Automattic forks ACF to become SCF (Secure Custom Fields)

[tattooedbuddha]

Automattic has now released news that they are forking ACF into a new plugin called SCF (Secure Custom Fields).

Read more about it in their blog post.

WPE writes in a tweet:

"We have been made aware that the Advanced Custom Fields plugin on the WordPress directory has been taken over by WordPress dot org.

A plugin under active development has never been unilaterally and forcibly taken away from its creator without consent in the 21 year history of WordPress."

https://twitter.com/x/status/1845169499064107049

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This means that ACF Free is now property of Automattic and no longer owned by WPE. ACF Pro is still owned by WPE.

This does not mean you need to download a new plugin (SCF), it just becomes SCF after updating ACF Free.

What are your opinions on this? To me this is straight theft even with point 18 of the plugin directory guidelines.

I cannot imagine a world where WPE does not lash back at this severely, their acquisition cost of ACF alone would have been massive. Read more about their acquisition of ACF and other plugins in 2022.

 

[CPANathan]

Maaan, I thought that Matt guy was happy with buying out who he could buy out and finding out who the loyal employees are...

He definitely put months of thought into this

Dirty

 

[tattooedbuddha]

Maaan, I thought that Matt guy was happy with buying out who he could buy out and finding out who the loyal employees are...

He definitely put months of thought into this

Dirty

Dude is spouting bullshit left and right in podcasts about this WPE drama, I bet his lawyers are having a field day with the amount of billable hours stacking up.

 

[CPANathan]

You see this..?

 

[davids355]

Someone pull that guy out of the drivers seat before he obliterates 70% of the web.

 

[Dopious]

It is a real shit show surely. I never seen the like in all years since WordPress started from Automatic.

 

[bashirbd]

This is insane. Totally disgusting.

 

[tattooedbuddha]

Someone pull that guy out of the drivers seat before he obliterates 70% of the web.

Agreed, it's gone too far. Even before when blocking their repo access, it was going too far - too many agencies, companies and freelancers in the crossfire.

It is a real shit show surely. I never seen the like in all years since WordPress started from Automatic.

This is insane. Totally disgusting.

Yep. The larger this becomes the more it will affect the whole reputation of WP in the eyes of the general public. Convincing clients to go with WP as their platform will become more of a uphill battle than it needs to be.

 

[UnusualSubstance]

This is insane.

Get rid of Matt immediately.

Holy shit, he is clapped.

 

[tattooedbuddha]

This is insane.

Get rid of Matt immediately.

Holy shit, he is clapped.

I’d love for that to happen but unless he gets absolutely destroyed in this lawsuit, he’s going nowhere.

Lets just duck for cover, keep working and let the billionares sling mud as they like and hope as little of it as possible falls on us. WordPress market share on the internet is largely based on three things imo:

1. Agencies and freelancers
2. Great timing in the blogging era
3. Open source benefits

Matt might have started it all and he did a great job at that, but it has grown way beyond him.

 

[Dopious]

Seems like the 1 star reviews are starting to come in now on the plugin.
https://wordpress.org/plugins/advanced-custom-fields/#reviews

 

[CPANathan]

Seems like the 1 star reviews are starting to come in now on the plugin.
https://wordpress.org/plugins/advanced-custom-fields/#reviews

I like this.

Might buy a few 1 star reviews @INCC

 

[OccultKingdoms]

Wordpress is crap.
Rather do static sites and pull content off Wordpress rest api making jt unhackable.

I don't need any fields. There are plenty kther options ti consider.

 

[TOR SEO]

oke bye

 

[SilverClouds]

Seems like the 1 star reviews are starting to come in now on the plugin.
https://wordpress.org/plugins/advanced-custom-fields/#reviews

Wow, nice drama in the reviews. People are so pissed at this jerk.

Matt might have started it all and he did a great job at that, but it has grown way beyond him.

It's always like this with successful open source projects, it's impossible with just 1 person. Is this guy tripping or what? Wtf he's doing?...

 

[1SEOWarrior]

Another shit show by Matt after wp engine.

 

[MKSKS]

They could have just built their own version of completely free plugin with all pro features.

Forking isn't an ethical move why's this becoming more and more personal.

Personal stuff like these always ruins businesses I have lived with it my entire career.

This will have consequences they are opening the door for others to twist things.

In the long run this is going to impact the sanity of open-source dev community for sure.

 

[CPANathan]

 

[MKSKS]

View attachment 384183

So many I don't s that's crap UX.

 

[CPANathan]

So many I don't s that's crap UX.

matt grabbed the work from one of @tattooedbuddha developments