent them from having to build too many custom blocks. </p>



<p>"Also, in my opinion, blocks belong in plugins, so maybe some theme developers will migrate into plugin development through working with blocks."</p>



<p>The course includes more than 30 videos, a dozen example blocks, access to support forums, and the community run Slack channel. It covers how Gutenberg works, how to extend and customize it, and using a modern JavaScript development approach.</p>



<p>Gordon learned quite a few things about Gutenberg while creating the course. "Specifically, I learned Gutenberg is really just React under the hood, and then the more traditional WordPress PHP under that," he said.</p>



<p>"Digging deeper into the source attributes system that Gutenberg has to keep track of dynamic data was interesting. Also, there are far more possibilities with server-side code hooking into blocks than I thought ahead of time. I also came to the opinion that I&#x27;m not sure why someone would build a block in anything other than React, so I&#x27;m interested to see what common practices evolve."</p>



<p>Creating the course has allowed Gordon to dive deep into Gutenberg. So does he think it&#x27;s a suitable replacement for the editor? <br /></p>



<p>"I think most users will feel Gutenberg is an improvement of the editing experience," he responded. "We are definitely moving in the right direction. Ironically perhaps, I still like site and page builder plugins when editing or creating content in WordPress."</p>



<p>Gutenberg is still in a high state of flux with rapid development. According to Gordon, if there is one thing developers should know about Gutenberg, it&#x27;s that learning JavaScript deeply will pay off.<br /></p>



<p>"Matt Mullenweg was right when he said &#x27;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrZx4IY1IgU">Learn JavaScript Deeply</a>&#x27;," Gordon said. "In terms of Gutenberg, that means a foundation with ES+, JSX/React, and webpack/babel/etc. You can learn as you go, but we are definitely moving from the time of learning to a time of doing."</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Fri, 05 Jan 2018 23:32:12 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:45;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:25:"Matt: Xerox Alto Zero-Day";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:22:"https://ma.tt/?p=47788";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:42:"https://ma.tt/2018/01/xerox-alto-zero-day/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:2208:"<p>Next to the <a href="https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2018/01/spectre_and_mel.html">very real news of the Spectre and Meltdown CPU issues</a>, it was lovely to come across <a href="http://www.righto.com/2018/01/xerox-alto-zero-day-cracking-disk.html">Ken Shirriff&#x27;s story of getting past password protection on some old Xerox Alta disk packs from the 1970s</a>.</p>



<p>As further proof for why 2018 is going to be the year of blogging, two of the comments are from people who actually know about the old disks!</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
    <p>"I designed chips at PARC as a summer intern. You have a couple of disks from Doug Fairbairn, who was also in Lynn Conway&#x27;s group."</p>
</blockquote>



