Automattic scooped up another very talented person recently. Ian Stewart of ThemeShaper and creator of the Thematic theme framework has joined Automattic as a Theme Wrangler. Sure big news for Ian, but why should this be something we all take note of? Because more and more Automattic is making slow and steady moves to become a company that could rival Google, Microsoft, or Apple in its importance to how we use computers and the Internet. See I read more into this short statement than just “I’m going to be working with cool people:”
ThemeShaper will become a public-facing blog for the Theme Team now assembling at Automattic. A place where we can help provide the best possible experience for everyone involved in WordPress theming; from the noobiest of beginners to the most powerful of WordPress wizards.
link: I’ve Joined Automattic
Something tells me that more is going on behind the scenes at Automattic, and I suspect that it’s very cool and very important to all of us.
Just look at the track record of what Automattic has been doing. First WordPress Multiuser was pulled into the core company which would then power WordPress.com. Then came VIP hosting, which by all accounts is worth the premium cost. Then came acquisitions like IntenseDebate, PollDaddy, BuddyPress, and others. Now with WordPress 3.0 due out this year, which means merging “regular” WordPress and WordPress Multiuser, I see Automattic becoming the hub of a very, very powerful content delivery engine.
Microsoft and Apple might make the computers and OSes we use to get to the Internet, but WordPress-powered sites provide a lot of the content. We might rely on Google for a lot of tools and for finding stuff, but a lot of that “stuff” is published on WordPress-powered sites. I could certainly see WordPress working on new tools, technologies, and platforms to enable more eBook publishing. Sure you can read blogs on a Kindle, but I bet there could be a better way. I bet Automattic might provide the plugin to do it.
By the way, I think this is all a very good thing.
While there are lots of blogging and content engines out there, I don’t see one that is pushing and innovating like WordPress and Automattic are. Google certainly isn’t making Blogger better. I haven’t read about an innovation from Six Apart that makes me think they are cooking up something interesting. Automattic, however, sees the talent within the WordPress community and supports it. Supports it with a job. Find someone who has made something really cool, then hire them so they can do it full-time and better.
Yeah, no doubt in my mind if Matt or Toni came knocking at my door and said “Tris, we’d like you to help lead education, training, and support at Automattic”, I probably wouldn’t have to think to long or hard at that decision.
While I can’t exactly put my finger on what it is that makes me think that there are big things in store for Automattic, my gut tells me there are.
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