WordPress.org has recently taken control of a plugin previously managed by WP Engine, specifically the Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin. This move is part of a broader conflict between WordPress.org and WP Engine, which has seen WordPress.org banning WP Engine from accessing its resources, including themes and plugins. The ban was briefly lifted but then reinstated, effectively preventing WP Engine from updating the plugin through WordPress.org , .

The conflict began when WordPress co-founder and Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg criticized WP Engine for profiteering and not contributing as much to the WordPress community as Automattic does, despite both companies generating significant revenue. Mullenweg described WP Engine as a "cancer to WordPress" and accused them of breaking customer sites in retaliation , .

The decision to take control of the ACF plugin was made to remove commercial upsells and address a security issue. This action has sparked controversy, as it marks the first time in WordPress's history that a plugin under active development has been forcibly taken from its creator without consent .

Visual Insights

The image above illustrates a user interface surrounded by icons representing various functionalities such as e-commerce, security, and performance, which are integral to the WordPress ecosystem. This visual underscores the importance of plugins like ACF in enhancing WordPress's capabilities.

This image shows the WP Engine interface for managing WordPress, highlighting site statistics and management options. It reflects the kind of tools and services WP Engine provides to its users, which are now affected by the ongoing dispute with WordPress.org.

In summary, the takeover of the ACF plugin by WordPress.org is a significant development in the ongoing dispute with WP Engine, highlighting issues of control and contribution within the WordPress community.