<p>and</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
    <p>I&#x27;m flabbergasted. That&#x27;s <em>my</em> Alto disk you broke into!<br />><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The APL stuff is surely related to some work I did with Leo Guibas, showing why lazy evaluation would be a really good idea for implementing APL: see <a href="https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=512761">Compilation and delayed evaluation in APL</a>, published January 1978. (That paper gives me an enviable Erdős number of 3, since Leo is a 2.) I&#x27;m sure it&#x27;s not a complete APL implementation, just a proof of concept. It happens that my very first part-time job at PARC, in 1973, involved writing decision analysis software <em>in</em> APL &#8212; on a timesharing system!<br />><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Given the AATFDAFD hint, I&#x27;d guess the real password is ADDATADFAD. This derives from a project I did with Jef Raskin at UCSD in 1974. (He mentioned it in <a href="https://web.stanford.edu/dept/SUL/sites/mac/primary/interviews/raskin/trans.html">this interview</a>.) The Data General Nova we were working with produced some garbled message with ADDATADFAD where it should have said ADDITIONAL, and it was a running joke ever after. Strange, the things that occupy some brain cells for over 40 years.<br />><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Thanks for an amusing blast from the past.<br />><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />&#8212; Doug Wyatt (Xerox PARC 1973-1994)</p>
</blockquote>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Fri, 05 Jan 2018 15:37:54 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:4:"Matt";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:46;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:81:"WPTavern: WPWeekly Episode 300 – Interview with Matt ‘Gutenbeard’ Mullenweg";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:58:"https://wptavern.com?p=77276&preview=true&preview_id=77276";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:82:"https://wptavern.com/wpweekly-episode-300-interview-with-matt-gutenbeard-mullenweg";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:1492:"<p>In this the 300th episode, <a href="http://jjj.me">John James Jacoby</a> and I interview <a href="https://ma.tt/">Matt &#8216;Gutenbeard&#8217; Mullenweg</a>, co-creator of the WordPress project. We discuss a range of topics including, the somewhat controversial poetry reading that included a curse word prior to the State of the Word, the WordPress Foundation increasing its range of funding, and of course, Gutenberg.</p>
<p>One of the big takeaways from this interview is learning that Gutenberg will not arrive at the flick of a switch. There will be a transition period and a considerable amount of effort to make it as smooth as possible. Unlike episode 296, Mullenweg&#8217;s internet is fantastic and we didn&#8217;t experience any audio issues. A transcription of this interview will be published in a few days.</p>
<h2>WPWeekly Meta:</h2>
<p><strong>Next Episode:</strong> Wednesday, January 10th 3:00 P.M. Eastern</p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wordpress-weekly/id694849738">WordPress Weekly via Itunes</a></p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="https://www.wptavern.com/feed/podcast">WordPress Weekly via RSS</a></p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/wordpress-weekly-podcast?refid=stpr">WordPress Weekly via Stitcher Radio</a></p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Ir3keivkvwwh24xy7qiymurwpbe">WordPress Weekly via Google Play</a></p>
<p><strong>Listen To Episode #300:</strong><br />
</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Thu, 04 Jan 2018 03:55:27 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Jeff Chandler";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:47;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:11:"
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:1:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:40:"HeroPress: A Review Of HeroPress in 2017";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:29:"https://heropress.com/?p=2387";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:119:"https://heropress.com/a-review-of-heropress-2017/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-review-of-heropress-2017";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:9442:"<img width="960" height="480" src="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/010318-1024x512.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Pull Quote: HeroPress is something WordPress people do for themselves. The world simply gets to watch." /><p><strong>FIRST</strong>: please leave a comment if HeroPress has inspired or impacted you this year. I&#8217;ve love for you to be a part of this post.</p>
<p>With that out of the way, another year of HeroPress has come and gone. HeroPress is still young enough that we can&#8217;t really see multi-year trends, but I still find it interesting to look at them and try to guess things.  In this post we&#8217;ll look at some stats, some things I tried that didn&#8217;t work, some things that did work, and some dreams for the future.</p>
<h3>Statistics</h3>
<h4>Diversity</h4>
<p>Diversity has always been important to me.  In 2015 and 2016 I had more men than women, by a pretty wide margin, and that bothered me.  In 2017 I&#8217;m happy to say we had 32 women and 21 men. I didn&#8217;t work SUPER hard at that, it was just something I kind of kept in my head when I was looking for new folks.</p>
<p>We also had great geographical diversity in our contributors, representing 26 different countries.</p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Country</th>
<th>No. of Essays</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bangladesh</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cameroon</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Croatia</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Finland</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>France</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Germany</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>India</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Italy</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jamaica</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nepal</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Netherlands</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nigeria</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Norway</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Poland</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Romania</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russia</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Scotland</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Serbia</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Somalia</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>South Africa</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Spain</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sweden</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Turkey</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>United Kingdom</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>United States</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Yemen</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>The US and India had far more than any other country, which has been the trend since we started, but the US has far fewer in 2017 than 2016.</p>
<h4>Readers</h4>
<p>We had traffic from 175 countries this year.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2388" src="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/country_traffic.png" alt="World map showing HeroPress visitors" width="951" height="547" /></p>
<p>That said, HeroPress saw less traffic overall in 2017 than in 2016.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2389" src="https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/heropress_stats.png" alt="Bar chart showing HeroPress stats" width="692" height="282" /></p>
<h4>The Important Stuff</h4>
<p>As fun as stats are, it&#8217;s been pointed out to me many times that they&#8217;re meaningless. Someone asked me recently how I define success for HeroPress, and the answer was that at least one person is impacted for the better. The interesting twist to that is the hierarchy of people impacted positively by HeroPress.  It goes like this:</p>
<p><strong>Topher</strong>: Because he gets to see them all, AND behind the scenes. It&#8217;s heady stuff.</p>
<p><strong>Contributors themselves</strong>: MANY people have told me that writing their story changed their life. The simple act of processing things from the past, and getting them out there, and being vulnerable is powerful.</p>
<p><strong>Readers</strong>: Lot&#8217;s of people tell me it&#8217;s inspiring.</p>
<p>What we learn from the above information is that HeroPress would be a success if we had zero readers. HeroPress is something WordPress people do for themselves. The world simply gets to watch.</p>
<h3>Experiments</h3>
<h4>The Scholarship</h4>
<p>Last spring the folks from WPShout approached me about working together to offer a scholarship.  They would offer the actual scholarship, and we would manage getting applicants and deciding who won.</p>
<p>It was a huge success.  We had tons of traffic, many great applicants, and the winners did great things with their scholarships.  We&#8217;d love to do something like that again, so if you&#8217;re interested, drop us a note.</p>
<h4>Commercial Support</h4>
<p>This changed a bit in 2017. Most of the year was sponsored by Gravity Forms, which was great. That ended with only a few weeks left in the year, and I was surprised to find that there were a number of organizations that were interested in sponsoring a single week. That worked quite well, and I&#8217;m interested in looking into that more.</p>
<p>At WordCamp US I spoke to an organization that was interested in sponsoring an entire quarter, which would be a first.  It hasn&#8217;t happened yet, but I&#8217;m also looking into that some more.</p>
<h4>Donations</h4>
<p>This didn&#8217;t really work out. I put up the donation form at the request of a few people that wanted to give. Those people gave, and a few more, but after the third day or so there were no more. There could be many reasons, but I&#8217;m not too concerned. I&#8217;ll probably take the form down, and if I ask for donations again it&#8217;ll be a Public Radio style press-a-thon for a week or something. Lots of flash, and then it&#8217;s gone for a year.</p>
<h3>Thanks</h3>
<p>As always happens, I got some great advice this year and lots of donated services and software.</p>
<p>Many thanks to Tine Haugen from XWP for her ongoing input from a Larger Company perspective.</p>
<p>Thanks to <a href="https://pagely.com/">Pagely</a> for hosting HeroPress.</p>
<p>Thanks to these commercial plugin folk that donated licenses:</p>
<ul>
<li>Analytify &#8211; Google Analytics Dashboard</li>
<li>Give &#8211; Donation Plugin</li>
<li>Make Plus</li>
<li>Maps Builder Pro</li>
<li>Ninja Forms</li>
<li>Postmatic &amp; Postmatic Labs</li>
</ul>
<p>Thanks to these wonderful software developers who&#8217;ve released there work to the world for free:</p>
<ul>
<li>Akismet Anti-Spam</li>
<li>Blog Time</li>
<li>Jetpack by WordPress.com</li>
<li>Post Type Archive Descriptions</li>
<li>Public Post Preview</li>
<li>Really Simple Series</li>
<li>rtSocial</li>
<li>Simple 301 Redirects</li>
<li>Simply Exclude</li>
<li>Widget Logic</li>
<li>WP Custom Login Page Logo</li>
<li>WP Retina 2x</li>
<li>Yoast SEO</li>
</ul>
<p>Thanks to 2017&#8217;s commercial supporters:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://eventespresso.com/">Event Espresso</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gowp.com/">GoWP</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gravityforms.com/">Gravity Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://rtcamp.com/">rtCamp</a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>MOST IMPORTANTLY</strong></p>
<p>Thanks to our contributors.  Without people willing to share of themselves, tell us their stories, make themselves vulnerable, HeroPress would not exist. Thank you SO SO much, all of you who&#8217;ve written.</p>
<h3>Your Turn</h3>
<p>As I mentioned at the top of the post, the rest of the post is to be written by you.  How has HeroPress impacted you this year? What value is there besides numbers and charts and graphs?</p>
<p>Please leave a comment.</p>
<div class="rtsocial-container rtsocial-container-align-right rtsocial-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-twitter-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-twitter-horizontal-button"><a title="Tweet: A Review Of HeroPress in 2017" class="rtsocial-twitter-button" href="https://twitter.com/share?text=A%20Review%20Of%20HeroPress%20in%202017&via=heropress&url=https%3A%2F%2Fheropress.com%2Fa-review-of-heropress-2017%2F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a></div></div><div class="rtsocial-fb-horizontal fb-light"><div class="rtsocial-fb-horizontal-button"><a title="Like: A Review Of HeroPress in 2017" class="rtsocial-fb-button rtsocial-fb-like-light" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fheropress.com%2Fa-review-of-heropress-2017%2F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a></div></div><div class="rtsocial-linkedin-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-linkedin-horizontal-button"><a class="rtsocial-linkedin-button" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fheropress.com%2Fa-review-of-heropress-2017%2F&title=A+Review+Of+HeroPress+in+2017" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Share: A Review Of HeroPress in 2017"></a></div></div><div class="rtsocial-pinterest-horizontal"><div class="rtsocial-pinterest-horizontal-button"><a class="rtsocial-pinterest-button" href="https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://heropress.com/a-review-of-heropress-2017/&media=https://heropress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/010318-150x150.jpg&description=A Review Of HeroPress in 2017" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Pin: A Review Of HeroPress in 2017"></a></div></div><a rel="nofollow" class="perma-link" href="https://heropress.com/a-review-of-heropress-2017/" title="A Review Of HeroPress in 2017"></a></div><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://heropress.com/a-review-of-heropress-2017/">A Review Of HeroPress in 2017</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://heropress.com">HeroPress</a>.</p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Wed, 03 Jan 2018 17:49:39 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:48;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:47:"Dev Blog: The Month in WordPress: December 2017";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:34:"https://wordpress.org/news/?p=5424";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:72:"https://wordpress.org/news/2018/01/the-month-in-wordpress-december-2017/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:4742:"<p>Activity slowed down in December in the WordPress community, particularly in the last two weeks. However, the month started off with a big event and work pushed forward in a number of key areas of the project. Read on to find out more about what transpired in the WordPress community as 2017 came to a close.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator" />



<h2>WordCamp US 2017 Brings the Community Together</h2>



<p>The latest edition of <a href="https://2017.us.wordcamp.org/">WordCamp US</a> took place last month in Nashville on December 1-3. The event brought together over 1,400 WordPress enthusiasts from around the world, fostering a deeper, more engaged global community.</p>



