In a nutshell: Automattic simply introduced a plan to run Tumblr on WordPress. The mother or father firm of the 2 platforms needs to consolidate the troubled microblogging platform, delivery the 2 providers collectively whereas separating their web “mission” and enterprise alternatives. It is a difficult activity.
The corporate based by WordPress co-developer Matt Mullenweg needs to make use of the WordPress backend to handle Tumblr’s blogs. Mullenweg mentioned the change must be invisible to outdoors guests and Tumblr bloggers.
After buying the platform in 2019 for mere pennies, Automattic has been busy making Tumblr extra environment friendly and handy from a enterprise standpoint. Working Tumblr and WordPress on the identical backend would seemingly enhance the administration of the 2 platforms. The timing is value noting for the reason that firm confronted accusations of exploiting private and non-private weblog information for AI mannequin improvement earlier this 12 months.
The unification plan doesn’t suggest that Tumblr should change – at the very least not on the floor. The corporate acquired the service exactly due to its variations and strengths in comparison with WordPress, to not water it down.
“We love Tumblr’s streamlined posting expertise and its present product route,” the corporate famous. “And this isn’t altering.”
Utilizing the identical technical core permits Automattic to share its improvement work throughout each platforms. WordPress has a “rock-solid infrastructure” that may assist Tumblr, whereas WordPress will profit from the instruments constructed for Tumblr. The 2 providers will exploit the collective effort of builders within the open-source WordPress.org mission.
Automattic claims that Tumblr hosts over half a billion blogs, and transferring all that information to WordPress will likely be difficult. It is one of many largest technical migrations in web historical past. Nonetheless, many big web companies have succeeded in comparable behind-the-scenes conversions. So the transfer, whereas daunting, is doable.
The corporate supplied no particular details about the time required to finish the method. It merely said that it accepts the problem of turning quite a lot of microblogs into correct WordPress installations.
“Content material and information must be owned by authors and artists as an alternative of getting locked behind the closed platform of a mega-corporation,” the press launch reads.
That is the core mission shared amongst WordPress and different company-owned providers.
Marissa Mayer’s Yahoo purchased Tumblr in 2013 for $1 billion. Automattic ultimately bought it for $3 million, or simply 30 cents on the greenback. The service was as soon as hailed as a possible powerhouse within the social networking enterprise. It’s now only a shell of its former self, promoting digital items, promoting, and subscriptions.
