Ed Catmull on Change  ## Metadata - Author: [[Matt]] - Full Title: Ed Catmull on Change - Category: #articles - Document Note: --- tags: [#change, #innovation, #resistance, #WordPress, #Gutenberg] Author: Matt Mullenweg Source: Matt Mullenweg's Blog Reference: [Ed Catmull on Change](https://ma.tt/2025/02/ed-catmull-on-change/) date created: 2025-02-10 08:41 --- # Title: Ed Catmull on Change ## Table of Contents: - [📝 Summary](#-summary) - [📖 Main Content](#-main-content) - [🗒️ Notes](#-notes) - [📖 References](#-references) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#-paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter](#-newsletter) - [✅ Action Items](#-action-items) - [🧪 Hypotheses](#-hypotheses) - [📊 Methodology](#-methodology) - [❓ Questions](#-questions) - [🔮 Future Research](#-future-research) - [💡 Implications](#-implications) - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#-learning-styles-assessment) - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#-accessibility-assessment) - [🌍 DEIB Assessment](#-deib-assessment) - [✅ Logical Validity](#-logical-validity) - [🔍 DARVO Analysis](#-darvo-analysis) - [🔍 SEO Evaluation](#-seo-evaluation) - [🎯 Conclusion](#-conclusion) ## 📝 Summary: In his blog post, Matt Mullenweg reflects on insights from Ed Catmull's book, *Creativity Inc.*, particularly a story about resistance to technological change at Lucasfilm. He draws parallels between this resistance and the initial pushback against WordPress's Gutenberg editor, noting that while change can be uncomfortable, it often leads to significant improvements. ## 📖 Main Content: Matt Mullenweg discusses the reluctance of Lucasfilm's film editors to adopt a digital editing system, preferring traditional methods they had mastered. He compares this to the early resistance within the WordPress community to the Gutenberg editor. Despite initial opposition, Gutenberg has now achieved widespread acceptance and is responsible for the majority of WordPress posts and pages. Mullenweg emphasizes that if such innovations were subject to a vote, they might never commence, highlighting the importance of embracing change for long-term progress. ### 🗒️ Notes: - **Resistance to Change**: - Lucasfilm editors preferred traditional film editing methods over new digital systems. - Change was perceived as uncomfortable and a hindrance to short-term productivity. - **Gutenberg Editor**: - Faced significant initial resistance, leading to the creation of ClassicPress. - Now widely accepted and used for the majority of WordPress content. - **Historical Context**: - Earlier controversies existed over introducing visual WYSIWYG editors in WordPress. - Initial opposition often gives way to acceptance as users experience benefits. ## 📖 References: - Mullenweg, M. (2025, February 9). *Ed Catmull on Change*. Retrieved from [https://ma.tt/2025/02/ed-catmull-on-change/](https://ma.tt/2025/02/ed-catmull-on-change/) ## 🗣️ Paraphrase: 1. **Original**: "They took comfort in their familiar ways, and change meant being uncomfortable." **Paraphrase**: The editors found solace in their established routines, viewing change as a source of discomfort. 2. **Original**: "Now that we’re much further along there’s a pretty widespread acceptance of Gutenberg, and it’s responsible for the vast majority of all WP posts and pages made." **Paraphrase**: At this point, Gutenberg has gained broad acceptance and is used for most WordPress posts and pages. ## 📰 Newsletter: **Embracing Change in Web Development** In the ever-evolving world of web development, embracing change is crucial. Matt Mullenweg reflects on lessons from Ed Catmull's *Creativity Inc.*, highlighting the initial resistance to technological advancements, both in film editing and within the WordPress community. The Gutenberg editor, once met with skepticism, now powers the majority of WordPress content. This journey underscores the importance of adaptability and openness to innovation. As we continue to develop and refine tools, let's remain receptive to change, recognizing its role in driving progress and enhancing user experiences. ## ✅ Action Items: As a Developer Advocate at GoDaddy with a focus on open source and WordPress, this article aligns with your professional objectives in several ways: - **Open-Source Advocacy**: Demonstrates the challenges and eventual acceptance of open-source innovations like Gutenberg. - **Contributor Engagement**: Highlights the importance of community involvement in adopting new tools. - **Education**: Provides a case study on managing resistance to change, valuable for training sessions. - **OSPO