<p>While attending a WordCamp is always a unique experience, you can catch up on <a href="https://wordpress.tv/event/wordcamp-us-2017/">the sessions on WordPress.tv</a> and look through <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/WordCampUSA/photos/?tab=albums">the event photos on Facebook</a> to get a feel for how it all happened. Of course, <a href="https://wordpress.tv/2017/12/04/matt-mullenweg-state-of-the-word-2017/">Matt Mullenweg’s State of the Word</a> talk is always one of the highlights at this event.</p>



<p>The next WordCamp US will be held in Nashville again in 2018, but if you would like to see it hosted in your city in 2019 and 2020, then <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/community/2017/12/19/apply-to-host-wordcamp-us-2019-2020/">you have until February 2 to apply</a>.</p>



<h2>WordPress User Survey Data Is Published</h2>



<p>Over the last few years, tens of thousands of WordPress users all over the world have filled out the annual WordPress user survey. The results of that survey are used to improve the WordPress project, but that data has mostly remained private. This has changed now and <a href="https://wordpress.org/news/2017/12/wordpress-user-survey-data-for-2015-2017/">the results from the last three surveys are now publicly available</a> for everyone to analyze.</p>



<p>The data will be useful to anyone involved in WordPress since it provides a detailed look at who uses WordPress and what they do with it — information that can help inform product development decisions across the board.</p>



<h2>New WordPress.org Team for the Tide Project</h2>



<p>As announced at WordCamp US, <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/tide/2017/12/02/new-home/">the Tide project is being brought under the WordPress.org umbrella</a> to be managed and developed by the community.</p>



<p>Tide is a series of automated tests run against every plugin and theme in the directory to help WordPress users make informed decisions about the plugins and themes that they choose to install.</p>



<p>To get involved in developing Tide, jump into the #tide channel in the <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/chat/">Making WordPress Slack group</a>, and follow <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/tide/">the Tide team blog</a>.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator" />



<h2>Further Reading:</h2>



<ul>
    <li>If you’re following the development of Gutenberg, or if you want a primer on where it’s headed, then <a href="https://wordpress.tv/2017/12/10/morten-rand-hendriksen-gutenberg-and-the-wordpress-of-tomorrow/">Morten Rand-Hendriksen’s talk from WordCamp US</a> is a must watch.</li>
    <li>The annual surveys for WordPress <a href="https://wordpressdotorg.polldaddy.com/s/2017-annual-meetup-member-survey">meetup members</a> and <a href="https://wordpressdotorg.polldaddy.com/s/2017-annual-meetup-organizer-survey">meetup organizers</a> are available for people to fill out — if you’re involved in or attend your local meetup group then be sure to complete those.</li>
    <li>10up has <a href="https://distributorplugin.com/">a brand new plugin in beta</a> that will assist with powerful and flexible content publishing and syndication across WordPress sites.</li>
    <li><a href="https://make.wordpress.org/community/2017/12/07/should-we-change-the-default-wordcamp-theme-to-campsite-2017/">The Community Team is exploring a move</a> to make the recently developed CampSite theme the default theme for all new WordCamp websites. This is the theme that was developed and employed for <a href="https://2017.europe.wordcamp.org">WordCamp Europe 2017</a>.</li>
    <li>The team working on the multisite features of WordPress Core has recently published <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2017/12/19/multisite-roadmap-published/">their planned roadmap for development</a>.</li>
</ul>



<p><em>If you have a story we should consider including in the next “Month in WordPress” post, please <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/community/month-in-wordpress-submissions/">submit it here</a>.</em></p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Wed, 03 Jan 2018 10:00:24 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:15:"Hugh Lashbrooke";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:49;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:13:"
	
	
	
	
	
