All of the coverage and opinions I’ve read have focused on the longer term impact to the WordPress ecosystem itself.<p>I’m an enthusiastic longtime paying user of Pocket Casts and Day One.<p>Now that employees are leaving in droves (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41872046) I fear for both.<p>Pocket Casts is the only podcast app that has ever clicked for me.<p>I’ve invested significant time and personal writing and media into Day One journals. Privacy concerns aside, it’s an app and platform I enjoy using.<p>How many of the employees fleeing Automattic couldn’t care less about WordPress but are the product and technical expertise behind these other products?
Consider your personal threat model.<p>Due to his conduct, I consider Matt a bad actor, at this point. Combine that with other perhaps dubious allegations in other lawsuits[1] against Matt.<p>If I were using SimpleNote, I'd question the privacy of my notes. The notes aren't encrypted[2]. I'd have concerns if my notes have been/will be grepped through for "juicy" content, or if I were to publicly criticize the owner, embarrassing details be made public in some fashion.<p>Same for Day One. I'd stop using it immediately and cut my losses. Obligatory link[3].<p>I don't use any of Automattic's products except WordPress, but previously, if I were going to use a cloud-based notes app, I'd have probably used SimpleNote, based on my previous impression of Matt as this stoic do-gooder.<p>This is a good lesson in that you don't really know the real person behind these public personas. Do not make critical decisions based on these personas.<p>1. <a href="https://github.com/bullenweg/bullenweg.github.io">https://github.com/bullenweg/bullenweg.github.io</a> (I have zero affiliation with this site)<p>2. <a href="https://simplenote.com/help/#encryption" rel="nofollow">https://simplenote.com/help/#encryption</a><p>3. <a href="https://dayoneapp.com/guides/day-one-sync/end-to-end-encryption-faq/" rel="nofollow">https://dayoneapp.com/guides/day-one-sync/end-to-end-encrypt...</a>
Good products become lagging behind with times and then goto live as average or below average products at Automattic.<p>Pocket Casts, Simplenote, DayOne. All of these had deteriorated before going to Automattic and then deteriorated some more.<p>In case someone is looking for alternatives on Mac/iOS:<p>Simplenote —> FS Notes (apple only; foss). You can use the app for free on Mac and can compile on iOS. But it's really good so I bought and there is NO SUBSCRIPTION (not yet at least :D). Very responsive, active, and prompt dev <a href="https://fsnot.es" rel="nofollow">https://fsnot.es</a><p>Pocket Casts —> Overcast (yes, with the latest “upgrade” royal screw ups), or even Apple Podcasts (I hate OEM apps but there are not really great ones out there) - overcast has an yearly subscription (though almost everything is free - even when I was paying I had the ad enabled as it was a good way to find some nice shows - right now I am not paying because dev has really effed up and I am waiting but still using along with Apple Podcasts). The dev is exact opposite of FS Notes dev :P (and is kinda famous I guess) <a href="http://overcast.fm" rel="nofollow">http://overcast.fm</a><p>DayOne —> I gave up looking for journal apps (last non-retarded one I had found was Dyrii but it shutdown). I had stopped using DayOne when it went subscription based. I just use the notes app and paper notebook now. <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=stationery+stores+near+me" rel="nofollow">https://www.google.com/search?q=stationery+stores+near+me</a> :D
I've been looking to migrate away from <a href="https://simplenote.com" rel="nofollow">https://simplenote.com</a> to something else and I've been dragging my feet. However, what's happened in the past 2 weeks with the CEO was the push I needed to resume looking for another solution.<p>I've landed on Obsidian.md. I actually prefer Simplenote over Obisidian, because Simplenote feels smoother and the online web app is great, but I've decided that having more control over my own data is more important so Obsidian it is.
I gather that most of the people leaving are on the Wordpress side rather than the other side, at least in the first wave. But yeah, given the way things seem to be going, I would not be getting too attached to any of their products.
It's indeed very concerning. I also use Pocket Casts as well as Day One, and both have been exceptional apps which are integral to my daily routines and well-being. I certainly hope for the best, but… <i>shrug</i>
80% of the Twitter workforce was fired. The first month was kind of shaky, but at least from my point of view the platform has been pretty stable.<p>I of course can't say for sure, but I imagine most of Automattics products will continue running though maybe with a much lower frequency of updates.
Sorry I'm out of the loop these days with most tech news. I checked your link but I guess I don't really get it.<p>Can someone quickly explain what's going on with WP? Thx