Code / The Appnel Group 

Changes @ 6A

Today Chris Alden, Six Apart CEO, announced a reorganization at Six Apart that includes reducing its staff by 8%. Particularly where that staff is being cut from was not disclosed.

I don’t see this reorganization as a sign that Six Apart is in trouble, but a prudent one to do what it can to stay out of it. It’s unfortunate that some are losing their jobs particularly in this time of economic uncertainty. Before I started Appnel Solution, I was left in the same position.

Six Apart has always been fiscally conservative though(sometimes to a fault IMHO) and the shifts in focus and personnel seems logical and are likely to make them more efficient and helps their services business which has been booming from all accounts. That last one, growing services, is a bit concerning to me though since my company is in the same business.

There is much work to be done in the areas of advancing MT as a product, growing the developer community and its core evolution as an open source software project that I hope will not be effected by this reorganization and cut backs.

UPDATE 11/12 @ 11AM: Word is spreading that Byrne Reese who had served as MT’s Product Manager until recently was one of those let go yesterday. This is really disappointing to hear for the MT community and especially Byrne and his family. It’s also a big blow to the community at large IMHO because Byrne was the most active and visible member of Six Apart to engage with the developer community on many levels. Byrne has said he is not leaving the community, but his ability to bridge the internal working of Six Apart and community is already missed.

I wonder how long it's going to be before we hear that Automattic is in trouble.

Oh, no. Byrne is an all-around good egg -- I had a wonderful, long conversation with him @ OSCON. I hope this isn't something they just dropped on his head all of a sudden.

Byrne's dismissal and the general move of resources into Six Apart Services are indeed distressing. I suppose then that it's even more important for external developers to put Six Apart's feet to the fire with regards to supporting the _community_ which powers their customers.

@Serdar - I am afraid it was something that surprised me... a great deal. I just never would have thought they would have let go someone who has been with the company for so long (4+ years) and had so much institutional and product knowledge.

@Jay - I think what is more important is for the community to take greater control of the software they love by working with Six Apart where and when they can, or as a last resort by taking matters into their own hands. Movable Type is a product a lot of people love, and because of that I am not worried.