	
";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:2:{s:0:"";a:5:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:50:"Dev Blog: WordPress User Survey Data for 2015-2017";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:34:"https://wordpress.org/news/?p=5310";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:76:"https://wordpress.org/news/2017/12/wordpress-user-survey-data-for-2015-2017/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:61756:"<p>For many years, we&#8217;ve invited folks to tell us how they use WordPress by filling out an annual survey. In the past, interesting results from this survey have been shared in the annual <a href="https://ma.tt/2017/12/state-of-the-word-2017/">State of the Word</a> address. This year, for the first time, the results of the 2017 survey are being published on WordPress News, along with the results of the 2015 and 2016 survey.</p>
<p>So that information from the survey doesn&#8217;t reveal anything that respondents might consider private, we do not publish a full export of the raw data. We’d love to make this information as accessible as possible, though, so if you have a suggestion for an OS project or tool we can put the data into that allows people to play with it that still protects individual response privacy, please leave a comment on this post!</p>
<h4>Major Groups</h4>
<p>This survey features multiple groups, dividing respondents at the first question:</p>
<blockquote><p>Which of the following best describes how you use WordPress? (<em>Mandatory</em>)</p></blockquote>
<p>Those who selected &#8220;I&#8217;m a designer or developer, or I work for a company that designs/develops websites; I use WordPress to build websites and/or blogs for others. (This might include theme development, writing plugins, or other custom work.)&#8221; were served questions from what we&#8217;ll call the &#8220;WordPress Professionals&#8221; group.</p>
<p>This &#8220;WordPress Professionals&#8221; group is further divided into WordPress Company and WordPress Freelancer/Hobbyist groups, based on how the respondent answered the question, &#8220;Which of the following best describes your involvement with WordPress? (2015) / Do you work for a company, or on your own? (2016-17).&#8221;</p>
<p>Those who selected &#8220;I own, run, or contribute to a blog or website that is built with WordPress.&#8221; were served questions in what we&#8217;re calling the &#8220;WordPress Users&#8221; group.</p>
<p>The relevant survey group is noted in each table below. In the case of questions that were served to different groups in 2015 but then served to all respondents in 2016 and 2017, the group responses from 2015 have been consolidated into one set of data for easier comparison between years.</p>
<h4>Survey results</h4>
<p><a href="https://wordpress.org/news/feed/#pro">Jump to answers from WordPress Professionals</a></p>
<p><a href="https://wordpress.org/news/feed/#user">Jump to answers from WordPress Users</a></p>
<p><a href="https://wordpress.org/news/feed/#all">Jump to answers from All Respondents</a></p>
<p><!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--></p>
<h3>Which of the following best describes how you use WordPress? (Mandatory)</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="51" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="51" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses (since this question was mandatory, the number of responses here is the total number for the survey)</td>
<td>45,995</td>
<td></td>
<td>15,585</td>
<td></td>
<td>16,029</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I&#8217;m a designer or developer, or I work for a company that designs/develops websites; I use WordPress to build websites and/or blogs for others. (This might include theme development, writing plugins, other custom work.)</td>
<td>26,662</td>
<td>58%</td>
<td>8,838</td>
<td>57%</td>
<td>9,099</td>
<td>57%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I own, run, or contribute to a blog or website that is built with WordPress.</td>
<td>16,130</td>
<td>35%</td>
<td>5,293</td>
<td>34%</td>
<td>5,625</td>
<td>35%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Neither of the above.</td>
<td>3,204</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>1,460</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>1,306</td>
<td>8%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2 id="pro">WordPress Professionals</h2>
<h3><strong>Which of the following best describes your involvement with WordPress? (Mandatory, 2015) / Do you work for a company, or on your own? (Mandatory, 2016-17)</strong></h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Professional</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>26,699</td>
<td></td>
<td>8,838</td>
<td></td>
<td>9,101</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>My primary job is working for a company or organization that uses WordPress.</td>
<td>9,505</td>
<td>36%</td>
<td>3,529</td>
<td>40%</td>
<td>3,660</td>
<td>40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>My primary job is as a self-employed designer or developer that uses WordPress.</td>
<td>9,310</td>
<td>35%</td>
<td>3,188</td>
<td>36%</td>
<td>3,440</td>
<td>38%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I earn money from part-time or occasional freelance work involving WordPress.</td>
<td>5,954</td>
<td>22%</td>
<td>1,633</td>
<td>18%</td>
<td>1,590</td>
<td>17%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Work that I do involving WordPress is just a hobby, I don&#8217;t make money from it.</td>
<td>1,930</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>491</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>411</td>
<td>5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>How does your company or organization work with WordPress?</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Company</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>9,342</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Build/design and/or maintain websites or blogs for other people, companies, or organizations.</td>
<td>7,772</td>
<td>27%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Develop or customize themes.</td>
<td>5,404</td>
<td>19%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Build/design and/or maintain websites or blogs for my own use.</td>
<td>4,733</td>
<td>16%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Host websites for customers.</td>
<td>4,397</td>
<td>15%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Develop or distribute plugins.</td>
<td>3,181</td>
<td>11%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Provide educational resources to help others to use WordPress.</td>
<td>1,349</td>
<td>5%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sponsor and/or attend WordCamps.</td>
<td>1,127</td>
<td>4%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Contribute bug reports and/or patches to WordPress core.</td>
<td>914</td>
<td>3%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Other Option</td>
<td>182</td>
<td> 1%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>3,457</td>
<td></td>
<td>3,598</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>We make websites for others.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2,695</td>
<td>24%</td>
<td>2,722</td>
<td>23%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>We make websites for ourselves.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2,355</td>
<td>21%</td>
<td>2,470</td>
<td>21%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>We develop or customize themes.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>1,866</td>
<td>16%</td>
<td>1,910</td>
<td>16%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>We host websites for others.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>1,564</td>
<td>14%</td>
<td>1,595</td>
<td>14%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>We develop or distribute plugins.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>1,283</td>
<td>11%</td>
<td>1,342</td>
<td>11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>We provide educational resources to help others to use WordPress.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>581</td>
<td>5%</td>
<td>631</td>
<td>5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>We sponsor and/or attend WordCamps.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>561</td>
<td>5%</td>
<td>579</td>
<td>5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>We contribute bug reports and/or patches to WordPress core.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>444</td>
<td>4%</td>
<td>468</td>
<td>4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Other Option</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>98</td>
<td>1%</td>
<td>96</td>
<td>1%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>How would you describe the business of your typical client(s)? (2015) / How would you describe the business of your typical client/customer? (2016, 2017)</strong></p>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Company</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>9,154</td>
<td></td>
<td>3,317</td>
<td></td>
<td>3,498</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Small business</td>
<td>6,893</td>
<td>32%</td>
<td>2,398</td>
<td>31%</td>
<td>2,510</td>
<td>31%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Large business or Enterprise</td>
<td>3,635</td>
<td>17%</td>
<td>1,361</td>
<td>18%</td>
<td>1,447</td>
<td>18%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Non-profit</td>
<td>2,644</td>
<td>12%</td>
<td>934</td>
<td>12%</td>
<td>992</td>
<td>12%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Individual</td>
<td>2,600</td>
<td>12%</td>
<td>888</td>
<td>12%</td>
<td>1,022</td>
<td>12%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Education</td>
<td>2,344</td>
<td>11%</td>
<td>854</td>
<td>11%</td>
<td>966</td>
<td>12%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Website development (sub-contracting)</td>
<td>2,065</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>637</td>
<td>8%</td>
<td>677</td>
<td>8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Government</td>
<td>1,410</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>524</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>552</td>
<td>7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Other Option</td>
<td>127</td>
<td>1%</td>
<td>66</td>
<td>1%</td>
<td>64</td>
<td>1%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>How does your company or organization use WordPress when developing websites? (2015) / When making websites, how does your company or organization use WordPress? (2016, 2017)</strong></p>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Company</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>9,078</td>
<td></td>
<td>3,369</td>
<td></td>
<td>3,552</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mostly as a content management system (CMS)</td>
<td>6,361</td>
<td>70%</td>
<td>2,482</td>
<td>74%</td>
<td>2,640</td>
<td>74%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>About half the time as a blogging platform and half the time as a CMS</td>
<td>1,222</td>
<td>13%</td>
<td>370</td>
<td>11%</td>
<td>383</td>
<td>11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mostly as a blogging platform</td>
<td>721</td>
<td>8%</td>
<td>137</td>
<td>4%</td>
<td>129</td>
<td>4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mostly as an application framework</td>
<td>629</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>303</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>303</td>
<td>9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Other Option</td>
<td>145</td>
<td>2%</td>
<td>78</td>
<td>2%</td>
<td>97</td>
<td>3%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>How much is your average WordPress site customized from the original WordPress installation?</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Company</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>9,054</td>
<td></td>
<td>3,302</td>
<td></td>
<td>3,473</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>A lot of work has been done, the front end is unrecognizable, but the Dashboard still looks like the usual WordPress interface.</td>
<td>5,651</td>
<td>62%</td>
