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Digital Strategist

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Mitch Canter

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WordPress

WordPress, React, and The Future

CMDR Mitchcraft

Reading time: 1 minute

On September 14, Matt Mullenweg announced that WordPress was rethinking its use of the React.js library due to Facebook’s clarification on its patents.

The short story: Facebook released React under a modified “open-source-ish” license (called BSD+Patents) that allow them to judiciously revoke the patent if a service violates the terms of service (specifically, if they use React to build a system that would compete with Facebook).  In doing so, the Apache Foundation has condemned the license and placed it in their “category X” group – disallowed for use on Apache projects.

With over 25% of the web powered by WordPress, Matt Mullenweg states, ‘having them all inherit the patents clause isn’t something I’m comfortable with’.

At the end of the day, a large company like WordPress shunning a software package would normally be a death knell, but it’s basically putting two Internet superpowers against each other. I know personally I’ve been trying to decide on a JavaScript framework to branch into, and this has caused me to have pause with regards to React.js.

I think that this is a great time for WordPress/Automattic to do what they’ve done with projects in the past: create a brand new (or purchase the rights to an existing) framework library, rebrand/revitalize it, and license it the same way they’ve licensed WordPress products in the past.  With WordPress’ front-end quickly being excised from its back-end system, this could be just the push needed to create something that would do for JavaScript frameworks what WordPress did for blogging: revolutionize it.

  • What’s New in WordPress 3.1

    What’s New in WordPress 3.1

    Reading time: 2 minutes

    WordPress 3.1, codename “Reinhardt”, released today to much fanfare and rejoicing to all.  But what’s so special about the new version? Look no further: Internal Linking One of the best new features of 3.1 – this brings Internal Linking to the forefront, allowing you to quickly link to old posts, pages, or other content types.…

    WordPress
  • Be a Uniter, Not a Divider

    Be a Uniter, Not a Divider

    Reading time: 2 minutes

    *I work in WordPress for my day job, but a reminder that my posts and thoughts are my own.* A word of advice to anyone in management – whether it’s a C-suite, mid-level manager, or even someone who just has people under them that see them as a mentor. Be someone who unites, not someone…

    WordPress