Leadership**: Offers insights into guiding organizations through transitions, pertinent to your aspiration of becoming an OSPO director. - **Transparency and Inclusivity**: Emphasizes the need for clear communication and inclusive practices during periods of change. ## 🧪 Hypotheses: 1. **Resistance to Technological Change**: Individuals accustomed to traditional methods exhibit resistance to new technologies due to perceived discomfort and short-term productivity loss. 2. **Community Adoption**: Persistent advocacy and demonstration of benefits can lead to widespread acceptance of new tools within a community. ### 📊 Methodology: To explore these hypotheses: - **Data Sources**: Conduct surveys within communities undergoing technological transitions. - **Research Design**: Implement longitudinal studies to observe changes in attitudes over time. - **Analysis Techniques**: Use statistical methods to correlate advocacy efforts with adoption rates. ### ❓ Questions: - What factors contribute most to resistance against new technologies in established communities? - How can leaders effectively manage and mitigate this resistance? - What role does community engagement play in the successful adoption of new tools? ### 🔮 Future Research: Future studies could explore: - Comparative analyses of different communities' responses to technological change. - The impact of leadership communication strategies on adoption rates. - Long-term effects of initial resistance on the success of new tools. ### 💡 Implications: Understanding these dynamics can: - Aid in developing strategies to facilitate smoother transitions during technological upgrades. - Inform leaders on best practices for introducing change. - Enhance the effectiveness of educational programs aimed at promoting new tools. ### 🧠 Learning Styles Assessment: **Readability**: The article is concise and accessible, suitable for a general audience. 1. **Visual Learners (Spatial)**: - **Present**: The article lacks visual aids. - **Improve**: Incorporate diagrams comparing traditional and new methods to illustrate points. 2. **Aural Learners (Auditory-Musical)**: - **Present**: No auditory content is provided. - **Improve**: Offer an audio version or podcast discussing the topic. 3. **Verbal Learners (Linguistic)**: - **Present**: Rich in descriptive language and examples. - **Improve**: Include links to related readings for deeper exploration. 4. **Physical Learners (Kinesthetic)**: - **Present**: No interactive components are present. - **Improve** ::contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} - Document Tags: [[gutenberg]] [[matt mullenweg]] [[wordpress]] - Summary: I’ve been really enjoying the book Creativity Inc by Ed Catmull of Pixar, it was recommended to me by my colleague Dave Martin a while back and I finally got around to it. There’s an in… - URL: https://ma.tt/2025/02/ed-catmull-on-change/ I’ve been really enjoying the book [Creativity Inc by Ed Catmull of Pixar](https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Overcoming-Unseen-Inspiration/dp/0812993012), it was recommended to me by my colleague [Dave Martin](https://davemart.in/) a while back and I finally got around to it. There’s an interesting story in it where George Lucas had asked him to develop a film editing system that was digital. > While George wanted this new video-editing system in place, the film editors at Lucasfilm did not. They were perfectly happy with the system they had already mastered, which involved actually cutting film into snippets with razor blades and then pasting them back together. They couldn’t have been less interested in making changes that would slow them down in the short term. They took comfort in their familiar ways, and change meant being uncomfortable. […] If left up to the editors, no new tool would ever be designed and no improvements would be possible. > > This made me think a lot about the early days of [Gutenberg](https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/) and the huge resistance it had in the community, including causing the fork of ClassicPress. Now that we’re much further along there’s a pretty widespread acceptance of Gutenberg, and it’s responsible for the vast majority of all WP posts and pages made, however if we had taken a vote for whether it should happen or not, it probably wouldn’t have ever gotten off the ground. What’s funny is if you go back even further, using a visual WYSIWYG editor in the first place was very controversial, and many people didn’t want the classic editor brought into WordPress., Ed Catmull on Change, Matt, 01jkr14wnrz2czn5m7fcwc37cz.