<td>2,025</td>
<td>61%</td>
<td>2,105</td>
<td>61%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>There&#8217;s a different theme and some plugins have been added.</td>
<td>2,230</td>
<td>25%</td>
<td>799</td>
<td>24%</td>
<td>905</td>
<td>26%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Not at all, it&#8217;s still pretty much the same as the original download.</td>
<td>756</td>
<td>8%</td>
<td>302</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>298</td>
<td>9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>You&#8217;d never know this was a WordPress installation, everything (including the admin) has been customized.</td>
<td>417</td>
<td>5%</td>
<td>177</td>
<td>5%</td>
<td>165</td>
<td>5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Roughly how many currently active WordPress sites has your company or organization built?</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="51" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="51" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Company</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>8,801</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>200 +</td>
<td>1,074</td>
<td>12%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>51 &#8211; 200</td>
<td>1,721</td>
<td>20%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21 &#8211; 50</td>
<td>1,718</td>
<td>20%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11 &#8211; 20</td>
<td>1,284</td>
<td>15%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6 &#8211; 10</td>
<td>1,109</td>
<td>13%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2 &#8211; 5</td>
<td>1,418</td>
<td>16%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>390</td>
<td>4%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>0</td>
<td>87</td>
<td>1%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>3,358</td>
<td></td>
<td>3,540</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Thousands.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>291</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>331</td>
<td>9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hundreds.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>770</td>
<td>23%</td>
<td>894</td>
<td>25%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fewer than a hundred.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>1,144</td>
<td>34%</td>
<td>1,177</td>
<td>33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Just a few, but they are really great.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>926</td>
<td>28%</td>
<td>896</td>
<td>25%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Prefer not to answer.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>228</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>242</td>
<td>7%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>How many person-hours (of your company&#8217;s work) does the typical site take to complete?</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="51" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="51" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Company</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>9,091</td>
<td></td>
<td>3,353</td>
<td></td>
<td>3,522</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>More than 200</td>
<td>939</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>309</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>325</td>
<td>9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>100 &#8211; 200</td>
<td>1080</td>
<td>12%</td>
<td>329</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>367</td>
<td>10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>60 &#8211; 100</td>
<td>1541</td>
<td>17%</td>
<td>527</td>
<td>16%</td>
<td>513</td>
<td>15%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>40 &#8211; 60</td>
<td>1854</td>
<td>20%</td>
<td>583</td>
<td>17%</td>
<td>620</td>
<td>18%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20 &#8211; 40</td>
<td>2066</td>
<td>23%</td>
<td>691</td>
<td>21%</td>
<td>685</td>
<td>19%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fewer than 20</td>
<td>1611</td>
<td>18%</td>
<td>479</td>
<td>14%</td>
<td>519</td>
<td>15%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Prefer not to answer (2016, 2017)</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>436</td>
<td>13%</td>
<td>493</td>
<td>14%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Roughly what percentage of your company or organization&#8217;s output is based around WordPress (as opposed to other platforms or software)?</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="51" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="51" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Company</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>8,950</td>
<td></td>
<td>3,345</td>
<td></td>
<td>3,503</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>100 %</td>
<td>1,089</td>
<td>12%</td>
<td>438</td>
<td>13%</td>
<td>480</td>
<td>14%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>90 %</td>
<td>1,043</td>
<td>12%</td>
<td>417</td>
<td>12%</td>
<td>459</td>
<td>13%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>80 %</td>
<td>955</td>
<td>11%</td>
<td>367</td>
<td>11%</td>
<td>424</td>
<td>12%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>70 %</td>
<td>831</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>305</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>344</td>
<td>10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>60 %</td>
<td>534</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>246</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>226</td>
<td>6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>50 %</td>
<td>973</td>
<td>11%</td>
<td>335</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>338</td>
<td>10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>40 %</td>
<td>613</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>245</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>202</td>
<td>6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>30 %</td>
<td>877</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>335</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>310</td>
<td>9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20 %</td>
<td>806</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>242</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>280</td>
<td>8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10 %</td>
<td>1,039</td>
<td>12%</td>
<td>344</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>348</td>
<td>10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>0 %</td>
<td>190</td>
<td>2%</td>
<td>72</td>
<td>2%</td>
<td>92</td>
<td>3%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>In which of the following ways do you work with WordPress?</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Freelancer/Hobbyist</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>17,009</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,221</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,425</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Build/design and/or maintain websites or blogs for other people, companies, or organizations</td>
<td>15,342</td>
<td>34%</td>
<td>4,795</td>
<td>34%</td>
<td>5,064</td>
<td>34%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Develop or customize themes</td>
<td>10,549</td>
<td>24%</td>
<td>2,997</td>
<td>21%</td>
<td>3,021</td>
<td>20%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Host websites for customers</td>
<td>8,142</td>
<td>18%</td>
<td>2,466</td>
<td>17%</td>
<td>2,728</td>
<td>18%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Develop or distribute plugins</td>
<td>4,125</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>1,395</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>1,416</td>
<td>9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Provide educational resources to help others to use WordPress</td>
<td>3,276</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>1,187</td>
<td>8%</td>
<td>1,308</td>
<td>9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sponsor and/or attend WordCamps</td>
<td>1,559</td>
<td>4%</td>
<td>648</td>
<td>5%</td>
<td>724</td>
<td>5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Contribute bug reports and/or patches to WordPress core</td>
<td>1,107</td>
<td>2%</td>
<td>381</td>
<td>3%</td>
<td>393</td>
<td>3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Other Option</td>
<td>389</td>
<td>1%</td>
<td>243</td>
<td>2%</td>
<td>299</td>
<td>2%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>How would you describe the business of your typical client(s)?</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Freelancer/Hobbyist</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>16,863</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,151</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,353</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Small business</td>
<td>14,185</td>
<td>35%</td>
<td>4,342</td>
<td>35%</td>
<td>4,622</td>
<td>36%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Individual</td>
<td>8,513</td>
<td>21%</td>
<td>2,581</td>
<td>21%</td>
<td>2,583</td>
<td>20%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Non-profit</td>
<td>6,585</td>
<td>16%</td>
<td>2,004</td>
<td>16%</td>
<td>2,113</td>
<td>16%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Website development (sub-contracting)</td>
<td>4,301</td>
<td>11%</td>
<td>1,258</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>1,216</td>
<td>9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Education</td>
<td>3,458</td>
<td>8%</td>
<td>1,049</td>
<td>8%</td>
<td>1,139</td>
<td>9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Large business or Enterprise</td>
<td>2,391</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>805</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>857</td>
<td>7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Government</td>
<td>1,150</td>
<td>3%</td>
<td>300</td>
<td>2%</td>
<td>329</td>
<td>3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Other Option</td>
<td>173</td>
<td>0%</td>
<td>101</td>
<td>1%</td>
<td>99</td>
<td>1%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>How do you use WordPress in your development?</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Freelancer/Hobbyist</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>16,768</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,145</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,372</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mostly as a content management system (CMS)</td>
<td>11,754</td>
<td>70%</td>
<td>3,641</td>
<td>71%</td>
<td>3,959</td>
<td>74%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>About half the time as a blogging platform and half the time as a CMS</td>
<td>2,825</td>
<td>17%</td>
<td>812</td>
<td>16%</td>
<td>721</td>
<td>13%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mostly as an application framework</td>
<td>1,012</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>343</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>344</td>
<td>6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mostly as a blogging platform</td>
<td>992</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>246</td>
<td>5%</td>
<td>226</td>
<td>4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Other Option</td>
<td>185</td>
<td>1%</td>
<td>105</td>
<td>2%</td>
<td>122</td>
<td>2%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>How much is your average WordPress site customized from the original WordPress installation?</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Freelancer/Hobbyist</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>16,699</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,131</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,317</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>A lot of work has been done, the front end is unrecognizable, but the Dashboard still looks like the usual WordPress interface.</td>
<td>9,457</td>
<td>57%</td>
<td>2,837</td>
<td>55%</td>
<td>2,998</td>
<td>56%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>There&#8217;s a different theme and some plugins have been added.</td>
<td>5,526</td>
<td>33%</td>
<td>1,694</td>
