bbPress.org

I’ll just say this: All I’m seeing is many bbPress standalone users passionate about keeping bbpress.org as the home for the standalone software that they’ve come to rely on, while the only people steadfastly arguing bbpress.org should be the home of the new WordPress Forum plugin, are the core developers. While the rest of us, those who are eagerly planning to make the switch from standalone (or BuddyPress) script to plugin when the time arrives, couldn’t care less what it’s called, as long as it’s official, sleek and solid.

In other words:

“Keep the bbpress.org domain for the software it is today! Make a new one for the plugin!”

In favor: Several

Opposed: Few

Don’t care: Thousands

So there are some benefits about sticking to bbpress.org thrown about, but what have you got to lose by picking a new name? What happened to making everyone happy when you’ve got the chance?

I reckon we’re all pro innovation, right? As far as I’m concerned, I’m only typing up this rant in an attempt to foster innovation, and that’s it. Either which way this turns out I’ll still have the plugin I’ve always dreamed of. I just want it to become the best it can be.

We could probably keep the existing bbP directory running in a different directory to give people time to transition.

Not everyone’s going to ever make that transition, you know that.

In the wake of just a couple days of posting, I think it’s pretty evident that a bbPress fork, or 0.9 continuation more like it, is a pretty likely forecast. Now where could a front runner or two organically emerge to lead such a new initiative? bbPress.org. Where would such an initiative pick up the most momentum? bbPress.org. I couldn’t think of a significant third, but if I did? bbPress.org.

Does a bbPress plugin need any of this? No. A single mention on WordPress.org/.com (include the rest of the WordPress/Automattic ecosystem for good measure) and this plugin will have more buzz than any domain by itself could ever achieve anyway.

And I don’t believe a standalone bbPress fork would damage WordPress. If anything, it would only challenge its limits. bbPress will be shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Vanilla, while WordPress + Forum will be just that; +reason why you should pick WordPress to build your website. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that someone who wants just a forum will pick a plugin powered by a blog. If you want eggs you get eggs, not a full English breakfast with eggs on top.

“This just in: WordPress foundation gives bbpress.org back to the community that’s been keeping it alive” That’s what I wanna see. Openness for the friggin’ history books.