An Interview with “Skippy”
January 6th, 2006
Here at WP Station, I’ve been trying to track specifically plugin and theme updates, announcements, etc, with the occassional WP News update. However after coming across this post by Geof, perked my interest, and sent me in search of my first interview. I decided on Skippy as his contributions to the community via his plugins, as well as work on the codex and support forums are an invaluable addition. This will hopefully be the first of many interviews highlighting those that give back to the WordPress community, so if you’d like to nominate someone, be sure to comment or contact me.
So without further ado, a recent email interview with Skippy.
Alright, this isn’t WP related, but I’m “old school”…asteroids or missile command?
TEMPEST !
How long have you been using the Internet?
My first PPP connection was in 1993, I’m pretty sure. I was using BBSes as early as 1987, participating on a number of local boards. I always wanted to run my own BBS, which may well explain why I’m so adamant about hosting my own web site…
When did you discover WP, and how soon after did you start using it?
I discovered WordPress around the 0.72 release. I’d been hand-rolling HTML pages for my blog since 1999; but my girlfriend at the time (now my wife) was using some GeoCities monstrosity. I offered to host a blog for her, and helped her evaluate the available packages. She settled on b2, and was happy with that for some time. I forget now what problem(s) she had with it, but there was some minor deficiency which prompted her to start looking again. She chose WordPress, on my recommendation. I watched her use it for a little while, and finally installed it for myself just after the 1.0 release.
How soon after you started using WP did you start tinkering with its code, I assume then it was “hacks” and not plugins per se?
Yes, in the early 1.x release, there was no formal plugin architecture. There was a “my-hacks.php” file you could use, but none of my fiddling involved that — I jumped right into the core files to start making changes.
My first real hack was per-post user levels, for WordPress 1.2
What was your first “official” plugin?
My first officially released plugins was Comment Authorization This plugin sends to the address used when commenting an emailcontaining a unique link. If the link is visited, it automatically
approves the comment.
Have you ever met any other developers?
In October 2004 I met Chris and Rich. I spent the weekend with Rich in late October 2005, and got to meet Jenn at the same time. I had lunch with Owen and Ryan in November, 2005.
I’ve recently joked that someone should make WordPress collectible trading cards. I’m pretty sure I was in the lead before Matt took his European trip. 
If you could change one thing about the Internet, what would it be?
I would change the proclivity for people to be insulting toward others when answering questions. I’m guilty of this, too, unfortunately. That and I’d abolish top-posting in email replies. Oh, and Search Engine Optimization would be right out, too. Is it too late to mention spam? What? Just ONE thing? Oh jeez…
And WordPress?
I’m really hard pressed to find one thing I’d like to change about WordPress, because on the whole I’m remarkably satisfied. It does everything I need it to do without causing any real problems for me, at the moment.
I’d like to see a more open development process — and indications are that that will happen. For awhile, a lot of things happened because Matt wanted them to happen, in spite of vocal protest. As WordPress matures, and the audience expands, it’s important to define a more public roadmap for development, so that more people can shape that development in positive ways. I think we’ll get there.
I’d like to see a slightly expanded group of core developers, but I
struggle to articulate exactly why I want that (and no, *I* do not want to be a core developer). I guess in part due to past reservations about development decisions. Plus, some folks have contributed mountains of code, and I can think of no better reward (should they want it) than to be included as core developers.
What is your favorite thing about the Internet?
The ability to communicate with people. I’ve had some amazing conversations with people with whom I’d never likely interact in the real world. I’ve learned a lot about the world, and the people in it. I really enjoy connecting with people.
And WordPress?
My favorite thing about WordPress is, without doubt, the community. I’ve made some very good friends as a result of using WordPress. The community — developers, hackers, documenters, supporters, users — is full of lively, intelligent people. I’ve learned a lot; I’ve shared a lot.
How often do you just “blog”?
Rarely, though I’ve been making it a point to try to do it more often. I’m a surprisingly private person. In real life, I’m taciturn, and often stand-offish. Some of this spills over to my blog, where I try hard not to publicize my whole life. When I first started (hand-rolling HTML, remember!), it was always a deliberate, conscious decision to write something. As such, I tried hard to ensure that I had a point — something to say. Much of my original content was long-winded, and occasionally thoughtful. I tried to post once a month.
WordPress makes it deceptively easy to just blog. I could spend my whole day filling my database with content that would be of no consequence to anyone else. My friends and family don’t care much to read about my plugins; and many of my plugin users don’t care much about our pet turtle. =) I try to strike a balance between my plugin work, things about which I am passionate, and everyday life — stuff through which people can better get to know me.
Do you work in the “IT” industry? If so, do you code for a living as well?
On paper, I am a systems administrator. I manage Apple Macintosh, GNU/Linux, Microsoft Windows, and SGI IRIX servers and workstations. In reality, if you turn it on or plug it in I help take care of it. I’m dabbling a little with writing code for my employer, in C#. It’s
not coming very naturally to me, at the moment.
How’s the weather today?(you’re in Ohio, yes?)
It’s been unseasonably warm in Columbus, OH these last few days; though it’s turning quite cold today.
When you turn off the computer (you do turn off the computer …) what do you like to do?
I like to play games with my twin daughters, and share in their discovery of the larger world. It’s an exhausting job, but richly satisfying. When the kids go to bed, I like to watch Mystery Science Theater 3000 reruns with my wife.
The first of my Babylon 5 DVDs is due from Netflix soon, too, so you might not see much of me for a while…
Where do you see WordPress going?
Tough question. For a long time, I would have answered that I think it’s going to go wherever Matt feels like taking it. But I think that’s starting to change.
I think we’re approaching a point where WordPress may well bifurcate into a blog package and a separate CMS package. Those seem to be the two largest classifications of users. I think the latter grows out of the former’s comfort and familiarity with WordPress, in comparison to many of the other solutions available today.
Alright, last question, what do you have on the back burner, WordPress related?
A lot of embryonic ideas, but nothing substantial enough to begin coding… I’d really like to organize something of a meetup.com replacement built in WordPress, whereby participants can ping to confirm their availability.
Maybe I should write a TODO plugin for WordPress, so I can keep track of all the things I want to create…
Skippy, again, thanks for participating. I appreciate your contributions to WordPress and look forward to more of your input to the community.
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