<td>33%</td>
<td>1,781</td>
<td>34%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Not at all, it&#8217;s still pretty much the same as the original download.</td>
<td>977</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>341</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>310</td>
<td>6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>You&#8217;d never know this was a WordPress installation, everything (including the admin) has been customized.</td>
<td>739</td>
<td>4%</td>
<td>261</td>
<td>5%</td>
<td>228</td>
<td>4%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>How many currently active WordPress sites have you built? (2015) / Roughly how many currently active WordPress sites have you built? (2016, 2017)</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Freelancer/Hobbyist</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>16,690</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>200 +</td>
<td>514</td>
<td>3%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>51 &#8211; 200</td>
<td>1,728</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21 &#8211; 50</td>
<td>3,000</td>
<td>18%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11 &#8211; 20</td>
<td>3,146</td>
<td>19%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6 &#8211; 10</td>
<td>3,405</td>
<td>20%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2 &#8211; 5</td>
<td>3,838</td>
<td>23%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>698</td>
<td>4%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>0</td>
<td>361</td>
<td>2%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5,165</td>
<td></td>
<td>5367</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Thousands.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>110</td>
<td>2%</td>
<td>104</td>
<td>2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hundreds.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>603</td>
<td>12%</td>
<td>713</td>
<td>13%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fewer than a hundred.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2,264</td>
<td>44%</td>
<td>2,457</td>
<td>46%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Just a few, but they are really great.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>1,871</td>
<td>36%</td>
<td>1,813</td>
<td>34%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Prefer not to answer.</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>319</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>280</td>
<td>5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Roughly what percentage of your working time is spent working with WordPress?</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Freelancer/Hobbyist</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>16,658</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,039</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,241</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>100 %</td>
<td>949</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>459</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>461</td>
<td>9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>90 %</td>
<td>1,300</td>
<td>8%</td>
<td>527</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>540</td>
<td>10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>80 %</td>
<td>1,784</td>
<td>11%</td>
<td>637</td>
<td>13%</td>
<td>711</td>
<td>14%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>70 %</td>
<td>1,850</td>
<td>11%</td>
<td>608</td>
<td>12%</td>
<td>627</td>
<td>12%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>60 %</td>
<td>1,313</td>
<td>8%</td>
<td>438</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>465</td>
<td>9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>50 %</td>
<td>2,095</td>
<td>13%</td>
<td>612</td>
<td>12%</td>
<td>639</td>
<td>12%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>40 %</td>
<td>1,438</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>391</td>
<td>8%</td>
<td>384</td>
<td>7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>30 %</td>
<td>2,076</td>
<td>12%</td>
<td>530</td>
<td>11%</td>
<td>511</td>
<td>10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20 %</td>
<td>1,743</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>445</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>429</td>
<td>8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10 %</td>
<td>1,819</td>
<td>11%</td>
<td>342</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>419</td>
<td>8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>0 %</td>
<td>291</td>
<td>2%</td>
<td>52</td>
<td>1%</td>
<td>55</td>
<td>1%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>How many hours of your work does the typical site take to complete? (2015) / How many hours of work does your typical WordPress project take to launch? (2016, 2017)</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="51" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="51" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Freelancer/Hobbyist</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>16,670</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,164</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,378</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>More than 200</td>
<td>503</td>
<td>3%</td>
<td>222</td>
<td>4%</td>
<td>245</td>
<td>5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>100 &#8211; 200</td>
<td>973</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>386</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>393</td>
<td>7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>60 &#8211; 100</td>
<td>2,277</td>
<td>14%</td>
<td>788</td>
<td>15%</td>
<td>815</td>
<td>15%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>40 &#8211; 60</td>
<td>3,896</td>
<td>23%</td>
<td>1,153</td>
<td>22%</td>
<td>1,216</td>
<td>23%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20 &#8211; 40</td>
<td>6,068</td>
<td>36%</td>
<td>1,487</td>
<td>29%</td>
<td>1,582</td>
<td>29%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fewer than 20</td>
<td>2,953</td>
<td>18%</td>
<td>712</td>
<td>14%</td>
<td>751</td>
<td>14%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Prefer not to answer</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>418</td>
<td>8%</td>
<td>376</td>
<td>7%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Which of the following have you done with WordPress?</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" /> </colgroup>
</table>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Professional (Company/Freelancer/Hobbyist)</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>20,687</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I’ve written a theme from scratch.</td>
<td>11,894</td>
<td>25%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I’ve written a plugin.</td>
<td>9,719</td>
<td>21%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I&#8217;ve answered a question in the WordPress forum.</td>
<td>8,805</td>
<td>19%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I&#8217;ve attended a WordPress meetup.</td>
<td>4,062</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I&#8217;ve submitted a WordPress bug report.</td>
<td>4,062</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I&#8217;ve attended a WordCamp.</td>
<td>3,571</td>
<td>8%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I&#8217;ve contributed to WordPress documentation.</td>
<td>1,778</td>
<td>4%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Other Option</td>
<td>1,739</td>
<td>4%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I&#8217;ve contributed a WordPress core patch.</td>
<td>1,055</td>
<td>2%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>What&#8217;s the best thing about WordPress?<a href="https://wordpress.org/news/feed/#text">*</a></h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Professional</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>22,718</td>
<td></td>
<td>7,891</td>
<td></td>
<td>8,267</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Easy/simple/user-friendly</td>
<td>9,450</td>
<td>42%</td>
<td>3,454</td>
<td>44%</td>
<td>3,852</td>
<td>47%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Customizable/extensible/modular/plugins/themes</td>
<td>8,601</td>
<td>38%</td>
<td>3,116</td>
<td>39%</td>
<td>3,555</td>
<td>43%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Community/support/documentation/help</td>
<td>3,806</td>
<td>17%</td>
<td>1,211</td>
<td>15%</td>
<td>1,340</td>
<td>16%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Free/open/open source</td>
<td>2,291</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>802</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>908</td>
<td>11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Popular/ubiquitous</td>
<td>249</td>
<td>1%</td>
<td>86</td>
<td>1%</td>
<td>187</td>
<td>2%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3> What&#8217;s the most frustrating thing about WordPress?<a href="https://wordpress.org/news/feed/#text">*</a></h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Professional</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>21,144</td>
<td></td>
<td>7,294</td>
<td></td>
<td>7,691</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Plugins &amp; themes (abandoned/conflicts/coding standards)</td>
<td>6,122</td>
<td>29%</td>
<td>2,194</td>
<td>30%</td>
<td>2,187</td>
<td>28%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Security/vulnerabilities/hacks</td>
<td>2,321</td>
<td>11%</td>
<td>712</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>829</td>
<td>11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Updates</td>
<td>1,544</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>422</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>508</td>
<td>7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nothing/I don&#8217;t know/can&#8217;t think of anything</td>
<td>1,276</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>344</td>
<td>5%</td>
<td>476</td>
<td>6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Speed/performance/slow/heavy</td>
<td>1,196</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>644</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>516</td>
<td>7%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>WordPress is as good as, or better than, its main competitors.</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress Professional</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses (this question was not asked in the 2015 survey)</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>8,672</td>
<td></td>
<td>9,059</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Agree</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>7551</td>
<td>87%</td>
<td>7836</td>
<td>87%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Prefer not to answer</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>754</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>795</td>
<td>9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Disagree</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>370</td>
<td>4%</td>
<td>428</td>
<td>5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2 id="user">WordPress Users</h2>
<h3>Which of the following describes how you use WordPress?</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress User</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>15,169</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,043</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,521</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>My personal blog (or blogs) uses WordPress.</td>
<td>9,395</td>
<td>36%</td>
<td>3,117</td>
<td>36%</td>
<td>3,424</td>
<td>36%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>My company or organization&#8217;s website is built with WordPress software.</td>
<td>7,480</td>
<td>29%</td>
<td>2,519</td>
<td>29%</td>
<td>2,841</td>
<td>30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I have a hobby or side project that has a website built with WordPress.</td>
<td>6,112</td>
<td>23%</td>
<td>1,973</td>
<td>23%</td>
<td>2,200</td>
<td>23%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I write (or otherwise work) for an online publication that uses WordPress.</td>
