WPMore Special Edition: State of the Word 2024 from Tokyo
WordPress Goes Global: Matt Mullenweg's Vision Unfolds in Japan
Imagine WordPress as more than just a platform—it's a global community. This year's State of the Word wasn't just another tech conference; it was a cultural celebration in the heart of Tokyo that revealed just how far we've come.
By the Numbers: WordPress is Everywhere
Hold onto your keyboards, because these stats are mind-blowing:
- 43.6% of the internet runs on WordPress
- 62.3% market share in content management systems
- Over 500 million core downloads
- Projected 2.35 billion plugin downloads this year 🚀
Japan: The Unexpected WordPress Powerhouse
WordPress isn't just global—it's deeply rooted in Japanese tech culture. Did you know?
- 58.5% of Japanese websites use WordPress
- Japanese is now the 4th most used WordPress language
- The first Japanese WordPress site launched just six months after the platform's debut in 2003
Gutenberg's Next Frontier: Collaboration
The Gutenberg editor is evolving, and it's getting seriously smart. Imagine Google Docs-like collaboration, built right into WordPress. Matias Ventura, Gutenberg's lead architect, shared the vision: making WordPress the ultimate writing, design, and development tool.
WordPress Playground: No Installation Required
Tech magic alert! WordPress Playground lets you spin up a fully functional WordPress site instantly, on any device. No hosting, no hassle—just pure WordPress exploration.
Community Spotlight: Voices That Matter
Mary Hubbard, WordPress Executive Director, dropped some truth bombs about open-source integrity:
"WordPress belongs to all of us. We're taking care of it for the next generation."
The Human Behind the Code
Matt Mullenweg made a powerful commitment: he'll work on WordPress for the rest of his life. Not just as a job, but as a mission to democratize publishing, commerce, and messaging.
What's Next?
Keep an eye on:
- Block themes (over 1,000 new this year!)
- Collaborative editing features
- Continued global expansion
Stay curious, stay connected
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