Issue #163 Loop WP  ## Metadata - Author: [[Simon from Loop WP]] - Full Title: Issue #163 Loop WP - Category: #articles - Document Note: --- tags: - #wordpress - #opensource - #community Author: Simon from Loop WP Source: Loop WP Newsletter Reference: https://newsletter.loopwp.com/p/issue-163-loop-wp date created: 2025-08-20 00:00 --- # Title: Issue #163 — WordPress’s rare chance to reform Five for the Future (recognizing all contributions) ## Table of Contents: - [📣 Announcement](#-announcement) - [🧩 Fixing long‑standing issues](#-fixing-longstanding-issues) - [🎉 Recognising all contributions](#-recognising-all-contributions) - [⏳ Six‑month window for change](#-sixmonth-window-for-change) - [👀 Before you go (editorial stance)](#-before-you-go-editorial-stance) - [📰 Weekly WordPress news & tips](#-weekly-wordpress-news--tips) - [💼 Sponsorship opportunities](#-sponsorship-opportunities) - [📝 Summary](#-summary) - [📖 Main Content](#-main-content) - [🗒️ Notes](#-notes) - [📖 References](#-references) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#-paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter Blurb](#-newsletter-blurb) - [✅ Action Items (Advocacy & OSPO alignment)](#-action-items-advocacy--ospo-alignment) - [🧪 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) ### References: Include a list of sources consulted and cited in the article. - The Repository: “Can WordPress Finally Fix Five for the Future? Contributors See Rare Chance for Reform.” - Remkus de Vries on ways to contribute to WordPress. - Paul Charlton (WP Tuts) video on contributing via GitHub/bug submission. - WordPress.org announcements (security updates policy). - Multiple community posts and podcasts noted in Weekly News & Tips. ## 📝 Summary: Issue #163 argues that WordPress has a rare six‑month opportunity to reform Five for the Future (5ftF) with a focus on recognizing all forms of contribution beyond code—marketing, comms, events, education, and community engagement. The author supports optimism following WCEU developments (FAIR, Alt Ctrl Org) and calls for continued momentum into WCUS. The piece emphasizes visibility and valuation for “soft” contributions, invites broad participation, and takes a brief editorial stance rebutting claims about a community member’s conduct. It closes with curated news/tips and sponsorship info. ## 📖 Main Content: The newsletter opens with a summer format note—weekly cadence remains, depth may vary. It then spotlights 5ftF reform, citing The Repository’s coverage and zooming in on “Recognising all contributions.” A key quote underscores how non‑technical contributors feel invisible despite being essential. The author links prior discussion (Issue 140) and community resources (WP Tuts, Remkus), listing non‑code activities that constitute real contributions (WordCamp organizing, volunteering, promotion, engagement, educational resources). Momentum is framed as time-bound: about six months to enact meaningful reform, contingent on honest discussions (including with Automattic) and sustained energy into WCUS. There’s a short editorial note defending a community member against accusations of harassment/dunking, asserting those claims are false, and pointing readers to The Repository’s follow-up. The issue concludes with a dense roundup of news/tips (Google Analytics fix, Navigation Block improvements, dropping security support for WP 4.1–4.6, Yoast SEO commentary, WCUS/Automattic scrutiny, Woo 10.0 checkout links, EventKoi waitlist, Ollie interview) and sponsorship details. ### 🗒️ Notes - 📣 Announcement - Summer: weekly emails continue, shallower dives starting July 9. - Rationale: family time; occasional deep dives still possible. - 🧩 5ftF reform context - The Repository outlines trust/trademark/tensions, and a potential Operations Team. - Focus here: recognizing all contributions, not just code. - 🎉 Recognising all contributions - Quote highlights invisibility/undervaluation of non‑technical work (marketing, comms, events). - Non‑code contributions listed: WordCamp organizing/volunteering; promoting WP; engaging in Slack/social/offline; creating educational resources (e.g., Ollie WP academies); running newsletters. - Paul Charlton: path to contribute via bug reports for those struggling with GitHub; notes other contribution avenues. - Remkus de Vries: catalog of contribution types remains relevant. - ⏳ Six‑month window - Optimism post‑WCEU: FAIR launch, Alt Ctrl Org, general positivity. - Call for Automattic to join honest