Going forward by looking back

Category: Open Source + WordPress

Thoughts on the tools and communities that power much of the modern web. From working with WordPress to supporting open-source projects, these posts reflect my experience in the trenches—and why I still believe in building in the open.

  • My first contribution to WordPress

    I didn’t set out to contribute to WordPress. I was just curious about a new feature.

    In WordPress 6.6, a new auto-rollback feature was being tested—something designed to help users recover automatically when a plugin update breaks their site. I’d heard about it through the usual community chatter and decided to give it a try. I figured at the very least, I’d learn something new. What I didn’t expect was to become part of the release process.

    Following testing instructions from Andy Fragen and Colin Stewart, I installed a special plugin that was intentionally built to trigger a PHP error. The goal was to see how WordPress handled failure—and how the new rollback system would recover from it. The test went smoothly. WordPress detected the problem, rolled the plugin back to the previous version, and sent me an email.

    But that email? It left me a little uncertain. It worked—but it didn’t fully explain what had happened. Which plugin had failed? What was restored? Did the update go through at all?

    I shared my feedback with the team: make the notification email more descriptive. A few tweaks to language could make a big difference in user confidence, especially for people who aren’t developers. The idea was simple—don’t just tell users something happened, tell them what and why.

    That small suggestion became my first real contribution to WordPress core.

    It wasn’t a patch or a line of code, but it was part of the process. The developers had done an incredible job making the testing environment clear and easy to follow. It felt approachable. And that changed everything for me.

    Since then, I’ve given a few talks about this feature—how it works, why it matters, and how it makes WordPress safer for everyday users. As part of my role at Kinsta, I’ve been lucky to speak with developers and agency owners about tools like this and how we can all make the web more resilient.

    I used to think contributing to WordPress meant writing complex code. Now I see it’s really about showing up, being curious, and offering what you can—even if it’s just a better subject line in an email.

    So if you’ve ever thought about contributing but weren’t sure where to start, this is your nudge: try something. Test a feature. Ask a question. Suggest an improvement. You might be more helpful than you think.

  • Building WordCamp Canada: A Conversation with Sofia Shendi

    Sofia Shendi has been working on the web for over 20 years, with roots in software programming and a deep passion for front-end development. In a recent interview for Kinsta Talks, I had the chance to hear more about her journey—and how she’s now playing a key role in organizing WordCamp Canada 2025.

    From Software to the Front-End

    Sofia began her career with formal training in software programming, specifically .NET. But as she quickly discovered, real-world demand pushed her in a different direction.

    “As soon as I got out of school, I couldn’t find work related to .NET. Everyone was doing PHP. So I started taking contracts, relearned everything on the fly, and fell in love with front-end development.”

    That flexibility became a cornerstone of her career. She freelanced for eight years, worked with agencies, and now finds herself at Kanopi Studios, where she helps nonprofits build better digital experiences.

    Discovering WordPress—and the Community Behind It

    Sofia has been working with WordPress since it first launched. What started as a tool for portfolio sites became a long-term relationship with open-source software—and the people who build it.

    “I’ve been working with WordPress from the moment it became available as an open-source platform… and I still rely on the skills I developed in those early years.”

    Recently, she’s done a deep dive into Gutenberg and block-based development. She admits the learning curve was real but says it’s been worth it.

    “That’s what I love about web—if you’re comfortable with constant change, you’re in the right place.”

    Getting Involved with WordCamp Canada

    Sofia didn’t plan to join the organizing team for WordCamp Canada—it just happened naturally.

    “I joined the Slack channel out of curiosity. I saw they needed help with French translations, and as a French speaker, I jumped in. From there, it just grew.”

    WordCamp Canada will take place October 16–17 at Carleton University in Ottawa, and Sofia is part of the team bringing it to life. She’s particularly excited about:

    • Welcoming first-time and returning speakers, especially those helping newcomers understand the WordPress block editor
    • Bringing together volunteers who want to make new friends and give back
    • Possibly organizing a Contributor Day, so more folks can learn how to contribute to WordPress

    Why You Should Get Involved

    When I asked Sofia what stood out most about organizing this event, she didn’t hesitate:

    “Everyone has been so nice. It’s always been my experience with the WordPress community—it’s a very welcoming group.”

    WordCamp Canada is shaping up to be a special event, with something for everyone—tech talks, networking, language accessibility, and a great setting in downtown Ottawa.

    Want to Get Involved?

    Here’s how you can take part:

    If you’ve ever been curious about joining the WordPress community—or you’re ready to give back—this is a great place to start.

  • May 2025 Durango WordPress Meetup Recap

    May 2025 Durango WordPress Meetup Recap

    A casual lunch with meaningful conversations and new faces

    The May edition of the Durango WordPress Meetup was a small but memorable gathering over lunch at Esoterra Cidery in downtown Durango. We were excited to welcome two new guests, Taylor and Kim, alongside returning attendee Jasper, for a relaxed yet insightful conversation about building and maintaining websites.

    Real Conversations for Real Website Challenges

    As always, the discussion was wide-ranging and practical. We touched on:

    • WooCommerce tips and quirks
    • The pros and cons of page builders
    • Reliable web hosting choices
    • Hiring and communicating with developers
    • Driving meaningful traffic to your site

    One particularly helpful moment came when we dug into a real-world issue involving unclear pricing from a developer. Together, we helped interpret what was going on and offered actionable suggestions—a great reminder of how valuable a local support network can be.

    Building Connections in Our Own Backyard

    Beyond the web talk, this meetup delivered something even more important: connection. Meeting new neighbors who are working on similar projects—whether personal blogs, small businesses, or client sites—is what makes this group special. There’s something uniquely energizing about gathering with others who “get it.”

    Join Us Next Month

    We’ll be back again for lunch on Wednesday, June 18 at Esoterra Cidery. We’ll kick things off with a short discussion on how to use ChatGPT and other large language models as your assistant for managing WordPress websites—from content planning to plugin explanations and even customer support responses.

    💡 Lunch is on us, courtesy of Kinsta.

    Bring a topic, bring a friend, or just bring your curiosity.

    Click here to RSVP please.