Project Objective: Create and launch a Data Liberation solution that allows users to do what they want with their own content.
Project Overview
Based on the initial vision for the project, in conjunction with a period of outreach the project seeks to introduce new tools that make it easier to migrate to WordPress from any platform, and also to export content out.
Project Timeline
Based on conversations with those working on the following projects, it seems feasible to have a prototype/proof of concept by early June, followed by refinements and delivery of the final project around October/November.
Start: January 2024
End: November 2024
Data Liberation Plugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party
This work will involve taking the existing MVP/Prototype plugin and building it out to be the way users all around the world take advantage of Data Liberation. This work may include:
- Working on the UI User interface/UX User experience to provide a seamless and delightful experience for users.
- Cataloging/utilizing existing user guides, plugins, and tools to walk the user through import.
- Integrating Playground to provide staging/temporary migration Moving the code, database and media files for a website site from one server to another. Most typically done when changing hosting companies. sites.
Deliverables
- An installable plugin that includes:
- Functionality to detect the source platform and guide user to method for that platform
- Ability to clone site into a new WordPress Playground
- Ability to overwrite current site with Playground version
Deadline: Nov 30, 2024
Transforming Blocks > HTML HyperText Markup Language. The semantic scripting language primarily used for outputting content in web browsers.
This work centers around ways to provide HTML to Gutenberg The Gutenberg project is the new Editor Interface for WordPress. The editor improves the process and experience of creating new content, making writing rich content much simpler. It uses ‘blocks’ to add richness rather than shortcodes, custom HTML etc. https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/ and improving the way it is validated and converted to Blocks. As an initial proof of concept this will involve taking public sites and importing them as HTML pages into new Gutenberg/block Block is the abstract term used to describe units of markup that, composed together, form the content or layout of a webpage using the WordPress editor. The idea combines concepts of what in the past may have achieved with shortcodes, custom HTML, and embed discovery into a single consistent API and user experience. pages.
This functionality may be integrated into the main Data Liberation plugin eventually – but will be initially developed separately.
Deliverables
- Plugin/Solution to import HTML pages/files into WordPress pages/posts with block content
Deadline: June 31, 2024
Platform-specific guides and tools
This work centers around the creation of Guides (like these examples) and identification and improvement of existing tools for each platform we expect people will want to migrate from.
This work would be ideal for folks who have experience with specific platforms – making it easier for others on that platform to migrate away.
Deliverables
- A full list of third-party platforms and the current migration pathways
Deadline: June 7, 2024
- Written Guides for all major platforms
- Cataloging of existing tools available for all major platforms.
Deadline: Nov 30, 2024
Get Involved
This is a bold plan with potentially huge impact for the WordPress ecosystem – and it needs your help to be made a reality. Right now we are looking for contributors to all aspects of this work.
Design
The existing prototype plugin would definitely benefit from UX and interface work – as for many users this could be one of their first experiences with WordPress.
Time Commitment/Duration
This is likely to be a higher time commitment in the early stages (over the next 6 weeks) but will then need ongoing work through the life of the project. Ability to commit at least 5 hours a week would be valuable.
Plugin Development
This would be more traditional WordPress plugin work – improving the plugin itself – including:
- Detecting platform of source sites
- logic/decision making about what guide/tool/process is needed based on the platform
- Integration of ‘Guides’ which are also separately managed/hosted
- Solutions for installing/using other plugins/tools initiated from the main plugin.
Time Commitment/Duration
This is likely to be a higher time commitment in the early stages (over the next 6 weeks) and then concentrated ongoing work over the life of the project. We would be looking for at least a couple of contributors to commit to 5-10+ hours a week to drive this project, but there will likely be opportunities for contribution with lower time commitment as well.
HTML > Blocks
Working on the scraping of HTML and conversion into block-based content will involve working closely with the Gutenberg code base, and potentially the WordPress playground – including:
- scraping/navigating sites/structures to gather pages
- Parsing of HTML and transforming to Block-friendly code
- Creation of pages/posts/content within WordPress
- Validation of HTML and insertion of block-based content.
Time Commitment/Duration
This is likely to be a higher time commitment in the early stages (over the next 6 weeks) and then concentrated ongoing work over the life of the project. We would be looking for at least a couple of contributors to commit to 5-10+ hours a week to drive this project, but there will likely be opportunities for contribution with lower time commitment as well.
If you are interested in being involved, or have any questions – you can do so in the comments of this post, by joining the #data-liberation channel in Make Slack or by sending a Slack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform https://slack.com/. The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at https://make.wordpress.org/chat/. DM to @jordan Gillman
This is an incredibly exciting project – and I’m looking forward to working with you all!