discussions. - Maintain momentum into WCUS to achieve reform within six months. - Call to action: “get involved and share your voice.” - 👀 Editorial stance - Points to The Repository piece on WCUS scrutiny re: Automattic’s role and ticket sales. - Defends Daniel against claims of “stalking/harassing/dunking,” calling them false; credits James for follow‑up. - 📰 News & Tips (selected) - Google Analytics: AI Mode traffic bug fixed; organic mislabeled as direct. - Improve FSE adoption via Navigation Block enhancements (Brian Coords & Mike McAlister). - <1%: dropping security updates for WP 4.1–4.6. - Yoast SEO remains valuable for technical optimization (Coywolf). - “Not an Automattic event” discussion around WCUS (The Repository). - Woo 10.0: shareable checkout links. - EventKoi: events calendar plugin waitlist (Lesley Sim). - How‑to: Add fields to Woo Checkout Block (Tom Cafferkey). - Interview: Free WP dev courses & future of Ollie (Webmasters.fm). - 💼 Sponsorship - Google Doc with sponsor details. - Cross-promo: 1440 newsletter. ## 📖 References: - “Can WordPress Finally Fix Five for the Future? Contributors See Rare Chance for Reform.” The Repository. - Remkus de Vries, “Ways to contribute to WordPress.” - Paul Charlton (WP Tuts), video: contributing to WordPress via bug submission. - WordPress.org: Security updates policy change (versions 4.1–4.6). - Brian Coords & Mike McAlister on Navigation Block improvements. - Coywolf on Yoast SEO technical optimizations. - Webmasters.fm interview with Mike McAlister. - The Repository: “WordCamp US Faces Scrutiny Over Automattic’s Role…” ## 🗣️ Paraphrase: 1) Original idea: Non‑technical contributions are often invisible and undervalued; without documentation, marketing, communications, and event organization, WordPress wouldn’t be where it is. - Paraphrase: Many contributors who don’t write code feel unseen, even though their work in docs, marketing, comms, and events is foundational. WordPress relies on these roles just as much as it relies on developers. 2) Original idea: There’s a six‑month window to change how WordPress recognizes contributions; momentum from WCEU must carry into WCUS; otherwise, we’ll repeat the same debate next year. - Paraphrase: The next half‑year is decisive for reworking contribution practices. If we sustain the current energy through WCUS, meaningful change is realistic; if we stall, we’ll be stuck rehashing the same issues again. ## 📰 Newsletter: Learning to build for the open web? This week’s pulse: 5ftF reform is heating up—with a crucial six‑month window to finally recognize all contributions (docs, marketing, events, education) alongside code. Fresh resources: progress on the Navigation Block to nudge more folks into FSE, a handy guide to extending the Woo Checkout Block fields, and a candid take on why Yoast still earns its keep for technical SEO. Community watch: WCUS discourse around Automattic’s role continues; keep it civil, keep it factual. Plugin radar: Woo 10.0 adds shareable checkout links, EventKoi opens its waitlist, and Ollie’s free dev courses get the spotlight in a new interview. If you’ve ever run a meetup, edited docs, taught a class, or even shared this newsletter—you’ve contributed. The door is open: bring your voice into the reform conversation and help shape a healthier WordPress. Useful links: WordPress security update policy change - Summary: WordPress has a rare chance to reform Five for the Future. All contributions matter, "code" or not. The next six months are critical for real change. - URL: https://newsletter.loopwp.com/p/issue-163-loop-wp [](https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/faa6a747-8c1c-43c1-8155-91aa43268f01?email={{email}}&redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.superhuman.ai%2Fc%2Fconfirmation%3Fmagiclink_subscription&utm_source=beehiiv&utm_campaign=HA1RQB9H2V&redirect_delay=3&_bhiiv=opp_718a1dc6-531b-4ce8-aabf-325032f70b0f_d22f5b49&bhcl_id=0d6e536a-65dc-43e6-8575-f3f7d47d65a6_SUBSCRIBER_ID) Hi, friend. 👋 Welcome to Issue #163 of **Loop WP!** [Last week](https://newsletter.loopwp.com/p/issue-162-loop-wp), we took a final look at FAIR as more details are now available on how it works, its structure, and who is involved. **This week**, I’ve a quick update on the new format for this newsletter over the summer, and we will discuss Five For The Future reform. Let’s go! 👇 ##### Find out why 1M+ professionals read Superhuman AI daily. 