

#169 – Wes Tatters on the Evolution of Internet Communities and WordPress Open Source
7 snips May 14, 2025
Wes Tatters, a tech veteran and driving force behind Rapid Cloud, shares his insights on the internet's evolution. He discusses the shift from closed platforms to open-source projects like WordPress, highlighting the importance of content ownership. Wes reflects on the rise of online communities and the challenges they face, including the impact of social media and AI. He emphasizes the value of openness and collaboration, while examining the strengths and growing pains within the WordPress ecosystem and the need for authentic digital communication.
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Early Online Community Impact
- Wes Tatters connected globally early via CompuServe, leading to writing books and community engagement.
- This early online interaction enabled major published works and collaborations like Netscape developer guides.
Community at Internet's Core
- Community has always been central to the internet's purpose from DARPA to modern platforms.
- Open source projects like WordPress depend fundamentally on collaboration and community effort.
WordPress's Open Freedom
- WordPress emerged as an open platform allowing anyone to create websites without coding.
- It offered content ownership beyond closed platforms, empowering expression and commerce globally.