<td>2,329</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>806</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>821</td>
<td>9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Other Option</td>
<td>872</td>
<td>3%</td>
<td>234</td>
<td>3%</td>
<td>288</td>
<td>3%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Who installed your WordPress website?</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress User</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>15,055</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,020</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,523</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I did.</td>
<td>11,216</td>
<td>66%</td>
<td>3,659</td>
<td>73%</td>
<td>4,129</td>
<td>75%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>My hosting provider</td>
<td>2,236</td>
<td>13%</td>
<td>667</td>
<td>13%</td>
<td>767</td>
<td>14%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>An external company</td>
<td>909</td>
<td>5%</td>
<td>182</td>
<td>4%</td>
<td>178</td>
<td>3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>An internal web person/team or a colleague</td>
<td>874</td>
<td>5%</td>
<td>178</td>
<td>4%</td>
<td>191</td>
<td>3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>A friend or family member</td>
<td>787</td>
<td>5%</td>
<td>192</td>
<td>4%</td>
<td>172</td>
<td>3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I don&#8217;t know</td>
<td>502</td>
<td>3%</td>
<td>145</td>
<td>3%</td>
<td>87</td>
<td>2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Other Option</td>
<td>345</td>
<td>2%</td>
<td>n/a</td>
<td>n/a</td>
<td>n/a</td>
<td>n/a</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>How much has the site been customized from the original WordPress installation?</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress User</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>14,789</td>
<td></td>
<td>4,997</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,494</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>There&#8217;s a different theme and some plugins have been added.</td>
<td>7,465</td>
<td>50%</td>
<td>2,337</td>
<td>47%</td>
<td>2,660</td>
<td>48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>A lot of work has been done, the site itself is unrecognizable from the original theme, but the Dashboard still looks like the usual WordPress interface.</td>
<td>4,715</td>
<td>32%</td>
<td>1,707</td>
<td>34%</td>
<td>1,872</td>
<td>34%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Not at all, it&#8217;s still pretty much the same as it was when I started out.</td>
<td>1,841</td>
<td>12%</td>
<td>635</td>
<td>13%</td>
<td>673</td>
<td>12%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>You&#8217;d never know this was a WordPress installation, everything has been customized.</td>
<td>768</td>
<td>5%</td>
<td>321</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>290</td>
<td>5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>What&#8217;s the best thing about WordPress?<a href="https://wordpress.org/news/feed/#text">*</a></h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress User</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>14,328</td>
<td></td>
<td>4,613</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,076</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Easy/simple/user-friendly</td>
<td>7,391</td>
<td>52%</td>
<td>2,276</td>
<td>49%</td>
<td>2,511</td>
<td>49%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Customizable/extensible/modular/plugins/themes</td>
<td>4,219</td>
<td>29%</td>
<td>1,569</td>
<td>34%</td>
<td>1,632</td>
<td>32%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Free/open/open source</td>
<td>1,586</td>
<td>11%</td>
<td>493</td>
<td>11%</td>
<td>538</td>
<td>11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Community/support/documentation/help</td>
<td>1,085</td>
<td>8%</td>
<td>388</td>
<td>8%</td>
<td>458</td>
<td>9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Popular/ubiquitous</td>
<td>223</td>
<td>2%</td>
<td>74</td>
<td>2%</td>
<td>48</td>
<td>1%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>What&#8217;s the most frustrating thing about WordPress?<a href="https://wordpress.org/news/feed/#text">*</a></h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress User</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td>13,681</td>
<td></td>
<td>4,287</td>
<td></td>
<td>4,758</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Plugins &amp; themes (abandoned/conflicts/coding standards)</td>
<td>2,531</td>
<td>19%</td>
<td>1,183</td>
<td>28%</td>
<td>1,300</td>
<td>27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Customization/design/look/template</td>
<td>1,273</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>381</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>408</td>
<td>9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Code/coding/PHP</td>
<td>931</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>306</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>277</td>
<td>6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Updates</td>
<td>926</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>209</td>
<td>5%</td>
<td>296</td>
<td>6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Security/vulnerabilites/hacks</td>
<td>785</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>255</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>292</td>
<td>6%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>WordPress is as good as, or better than, its main competitors.</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="51" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="51" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: WordPress User</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5,026</td>
<td></td>
<td>5,498</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Agree</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>4,038</td>
<td>80%</td>
<td>4,462</td>
<td>81%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Prefer not to answer</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>737</td>
<td>15%</td>
<td>782</td>
<td>14%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Disagree</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>254</td>
<td>5%</td>
<td>255</td>
<td>5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2 id="all">All Respondents</h2>
<h3>Can you (truthfully!) say &#8220;I make my living from WordPress&#8221;?</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: All Respondents</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses (combination of all three groups from 2015; this question was not broken out by group in 2016-2017)</td>
<td>42,236</td>
<td></td>
<td>14,906</td>
<td></td>
<td>15,616</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Not really, but I do get some or all of my income as a result of working with WordPress.</td>
<td>16,607</td>
<td>39%</td>
<td>5,408</td>
<td>36%</td>
<td>5,702</td>
<td>37%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Yes.</td>
<td>9,635</td>
<td>23%</td>
<td>4,791</td>
<td>32%</td>
<td>5,033</td>
<td>32%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>No.</td>
<td>15,995</td>
<td>38%</td>
<td>4,713</td>
<td>32%</td>
<td>4,882</td>
<td>31%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Which devices do you access WordPress on?</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: All Respondents</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses (combination of all three groups from 2015; this question was not broken out by group in 2016-2017)</td>
<td>42,433</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Web</td>
<td>40,503</td>
<td>95%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Android phone</td>
<td>15,396</td>
<td>36%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iPhone</td>
<td>12,353</td>
<td>29%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iPad</td>
<td>11,748</td>
<td>28%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Android tablet</td>
<td>9,223</td>
<td>22%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Desktop app, like MarsEdit</td>
<td>6,018</td>
<td>14%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Other Option</td>
<td>1837</td>
<td>4%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses (this question was not broken out by group in 2016-2017)</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>14,840</td>
<td></td>
<td>15,597</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Web browser on a desktop or laptop</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>14,160</td>
<td>54%</td>
<td>15,052</td>
<td>55%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Web browser on a mobile device (tablet or phone)</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>7,952</td>
<td>30%</td>
<td>8,248</td>
<td>30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>An app on a mobile device (table or phone)</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>3,309</td>
<td>13%</td>
<td>3,311</td>
<td>12%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>A desktop app like MarsEdit</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>517</td>
<td>2%</td>
<td>498</td>
<td>2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Other Option</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>282</td>
<td>1%</td>
<td>240</td>
<td>1%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>WordPress now updates minor &amp; security releases automatically for you. Check all that apply: (question not asked in 2016, 2017)</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: All Respondents</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses (combination of all three groups)</td>
<td>39,726</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I love auto-updates.</td>
<td>17,367</td>
<td>44%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I&#8217;d like to see auto-updates for plugins.</td>
<td>12,796</td>
<td>32%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Initially, I was nervous about auto updates.</td>
<td>11,868</td>
<td>30%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Auto updates still make me nervous.</td>
<td>10,809</td>
<td>27%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Auto updates don&#8217;t make me nervous now.</td>
<td>10,708</td>
<td>27%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I&#8217;d like to see auto-updates for themes.</td>
<td>10,449</td>
<td>26%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I&#8217;d like to see auto updates for major versions of WordPress.</td>
<td>10,225</td>
<td>26%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>This is the first I&#8217;ve heard of auto-updates.</td>
<td>8,660</td>
<td>22%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I hate auto-updates.</td>
<td>3,293</td>
<td>8%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>What is your gender?<a href="https://wordpress.org/news/feed/#text">*</a></h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="51" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="51" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: All respondents (This question was not asked in the 2015 survey.)</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>13,953</td>
<td></td>
<td>14,680</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Male</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>10,978</td>
<td>78.68%</td>
<td>11,570</td>
<td>78.81%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Female</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2,340</td>
<td>16.77%</td>
<td>2,511</td>
<td>21.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Prefer not to answer</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>601</td>
<td>4.31%</td>
<td>562</td>
<td>3.83%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Transgender</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>11</td>
<td>0.08%</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>0.05%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nonbinary</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>8</td>
<td>0.06%</td>
<td>17</td>
<td>0.12%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Genderqueer</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0.03%</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>0.02%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Androgynous</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>6</td>
