One of the most important elements in any Open Source project is constant, thoughtful communication, and WordPress is no exception.
As I’ve watched issues or arguments arise over the years, they almost always stem from a lack of empathy, listening, or a total breakdown in communication.
In this talk I’ll be addressing all of the following:
- How not to be a jerk on the internet
- Contributing in a meaningful way, without stepping on toes
- Preparing your contributions (plugins, themes, core patches) for mass adoption by going out of your way to explain your use cases and how you envision the code being used from a high level
- How to respond when communication breaks down
These issues aren’t new, but do seem to have been exacerbated in the WordPress community in recent months. Hopefully this talk would give attendees some optimism about progressing forward with the WordPress project in a spirit of collaboration.