Linux Foundation Debuts FAIR Package Manager, Potentially Signaling a New Direction for WordPress
The WordPress community is abuzz with the launch of a new project, the FAIR Package Manager, designed to address escalating tensions within the ecosystem. This community-driven initiative, backed by the Linux Foundation, aims to be a drop-in replacement for WordPress.org's centralized infrastructure.
At the heart of FAIR Package Manager are two core pillars: API replacement and Decentralized Package Management. In the API replacement pillar, FAIR takes over key WordPress services like update checks, event feeds, and browser version verification, redirecting them from centralized WordPress.org servers to local or FAIR-governed alternatives.
The Decentralized Package Management pillar introduces a new package distribution model for themes and plugins, enabling multiple independent repositories to authenticate and serve packages. This design aims to eliminate reliance on a single source for important core updates, plugins, and themes, thereby fostering federation across trusted repositories.
Governance of FAIR Package Manager is overseen by a Technical Steering Committee (TSC) made up of WordPress veterans and experts like Carrie Dils, Mika Epstein, and Ryan McCue. The specific members of the TSC are not yet publicly listed.
The ongoing legal battles between key players, such as WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg and hosting provider WP Engine, have been a significant factor in the need for a new solution like FAIR. In late September 2024, Matt Mullenweg labeled WP Engine as "a cancer to WordPress" due to alleged lack of contributions and removal of certain features from their WordPress offering. WP Engine responded with legal action, filing lawsuits alleging unfair business practices and abuse of platform control.
FAIR Package Manager aligns better with GDPR and aims to unify a fragmented ecosystem, ensuring a secure supply chain. It can be installed as a standalone plugin on existing WordPress sites or delivered as part of a full WordPress distribution (FAIR Distro). Hosts, such as hosting providers and developers, have flexibility in how they provide FAIR to their users.
The Linux Foundation has a history of backing forks like OpenTofu, Valkey, and OpenSearch, each appearing after license or governance issues in their original projects. With FAIR Package Manager, the Linux Foundation is laying the groundwork for a potential shift in the WordPress ecosystem, prioritizing transparency, decentralization, and community-led governance over centralized control.
There's room for a real WordPress fork that focuses on the aspects of transparency, decentralization, and community-led governance. As the FAIR Package Manager gains traction, it remains to be seen how it will shape the future of WordPress and the broader web development community.
