There has been a recent stir in the WordPress community involving WordPress and WP Engine. If you’re scratching your head wondering if WP Engine is part of WordPress, let me clear that up right away: no, it isn’t.
WordPress is a Content Management System used by many to create websites. While WP Engine provides services to host these websites, and they also created some plugins. So, what is the drama all about?
About WordPress
WordPress is an open-source CMS that powers more than 40% of existing websites on the internet. One of WordPress’s original founder, Matt Mullenweg, own a company called Automattic which provides WordPress hosting services. Automattic also owns the trademark for “WordPress”, hence they use WordPress.com for their service (the original WordPress website is WordPress.org).
Who Exactly is WP Engine?
WP Engine is a popular WordPress hosting company. It provides users with a platform to run their WordPress websites, taking care of technical aspects like security, updates, and website performance.
They have also developed tools and plugins to enhance WordPress performance, like tools for site backups and performance enhancement. They acquired and developed the Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin, that is popular among developers to add extra data fields to WordPress content.
What is the problem between these two?
Mullenweg pointed out that WP Engine removed the revision feature, which is crucial for managing content history. He expressed concerns that such changes could undermine the core functionalities of WordPress, impacting the overall user experience.
“WordPress” being used by WP Engine also has been a major point of discussion. WordPress.org argues that it’s misleading, and potentially confusing users about who provides what. WordPress.org feels that WP Engine’s branding might lead folks to think there’s a direct connection or endorsement, which isn’t the case. Related to this case, Automattic, as the trademark holder, also demands WP Engine to pay them a share for the license.
And one more thing is about platform development. WordPress.org argued that WP Engine, as an entity benefiting from the open-source WordPress platform, should contribute more to its development. Currently they spend only around 40 hours per week on this platform development.
Access Blocked for WP Engine
Due to escalation of the conflict between WordPress and WP Engine, WordPress banned WP Engine from accessing their account. This led to the WP Engine team being unable to issue updates to their plugins from WordPress server.
Furthermore, ACF, which was used by millions of websites, was particularly affected. WordPress forked the ACF plugin page, applied a security patch to it, and released a similar plugin called Secure Custom Fields (SCF). As a user, you can still use ACF, but you have to manually update it through their website, not directly from WordPress.
What will happen to our WordPress website?
First of all, WordPress users don’t need to worry. Your website might not even be impacted by anything at all. However, if you are using plugins that were developed by WP Engine, you will have to do something about it. The most precedent impact to your plugins is that it will not be able to receive updates for the plugins from WordPress.
And what are the plugins that impacted? You might be wanting to check your website if you are using some of the plugins below
– Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)
– NitroPack
– WP Migrate Lite
You can also check your plugin by accessing the full list on this page: List of impacted plugins. If you find that your plugin is on the list, especially for the free community version, you will need to use WP Engine Secure Updater or find an alternative.
What should we do about this?
Is your website affected by this issue? Don’t worry! Consider reaching out WP Engine support, or you could look for alternative plugins. Upscalix is also here to help you to navigate these changes smoothly. If things seem uncertain, and you consider moving your website to another host, we can help with that too.
If migrating your website is the best solution to avoid any further risk, we will be gladly to help you to do that. Just hit us up, we will come back and contact you immediately. Go to this page to start discussion with us: Start Discussion with Upscalix.
What does the key take away from all of this?
This situation is a reminder for us about risk management. Every platform comes with its own set of risks. Whether it’s WordPress, Shopify, or a custom-built solution, no platform is 100% free from issues. That’s why risk management is important. In this case, a website can’t be left unattended once it’s launched—continuous maintenance is essential.
Remember, choosing the right platform and tools is just the start. Keeping an eye on how things are running and adjusting as needed can save you a lot of headaches down the road. In the end, a well-maintained and monitored website will help you avoid unnecessary risks, providing a great experience for your users while safeguarding your business’s online reputation.
