In a nutshell: Automattic simply introduced a plan to run Tumblr on WordPress. The father or mother firm of the 2 platforms desires to consolidate the troubled microblogging platform, delivery the 2 companies collectively whereas separating their web “mission” and enterprise alternatives. It is a difficult activity.
The corporate based by WordPress co-developer Matt Mullenweg desires to make use of the WordPress backend to handle Tumblr’s blogs. Mullenweg stated 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. Operating Tumblr and WordPress on the identical backend would probably enhance the administration of the 2 platforms. The timing is value noting because the firm confronted accusations of exploiting private and non-private weblog knowledge for AI mannequin growth earlier this yr.
The unification plan does not imply that Tumblr should change – at the 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 path,” the corporate famous. “And this isn’t altering.”
Utilizing the identical technical core permits Automattic to share its growth 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 companies will exploit the collective effort of builders within the open-source WordPress.org challenge.
Automattic claims that Tumblr hosts over half a billion blogs, and transferring all that knowledge to WordPress might 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 offered 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 knowledge must be owned by authors and artists as a substitute 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 companies.
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.
