WordPress is the world’s most popular content management system (CMS), powering over 40% of all websites globally. Despite its widespread use, many people wonder: Who created WordPress? Who invented WordPress? When was WordPress released? and Who owns WordPress? This article dives into the fascinating history of WordPress, from its early creation to its current status as a web development giant.
Who Created WordPress?
WordPress was created by two developers: Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little. The journey began when Matt, a college student at the time, was frustrated with the limitations of an older blogging software called b2/cafelog. This software was no longer maintained, but it had a small but dedicated user base.
In January 2003, Matt Mullenweg made a public post on his blog expressing his interest in building a new platform based on the open-source b2/cafelog software. That’s when Mike Little, a UK-based developer, responded, and together they started working on what would become WordPress.
- Matt Mullenweg: Often recognized as the co-founder and face of WordPress, Matt played a central role in its development and later became the driving force behind Automattic, the company that supports WordPress development.
- Mike Little: While less well-known, Mike was instrumental in the early stages of development and worked closely with Matt to create the first version of WordPress.
Who Invented WordPress?
While the terms “invented” and “created” are sometimes used interchangeably, WordPress wasn’t invented in a vacuum—it was built as a continuation of the b2/cafelog project. Michel Valdrighi, the original developer of b2/cafelog, laid the foundation for what would eventually become WordPress. However, Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little are credited with evolving that initial project into the modern platform we know today.
Who Owns WordPress?
WordPress is an open-source project, meaning that it is not owned by a single company or individual. Instead, it is maintained by a community of developers, contributors, and volunteers from around the world.
However, much of WordPress’s continued development is guided by Automattic, a company founded by Matt Mullenweg in 2005. Automattic owns WordPress.com, a for-profit platform where users can build websites using WordPress’s software in a managed hosting environment. The open-source version of WordPress, known as WordPress.org, remains free and accessible to anyone, but Automattic plays a significant role in its ongoing development.
To summarize:
- WordPress.org: The open-source software is owned by the community and not a specific company.
- WordPress.com: This is a commercial version owned and operated by Automattic, founded by Matt Mullenweg.
When Was WordPress Created?
WordPress was created in 2003, after Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little began working on a new fork of the b2/cafelog platform. They sought to improve the blogging software by making it more user-friendly and adaptable.
- Official Release Date: WordPress version 0.7, the very first version, was officially released on May 27, 2003. This marked the beginning of WordPress’s rise as the dominant platform for blogging and, eventually, all types of websites.
When Did WordPress Start Gaining Popularity?
WordPress quickly grew in popularity due to its ease of use, flexibility, and open-source nature. The turning point came in 2004 with the release of WordPress 1.2, which introduced the plugin architecture. This allowed developers to extend WordPress’s functionality, leading to the massive ecosystem of plugins that makes WordPress so versatile today.
From there, WordPress continued to evolve:
- 2005: WordPress 1.5 introduced themes, allowing users to easily change the look and feel of their websites.
- 2008: A new administrative dashboard was launched, making WordPress even more user-friendly.
- 2010: The WordPress Foundation was formed to ensure that WordPress would remain free and open-source.
- 2018: The Gutenberg block editor was introduced, revolutionizing content creation in WordPress with a more modern and flexible drag-and-drop interface.
Who Is the Developer of WordPress?
Matt Mullenweg is often considered the lead developer and visionary behind WordPress. While thousands of contributors have helped shape WordPress over the years, Matt remains deeply involved in its ongoing development and promotion through Automattic and the WordPress Foundation.
- Mike Little, though less involved in the day-to-day development today, is recognized as one of the original developers who helped bring the initial version of WordPress to life.
In the broader sense, WordPress developers today include a large community of contributors from around the world who work on core updates, plugin development, themes, security patches, and more. The open-source nature of WordPress means anyone can contribute to its development.
Key Milestones in WordPress History
Here’s a timeline of some important milestones in WordPress’s history:
- 2003: WordPress was founded by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little as a fork of b2/cafelog. Version 0.7 was released in May.
- 2004: Version 1.2 introduced the plugin system, allowing developers to add functionality to WordPress.
- 2005: Themes were introduced in Version 1.5, allowing users to customize the design of their sites.
- 2005: Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, was founded by Matt Mullenweg.
- 2008: A significant redesign of the admin dashboard made WordPress even easier to use.
- 2010: The WordPress Foundation was formed, ensuring that WordPress would remain free and open-source.
- 2018: The Gutenberg block editor was introduced, changing the way users create content within WordPress.
Conclusion: The Legacy of WordPress
WordPress was created by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little in 2003, and since then, it has evolved into the most popular CMS in the world. While Matt Mullenweg continues to guide its development through his company Automattic, WordPress remains an open-source project maintained by a global community of developers.
Thanks to its flexibility, ease of use, and continuous innovation, WordPress has grown from a simple blogging platform to the backbone of millions of websites worldwide. Whether you’re a beginner building your first site or a developer creating complex web applications, WordPress provides the tools and community to help you succeed.