<td>0.04%</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>0.03%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fluid</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>3</td>
<td>0.02%</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0.03%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Demimale</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2</td>
<td>0.01%</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Where are you located?</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="51" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="51" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: All respondents (This question was not asked in the 2015 survey.)</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>14,562</td>
<td></td>
<td>15,343</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>United States</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>3,770</td>
<td>25.89%</td>
<td>4,067</td>
<td>26.51%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>India</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>1,456</td>
<td>10.00%</td>
<td>1,424</td>
<td>9.28%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>United Kingdom</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>810</td>
<td>5.56%</td>
<td>900</td>
<td>5.87%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Germany</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>555</td>
<td>3.81%</td>
<td>729</td>
<td>4.75%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Canada</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>511</td>
<td>3.51%</td>
<td>599</td>
<td>3.90%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Australia</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>389</td>
<td>2.67%</td>
<td>460</td>
<td>3.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Italy</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>298</td>
<td>2.05%</td>
<td>356</td>
<td>2.32%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Netherlands</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>343</td>
<td>2.36%</td>
<td>350</td>
<td>2.28%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>France</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>232</td>
<td>1.59%</td>
<td>283</td>
<td>1.84%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bangladesh</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>257</td>
<td>1.76%</td>
<td>263</td>
<td>1.71%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Spain</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>271</td>
<td>1.86%</td>
<td>252</td>
<td>1.64%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brazil</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>239</td>
<td>1.64%</td>
<td>251</td>
<td>1.64%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pakistan</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>254</td>
<td>1.74%</td>
<td>240</td>
<td>1.56%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Indonesia</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>230</td>
<td>1.58%</td>
<td>226</td>
<td>1.47%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Iran, Islamic Republic of</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>190</td>
<td>1.30%</td>
<td>173</td>
<td>1.13%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sweden</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>144</td>
<td>0.99%</td>
<td>173</td>
<td>1.13%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nigeria</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>196</td>
<td>1.35%</td>
<td>172</td>
<td>1.12%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>South Africa</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>193</td>
<td>1.33%</td>
<td>172</td>
<td>1.12%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russian Federation</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>181</td>
<td>1.24%</td>
<td>151</td>
<td>0.98%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Poland</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>129</td>
<td>0.89%</td>
<td>137</td>
<td>0.89%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Romania</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>144</td>
<td>0.99%</td>
<td>132</td>
<td>0.86%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Switzerland</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>122</td>
<td>0.84%</td>
<td>130</td>
<td>0.85%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Philippines</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>92</td>
<td>0.63%</td>
<td>125</td>
<td>0.81%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>China</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>136</td>
<td>0.93%</td>
<td>123</td>
<td>0.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Austria</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>89</td>
<td>0.61%</td>
<td>122</td>
<td>0.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ukraine</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>105</td>
<td>0.72%</td>
<td>118</td>
<td>0.77%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Denmark</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>107</td>
<td>0.73%</td>
<td>114</td>
<td>0.74%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Greece</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>120</td>
<td>0.82%</td>
<td>114</td>
<td>0.74%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Portugal</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>94</td>
<td>0.65%</td>
<td>109</td>
<td>0.71%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vietnam</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>101</td>
<td>0.69%</td>
<td>108</td>
<td>0.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mexico</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>94</td>
<td>0.65%</td>
<td>105</td>
<td>0.68%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nepal</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>76</td>
<td>0.52%</td>
<td>97</td>
<td>0.63%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ireland</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>72</td>
<td>0.49%</td>
<td>94</td>
<td>0.61%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Israel</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>78</td>
<td>0.54%</td>
<td>94</td>
<td>0.61%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>New Zealand</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>77</td>
<td>0.53%</td>
<td>91</td>
<td>0.59%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Finland</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>63</td>
<td>0.43%</td>
<td>90</td>
<td>0.59%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Turkey</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>91</td>
<td>0.62%</td>
<td>86</td>
<td>0.56%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Malaysia</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>91</td>
<td>0.62%</td>
<td>81</td>
<td>0.53%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Belgium</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>84</td>
<td>0.58%</td>
<td>79</td>
<td>0.51%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Norway</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>66</td>
<td>0.45%</td>
<td>79</td>
<td>0.51%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Argentina</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>65</td>
<td>0.45%</td>
<td>76</td>
<td>0.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bulgaria</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>74</td>
<td>0.51%</td>
<td>72</td>
<td>0.47%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Japan</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>61</td>
<td>0.42%</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>0.44%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Thailand</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>69</td>
<td>0.47%</td>
<td>67</td>
<td>0.44%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Czech Republic</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>76</td>
<td>0.52%</td>
<td>66</td>
<td>0.43%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Serbia</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>89</td>
<td>0.61%</td>
<td>63</td>
<td>0.41%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kenya</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>58</td>
<td>0.40%</td>
<td>62</td>
<td>0.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Colombia</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>39</td>
<td>0.27%</td>
<td>59</td>
<td>0.38%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Egypt</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>40</td>
<td>0.27%</td>
<td>52</td>
<td>0.34%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>What is your age?</h3>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="554" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="36" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="51" />
<col width="47" />
<col width="51" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2015</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2016</strong></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="1"><strong>2017</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Group: All Respondents</em></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of responses (This question was not asked in 2015.)</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>14,944</td>
<td></td>
<td>15,636</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>60 and over</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>1,139</td>
<td>8%</td>
<td>1,641</td>
<td>11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>50-59</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>1,537</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>1,996</td>
<td>13%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>40-49</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>2,205</td>
<td>15%</td>
<td>2,643</td>
<td>17%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>30-39</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>3,914</td>
<td>26%</td>
<td>3,972</td>
<td>25%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20-29</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>5,013</td>
<td>34%</td>
<td>4,444</td>
<td>28%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Under 20</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>1142</td>
<td>8%</td>
<td>941</td>
<td>6%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Thank you to everyone who made time to fill out the survey &#8212; we&#8217;re so happy you use WordPress, and we&#8217;re very grateful that you&#8217;re willing to share your experiences with us! Thanks also to everyone who spread the word about this survey, and to those of you who read all the way to the bottom of this post. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2.4/72x72/1f609.png" alt="?" class="wp-smiley" /></p>
<p><small><a id="text"></a>*Text Field Questions: Each survey included some questions that could be answered only by filling out a text field. In the case of the questions &#8220;What is the best thing about WordPress?&#8221; and &#8220;What is the most frustrating thing about WordPress?&#8221; we listed the five most common responses, aggregated when applicable. In the case of the question “What is your gender?” in the 2016 and 2017 surveys, we aggregated responses as best we could. Responses meant to obscure respondents’ gender entirely are aggregated in “prefer not to answer.”</small></p>";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Fri, 22 Dec 2017 21:40:57 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:16:"Andrea Middleton";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}s:4:"type";i:128;s:7:"headers";O:42:"Requests_Utility_CaseInsensitiveDictionary":1:{s:7:"*data";a:8:{s:6:"server";s:5:"nginx";s:4:"date";s:29:"Fri, 09 Feb 2018 16:28:14 GMT";s:12:"content-type";s:8:"text/xml";s:4:"vary";s:15:"Accept-Encoding";s:13:"last-modified";s:29:"Fri, 09 Feb 2018 16:15:27 GMT";s:15:"x-frame-options";s:10:"SAMEORIGIN";s:4:"x-nc";s:9:"HIT ord 2";s:16:"content-encoding";s:4:"gzip";}}s:5:"build";s:14:"20130911040210";}