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Become 10X more productive using AI. #### A Quick Announcement 📢 Over the summer (starting July 9th), this newsletter will be **keeping its weekly format, but we won’t be going as deep** into a “single” weekly topic. 💡 I wanted to maintain my weekly sending frequency instead of switching to an email every other week, but with my kids being out of school, I can’t go into as much detail as usual. However, you may still encounter the occasional detailed topic that you're accustomed to, friend 😉. #### Fixing Long-Standing Issues 💡 Last week, **The Repository** published an article, “[Can WordPress Finally Fix Five for the Future? Contributors See Rare Chance for Reform](https://www.therepository.email/can-wordpress-finally-fix-five-for-the-future-contributors-see-rare-chance-for-reform?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp).” In that article, there are some additional links I think you should read: The article goes on to cover related areas such as “Trust, trademark, and tensions“, and “An Operations Team to move things forward”, but I want to focus on **“Recognising all contributions“.** #### Recognising *All* Contributions 🎉 What struck me the most, friend, as **it’s something I (and so many others) directly relate to**, was this quote: “Contributors performing ‘soft’ or non-technical work often remain invisible, leading to feelings of undervaluation,” she said. “Without documentation, marketers, comms professionals, event organizers… WordPress would not be where it is.” 🤔 It’s often presumed that if you aren’t contributing to code, then you aren’t contributing to WordPress, **and that’s just wrong**. Laura hits the nail on the head with the above quote, and I discuss this in detail in [Issue 140,](https://newsletter.loopwp.com/p/issue-140-loop-wp) based on [a poll](https://x.com/SRHDesign/status/1878355677552226647?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp) I ran in January. Paul Charlton **(WP Tuts)** [released a video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQeC9Kv_KwA&utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp) on this almost a year ago, helping those who struggle with GitHub “contribute to WordPress” by submitting a bug. 🧠 Paul also mentions in the video that there are other ways to contribute to WordPress, and [Remkus de Vries](https://remkusdevries.com/what-is-a-wordpress-contribution/?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp) has written on this topic, and I encourage you to read it. 🎉 **You might be surprised that you have contributed more than you think.** It’s not an exhaustive list, but if you’ve: * Organised a WordCamp * Volunteered at a WordCamp * Promote WordPress via your own marketing channels * Engage with WordPress official channels * Participated actively in the Community (via Slack, social media, offline conversations, etc.)… * Creating educational resources (like the free [Block](https://olliewp.com/block-academy/?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp) and [Block Theme](https://olliewp.com/theme-academy/?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp) academies from Ollie WP). **…you are contributing!** (Heck, if you run a WordPress newsletter, you are contributing. 😉) [Remkus’ article](https://remkusdevries.com/what-is-a-wordpress-contribution/?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp), from over two years ago, still **(unfortunately)** holds true today. The WordPress logo is used for illustrative purposes only. WordPress and the WordPress logo are trademarks of the WordPress Foundation. This image is not affiliated with or endorsed by WordPress or the WordPress Foundation. #### A Six-Month Window 🤞 **Positivity and optimism surround the subject,** but Automattic will need to come to the table for some honest discussions, and I’m hopeful that will happen. “There’s a six-month window…We have a real opportunity to change how WordPress handles contributions, but we need to act swiftly. Otherwise, we’ll be having this same conversation again next year.” 🫠 I don’t know about you, friend, but I don’t want to be having the same conversations next year that we’ve been having for more than three years! While **WordCamp EU** saw the launch of [FAIR](https://newsletter.loopwp.com/p/issue-161-loop-wp), the inaugural [Alt Ctrl Org,](https://altctrl.org/?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp) and a lot of positivity around those, I believe this momentum and positivity need to continue into WordCamp US if we are to see change in six months. So, if you want to see a reformed [Five For The Future](https://wordpress.org/five-for-the-future/?