Tensions in the WordPress ecosystem have escalated in recent months due to the very public dispute between WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg and hosting provider WP Engine.
In late September 2024, Mullenweg labeled WP Engine “a cancer to WordPress” over alleged lack of contributions and removal of certain features from their WordPress offering. WP Engine responded with legal action, filing lawsuits alleging unfair business practices and abuse of platform control.
Currently, both sides are locked in ongoing legal battles, with lawsuits filed on each end, as Mullenweg’s high-handed approach continues to draw widespread criticism.
The response to all of this? A new package manager for WordPress backed by the Linux Foundation that aims to do things differently.
FAIR Package Manager: What to Expect?
Launched as a community-driven project, FAIR Package Manager (FAIR) looks to be a drop-in replacement to WordPress.org’s centralized infrastructure, with two core pillars supporting it.
One pillar is API replacement, where FAIR takes over key WordPress services like update checks, event feeds, and browser version verification, redirecting them from centralized WordPress.org servers to local or FAIR-governed alternatives.
The second pillar is Decentralized Package Management, where a new package distribution model for themes and plugins is introduced, enabling multiple independent repositories to authenticate and serve packages.
The project aims to eliminate reliance on a single source for important core updates, plugins, and themes by enabling federation across trusted repositories while aligning better with GDPR, unifying a fragmented ecosystem, and ensuring a secure supply chain.
As for distribution, FAIR can be installed as a standalone plugin on existing WordPress sites or delivered as part of a full WordPress distribution (FAIR Distro), giving hosts (e.g., hosting providers and developers) flexibility in how they provide it to their users.
Governance is handled with a strong focus on transparency and community input. It is overseen by a Technical Steering Committee (TSC) made up of WordPress veterans and experts like Carrie Dils, Mika Epstein, and Ryan McCue.
Closing Thoughts
The Linux Foundation has a track record of backing forks like OpenTofu, Valkey, and OpenSearch—each appearing after license or governance issues triggered by decisions from key figures in their original projects.
With FAIR Package Manager, the Linux Foundation appears to be laying the groundwork for a similar shift in the WordPress ecosystem, one that prioritizes transparency, decentralization, and community-led governance over centralized control.
And if you ask me, there’s room for a real WordPress fork that truly focuses on those aspects.
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