Life before WordPress (a horror story)

If you haven’t used Web design software or haven’t published a Website before using WordPress you may wonder WordPress is such a big deal. For those that have used even basic software such as Microsoft FrontPage, upon using WordPress it is more than likely that you discovered a new level of happiness.

In B.W. (before WordPress) a feature and design rich Site was difficult to accomplish without extensive HTML and other scripting and software knowledge. In W.W. (With WordPress), adding content, changing the Site design and changing functionality is a breeze. Of course many people that didn’t experience B.W. will argue that WordPress isn’t all that simple to use; to them I answer, just as it may be an effort driving 100 kilometres, going by horseback was far more of an effort! In other words, WordPress may not be perfect but it is a major advancement on the old ways of doing things!

In W.W. we also have some other similar and very capable Website software and services. What sets WordPress apart from these others is the sheer number of free Plugins and Themes which means that so much can be achieved with WordPress for a very low cost. WordPress is also powered by the mighty PHP and JavaScript scripting ‘languages’ that have become the Web standard.

The real underlying key to WordPress success (besides its brilliant architecture and extremely capable core developers) is the licensing model it uses; GPL! GPL has allowed WordPress to be extended and developed by millions of keen contributors, all the while being guided and supported by Matt Mullenweg and the team at Automattic so that reliable and extensible software continues to be produced whilst remaining free to use. WordPress is proof that free software can be substantially better than paid-for software!

Yes, WordPress isn’t perfect (my biggest annoyance is the slow time to save a Post) however it’s a very very very good product on the whole and a major leap forward. Thank you Automattic for licensing WordPress as GPL and for providing such great leadership for this awesome product!