I started using MovableType a couple of years ago, having move to it from Blogger via BloggerPro. I thoroughly enjoy the app and hooked a bunch of friends and family on the program. I’ve also spent virtually hundreds of hours developing MT plugins and extensions, available on the MT-Extensions portion of my site.
I always liked MT’s interface, flexibility and it’s laid back licensing model — free for personal use with donations encouraged. I believe in encouraging and rewarding great software, so over the last couple of years, I donated several times to MovableType and kept looking forward to the next great version.
Well, the new version 3.0 is out. It’s nice and all, and despite the fact that it doesn’t introduce many new features, it’s got good new plumbing under the hood. It also comes with overpriced licensing requirements.
I had been looking forward to upgrading to MT 3.0 (the beta was quite enjoyable) and to develop plugins that take advantage of the new 3.0 hooks. Alas, this won’t happen anytime soon. My MT installs exceed the MT 3.0 free license allotment (I have more than three (test) blogs here and several test users) so I’d have to buy a license. And while I’ve donated for MT several times, I can’t justify paying for the upgrade. This hobby project of mine has been an enjoyable and educational experience, but now I really have got more interesting things coming. So while I wish Six Apart best of luck with future versions of their “corporate” MovableType, I’m afraid I won’t be contributing towards it with my development efforts.
MovableType 2.x is well enough for me and that’s what I’ll stick with — since I’ve already paid for it several times over. If the mood strikes me in the future and I’ll find myself with time on my hands and need for honing my PHP skills, I may lend my development hand to TextPattern or WordPress.
You will be more than welcome at WordPress. Anything you can do with MT you can do better with WP, and I know from personal experience that the devs really care about the suggestions and improvements you make. Viva Open Source!
WP Support er
And you’ll be sorely missed at MT.
Posted by: sarah on May 15, 2004 9:25 PMI had a feeling, when MT released its licensing scheme, that it would lose some of its best programmers.
Stepan, you have been a huge help to me and many others; both in terms of the plugins and in support on the forums when I first started.
So I have only one thing to say… a simple:
Thank you.
-Lisa
Posted by: Lisa on May 17, 2004 9:12 PMI just came across this entry - I’m using most of your plugins for MT, and seeing that you’re not supporting them for 3.0 was the final straw… once wordpress gets mature enough I’m shifting to that rightaway. Hope to see you there in the future… your website was a great help for MT, and with Wordpress’s open development model you would be able to do wonders!
Posted by: KO on June 8, 2004 1:29 PMBoth of those packages are very good in their own right. You know, Matt Mullenweg, the project leader of WordPress lives right here in Houston and tends to be very accessible. I guess you have some connection to Houston since you host cinco ranch tri.
I’d love to see you contributing to WordPress since its what I use. :-) And I’d be happy to make the introduction if you havn’t already met Matt. Or just look for him on irc.freenode.net #wordpress
I hear the import can be very easy.
Posted by: Justin Haynes on August 31, 2004 4:50 PM