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- wp.today: issue 002
wp.today: issue 002
Another exciting week in San Francisco's vibrant tech ecosystem!
Exposed: How Admin Emails Are Mined + WP Framework Launch
July 15, 2025
WP Framework: A Better Starting Point for WordPress Site Builds
10up (a major WordPress development company) built a new framework that helps developers start WordPress projects faster and keep them organized. Instead of writing the same basic code over and over, developers can use this shared foundation that includes proven best practices. The company open-sourced the tool, meaning any developer can use it for free. This could lead to faster, more consistent WordPress development across the industry.
Let’s Get Started
Another day, another handful of WordPress drama and discoveries to sort through.
I've been watching this WordPress ecosystem evolve for more years than I care to count, and honestly, some days it feels like we're living through a soap opera. The whole Matt Mullenweg vs. WP Engine saga has gotten so messy that the Linux Foundation is stepping in with something called FAIR - basically a way to prevent any one person from holding the keys to nearly half the internet. It's wild that we've gotten to this point, but maybe it's exactly what we needed to mature as a platform.
On the security front, we're seeing hackers get craftier by the day. That Gravity Forms supply chain attack back in July was a wake-up call - even the most trusted plugins can get compromised for a brief window. And there's this eye-opening piece about how attackers are mining admin emails right from our own WordPress sites using features we probably never thought twice about. Makes you realize that all those fancy security plugins don't mean much if you're broadcasting your admin email through author pages and contact forms.
But it's not all doom and gloom - the Performance Team continues to quietly make WordPress faster for everyone, which is the kind of behind-the-scenes work that really matters when you're powering 40% of the web.
Thanks for letting me ramble through another day in this wonderfully chaotic WordPress world we call home.
Welcome to another exciting week in San Francisco's vibrant tech ecosystem! We've got a packed newsletter full of insights, events, and inspiring stories from the heart of innovation.
Gravity Forms Under Attack: WordPress Plugin Infected with a Backdoor
Gravity Forms, a premium WordPress plugin for creating contact forms used by over a million websites, was infected with a backdoor that gives hackers complete control. Major brands like Nike, Airbnb, and Google use this plugin. The malware was only in versions downloaded directly from the company's website between July 10-11, 2025. The infected plugin secretly collected website data and sent it to attackers, who could then take over the entire site.
Malicious Gravity Forms versions prompt urgent WordPress update
A popular WordPress plugin called Gravity Forms was infected with malware for two days in July. The hackers managed to poison the official download files, so anyone who installed the plugin during that window unknowingly gave attackers secret admin access to their website. The malware created hidden administrator accounts and started stealing site data. The company quickly released a fix, but it shows how even trusted software can become dangerous overnight.
WooCommerce variable products import step-by-step guide
If you run an online store with WooCommerce, you've probably dealt with products that have multiple options - like t-shirts in different sizes and colors. Getting these 'variable products' set up correctly is crucial but can be a nightmare. One wrong step and customers see blank dropdown menus or missing options, which kills sales. This detailed guide walks through two methods: the traditional CSV file approach and a newer tool that makes the whole process much easier.
Everything You Need To Know About Divi 5’s Improved Backward Compatibility
Divi, one of WordPress's most popular website building themes used by nearly a million people, is releasing version 5 with major improvements. The biggest concern for existing users was whether their current websites would still work after upgrading. Elegant Themes solved this by creating a backward compatibility system that automatically detects old features and keeps them running while you transition to new tools. This means businesses won't face website downtime or broken layouts during the upgrade.
Design Patterns For AI Interfaces
AI chatbots are terrible user experiences - they're slow, confusing, and require too much typing. Smart designers are now building AI features that feel more like regular software, using familiar controls like buttons and sliders instead of chat boxes. The best AI tools don't live in separate apps but work seamlessly within the programs people already use for work, like Slack or email.
How To Come Up With A Business Name? Step-By-Step 2025 Guide
Creating a strong business name starts with knowing your brand inside and out - your purpose, target customers, and what makes you different. The guide walks through practical brainstorming techniques like combining words (think Microsoft = microcomputer + software), using personal names, creating acronyms, or drawing inspiration from mythology and nature. The key is generating lots of options that reflect your brand personality and resonate with the people you want to serve.
🚀 You Crack Me Up
Dad Joke of the Day
I had a great childhood. Dad used to roll me down hills in tires. Those were Goodyears.
🦄 Startup Spotlight
Pixel Pioneers: The Quirky Startup Redefining Digital Creativity
They are a startup to watch as they are democratizing high-end design for small businesses, reducing design creation time by 80% & proving that creativity can be both seriously innovative and seriously fun.
The Backstory: Founded by three former Pixar animators who got tired of traditional design workflows
Key Innovation: An AI-powered design platform that turns stick figure sketches into professional-grade illustrations in seconds
Funding: $5M seed round, backed by Silicon Valley's most eccentric investors
🔥 In Case You Missed It…
Funding Roundup
Quantum Leap Technologies secured $45M Series B, led by Sequoia Capital, to advance quantum computing infrastructure for enterprise solutions.
EcoGrid AI raised $22M to develop machine learning algorithms for renewable energy grid optimization.
MindSync Neurtech closed a $15M seed round to expand its brain-computer interface research.
🏆 Reader of the Week
 | Alex Rodriguez: Tech Innovator with a Retro Twist🌉 Background: Software engineer and digital health entrepreneur from San Francisco's Mission District 👑 Achievement: Recently developed an AI-powered diagnostic tool that reduces medical screening times by 60% for early-stage cancer detection 🙈 Quirk: Proudly carries a vintage flip phone, a stark contrast to his cutting-edge AI work |
The Flip Phone Rebel
Despite developing state-of-the-art AI technology, Alex Rodriguez sports a beat-up flip phone that's become something of a local legend in San Francisco's tech circles. "It's my conversation starter," he jokes. "I can build complex machine learning algorithms, but I refuse to give up my trusty Nokia."
Technology isn't just about the latest gadget—it's about solving real-world problems that can genuinely improve people's lives.
His colleagues often tease him about the phone, but Alex sees it as a symbol of his unconventional approach to technology. "Just because something is old doesn't mean it's not valuable," he says with a grin. "Same goes for people, algorithms, and apparently, mobile phones."
A graduate of Stanford's computer science program, Alex embodies the innovative spirit of San Francisco's tech ecosystem—proving that breakthrough innovation can come from someone who still uses T9 texting.
Did You Know? The first computer bug was literally a bug—in 1947, Grace Hopper found a moth trapped in a Harvard Mark II computer, coining the term "debugging" in the process.
Till next time,