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp), it’s now time to get involved and share your voice wherever you can. #### Before You Go 🚨 I strive to remain neutral in my newsletters, but **I will express my opinion when necessary**. I want to bring to your attention another article by The Repository in the News & Tips section below, regarding WordCamp US. 👀 It’s an essential read, as I caught Daniel’s comments in the X (Twitter) thread in real-time, and **I’m so glad James followed up on Matt Mullenweg’s remarks** (which I missed). ⚡️ For the record, I entirely agree with James’s defence of Daniel as Matt’s claims/allusions that Daniel was “stalking”, “harassing” or “dunking” are just plain false. #### Sponsorship Opportunities 🚨 [The Google Doc](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wUXdekSnh-o5XAxitbyvNsxKa78WfdmfRvrQZiRAQDc/edit?usp=sharing&utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp) contains all the details if you’re interested in sponsoring the Loop WP Newsletter. 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See you next week! 😀 #### Weekly WordPress News & Tips This week's excellent and insightful WordPress News & Tips: * [Bug Fix](http://Google Fixes AI Mode Traffic Attribution Bug) - Google AI Mode traffic bug fixed after organic search was mislabeled as direct traffic in Analytics. **(Search Engine Journal)** * [Improve FSE Adoption?](https://x.com/briancoords/status/1937234921476751648?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp) - An early barrier and an early win would be to improve the Navigation Block. **(Brian Coords & Mike McAlister)** * [<1%](https://wordpress.org/news/2025/06/dropping-security-updates-for-wordpress-versions-4-1-through-4-6/?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp) - Dropping security updates for WordPress versions 4.1 through 4.6. **(WordPress)** * [Technical Optimisation](https://coywolf.com/guides/yoast-seo-is-a-crucial-plugin-for-wordpress-heres-how-i-utilize-it/?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp) - Yoast SEO still plays a critical role in how I technically optimise my sites for search engines. While I don't use or need all of its features, it still provides the ones I need most. **(Coywolf)** * [It Starts With A Promise](https://www.jonoalderson.com/wordpress/the-long-term-cost-of-short-term-platforms/?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp) - The long-term cost of short-term platforms. **(Jono Alderson)** * [Not An Automattic Event](https://www.therepository.email/wordcamp-us-faces-scrutiny-over-automattics-role-as-ticket-sales-lag?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp) - WordCamp US Faces Scrutiny Over Automattic’s Role as Ticket Sales Lag. **(The Repository)** * 🚀 [Sevalla by Kinsta](https://sevalla.com/?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp) - Sevalla is the home to your web projects. Host and manage your applications, storage, databases, and static sites in a single, intuitive platform. **(Kinsta)** * [Cache Up](https://poststatus.com/post-status-cache-up-with-carrie-dils-mika-epstein-and-ryan-mccue/?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp) - With Carrie Dils, Mika Epstein, and Ryan McCue. **(Post Status)** * [Woo-hoo!](https://x.com/briancoords/status/1936452846410727797?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp) - Shareable checkout links are coming to Woo 10.0. **(Brian Coords & WooCommerce)** * [Join The Waitlist](https://eventkoi.com/?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp) - EventKoi is live! A powerful & flexible events calendar plugin for modern WordPress sites. Join the waitlist. **(Lesley Sim)** * [How To](https://codebytom.blog/2025/05/30/how-to-add-additional-fields-to-the-woocommerce-checkout-block/?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp) - Add additional fields to the WooCommerce Checkout Block. **(Tom Cafferkey)** * [Interview](https://webmasters.fm/free-wordpress-dev-courses-and-the-future-of-ollie-ft-mike-mcalister/?utm_source=newsletter.loopwp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=issue-163-loop-wp) - Free WordPress Dev Courses and the Future of Ollie ft. Mike McAlister. **(Webmasters.fm)** If you have a question about this email or WordPress, please reply, and I will respond as soon as possible. 👋 Until next time,, Issue #163 Loop WP, Simon from Loop WP, 01jym0q0v91txpcks2k72xkx9g.