Random thoughts on art, technology, stuff, and occasionally Real Estate: WordPress (Matt Mullenweg) Versus Thesis (Chris Pearson)

Thanks Cheryl! I haven't heard of Thesis but will check it out!

Very interesting.  Never knew there was so much background to WordPress.

I also blog on wordpress......it doesn't hold a candle to ActiveRain....there's no networking and it's truly a discipline to blog on it....blogging here is fun and you get good results while you're having that fun!!!

Michele, way back in the day, I first learned of Chris Pearson by using his free Copyblogger and Neoclassical themes ...  I fact I customized and used those themes so much that when Chris launched the premium Thesis theme in 2008, I felt I owed it to him to pay for the developer license.  :-)

I really didn't like Thesis at first since using "hooks" and "functions" is a different way of thinking ... and not the way to which I was accustomed .....

But I broke down and started using Thesis on some of my sites about a year ago, and once I got used to the "hooks" and "functions" way of thinking ... I realized Thesis rocks!

I can understand why Chris would want to protect his source code.  The hooks and functions thing is unique, and it is Chris's intellectual property.   I understand Matt's side of the argument, too, for that matter.  Altho that doesn't get us much of anywhere......

Barbara,  Active Rain is unique in that is it a ~Community of Friends~ as well as being a publishing platform.

On the other hand, for building unique stand-alone customized web sites, self-hosted WordPress.org is incredible.  With a multi-user installation I can pound out websites and blogsites all day long....  (great for running several single property sites).

It's like comparing dogs and cats.  I like them both.  :-)

I use WP and I have a dev license with Thesis.   I also have paid for several other premium themes.  If WP is suggesting that if something is built on WP it has to be GPL too - that is a little crazy.  That would mean that no one could design and offer for sale a premium theme. 

Jo - I could be wrong, of course, :-), but I'm thinking that the issue is not about charging money for the theme; the issue is whether or not the theme's underlying code should be open source .....

I think it wouldn't be fair to force developers to give up their code. People should always be free to use what is available on the terms people make it available. I am experimenting with WordPress and have paid for widgets and themes. I would be happy to compensate creative minds for their work if I felt their contribution was something I needed for a site. This conversation looks like it is about to get very interesting. :-)

Cheryl, goes to show this stuff is usually over my head.  hahaha! If code was given up there would still be those of us that would have to pay for "complete product" - hmmmm. I guess I need to listen again.

I am trying to think up a metaphor .... and about the best I can do is ....

The wheel is a wonderous thing.  Many people have invented all kinds of things that run on top of wheels from go-carts to motorcycles to airplanes.  If you invented some marvelous new machine that ran on top of a wheel, must you freely license your invention to the world, because the wheel itself is in public domain?  :-)

I know that metaphor is full of holes; but everyone is welcome to try and think up a better one of their own!  :-)

More history here http://wpblogger.com/thesis-war-summary.php

I like the wheel quote. It's a perfect visual for my caveman brain (LOL). :-)

CJ,

As if my ADD world isn't crowded enough, you've given me one more thing to check out.  LOL  And I will!

Mike in Tucson

It strikes me as a little bit of (understandably) sour grapes on Chris' part. I don't know, how does wordpress make its money? Upgrades on wordpress.com? Advertising somewhere?

I lurve my wordpress based site (the theme for which I shelled out some cash, but not to Matt).

As to your wheel metaphor, I think that's a brilliant one, I might clarify: Must the go-cart inventor freely give out the plans to building a go-cart even if he is allowed to charge for a completed go cart?

oops, I think I mixed up my Matt's & my Chris's.

Julia:  Re go-cart plans ...  Exactly!!

Not to be missed -- Genuine Chris's commentary here  http://genuinechris.posterous.com/matt-mullenweg-fouls-his-nest-undermines-his

Also not to be missed -- Concrete5 here  http://concretethestudio.com/?p=223

WOW...

I caught a bit of this last week (?) on Twitter.   I WAS on WordPress long b4 I started using Thesis on my blog.   I like Thesis despite thinking Chris Pearson is a jerk...  I thought he was a jerk before I started using Thesis.

This makes comments that caught my attention at two WordCamps more understandable...  WordPress designer  this year,  slammed Thesis.

Drat I agree with your wheel metaphor..

I'm drifting here, but, isn't it interesting .... I have never met Matt or Chris ... and yet because of the power of social media, I feel like I personally know both of them....  and we all speak about them like we are talking about just another one of our regular friends.... 

I saw a tweet yesterday that it was resolved?  Using a split GPL license?  I have no idea what that means.  I came here seeking more info. 

I guess I'm off for some follow up research.....