The document discusses the collaborative effort involved in developing WordPress, highlighting the roles of various contributors, including developers and designers. It outlines the development process, including the stages of vision, kickoff, development, testing, and launch, with specific timelines and responsibilities. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of community feedback and planning for feature plugins and release cycles.

1. It Takes a Village
to Make WordPress
Drew Jaynes
WordCamp Cape Town 2015

2. • Platform Engineer at 10up
• Docs Committer for WordPress core
• 4.2 Release Lead
• Developing with WordPress since 2009
• Slides: http://drewf.us/wcct-village
Hi, I’m Drew.

3. How WordPress is Made

5. How is it really made?

6. Who are these contributors?

7. • Developers, designers, UX experts,
power users
• People who work with/on WordPress
full-time, part-time, paid, unpaid
• WordPress every day
Contributors

8. Vision

9. • Release vs Project vision
• Advisors / backup lead(s)
• Feature plugin proposals
Vision

10. • Release date
• April, August, Decemeber
• Considerations: support availability,
polyglots, holidays
Vision

11. • Is the feature plugin finish-able?
• Does it fit the release and project vision?
• Does it satisfy the 80/20 rule?
Vision

12. Kickoff

13. • Schedule
• Community feedback
• 5 + 6 + 2 weeks
• Weekly meetings / scrubs
Vision • Kickoff

14. • Beta
• Release Candidate
• Buffer
Vision • Kickoff

15. Development

16. • Feature plugins
• Bug fixing
• Enhancements
• Fourth
Vision • Kickoff • Development

17. • Feature plugin merge
• Core mentors
• Beta triage
Vision • Kickoff • Development

18. Testing: Beta(s)

19. • 2-4 Betas
• Punting enhancements / triage
• Triaging priorities
• Beta tester plugin / trywpbeta.com
Vision • Kickoff • Development • Testing (Beta)

20. Testing:
Release Candidate(s)

21. • 2+ Release candidates
• 0 tickets
• Small changes
• Two-committer policy
Vision • Kickoff • Development • Testing (Release Candidate)

22. • Start: About page
• Start: Version article
• Start: Release video
Vision • Kickoff • Development • Testing (Release Candidate)

23. Freeze

24. • “Soft” string freeze
• Finish About page
• “Hard” string freeze
• Translating subtitles
Vision • Kickoff • Development • Testing • Freeze

25. • Finish: Release video
• OMGWTFBBQ post
Vision • Kickoff • Development • Testing • Freeze

26. Launch

27. • Finish: Version article
• Support heads-up
• Publish: Video
Vision • Kickoff • Development • Testing • Freeze • Launch

28. • Package / test the release
• Release
• Announcement post & tweet
Vision • Kickoff • Development • Testing • Freeze • Launch

29. Post-Launch

30. • Retrospective
• Documentation
• Downtime
• Post Launch

31. Resources

32. • Core Development Blog
• Feature Plugins page
• WordPress Slack
• Core Trac
Resources

33. Questions?
Drew Jaynes | @DrewAPicture
Slides: http://drewf.us/wcct-village