Open WebUI Governance: Could a WordPress-Style Foundation Be The Secret Sauce?

Alright people,

I been watching Open WebUI evolve, and frankly…it reminds me of the early days of WordPress (I’m old, it happens). Back then, it started as a humble blogging tool that eventually exploded into a major platform—thanks in large part to a community-driven governance model and even the formation of a foundation (peak at MAKE.WORDPRESS.ORG).

This got me thinking:

• Formal Governance: Would establishing a formal governance structure benefit Open WebUI’s long‑term growth, or would it stifle the flexibility that’s been key so far? Are there plans for this or something like this?

• Leadership & Representation: Should the project eventually adopt a model with a few dedicated public faces, rather than relying on a one‑man band? A true leadership team could be a boon. Tim is amazing, but even with dedicated committers he needs help on so many levels - formalizing it now would be a huge boon, IMHO.

• Lessons from the Past: What initial steps would make sense based on experiences from WordPress or other open‑source projects? Any cautionary tales or wins worth noting?

Look, I’m just a keyboard jockey that smashes keys for a living, but I’m convinced that if this project captures that early WordPress spirit—open collaboration, honest self‑criticism, and a dash of daring—it might just steer Open WebUI into something truly epic...well, it's already kind of epic - but you get the point.

Then again, maybe this is all being setup somewhere and I just haven't seen it yet-does anyone know?

Regardless, I'm curious how everyone sees the future of this project.

Where do you see it going? 

How do you see it getting there? 

And most importantly… coffee or tea?

Later taters,
-j

PS – Just so it’s clear, my ultimate goal is to see Open WebUI transform into an enterprise-level solution and for that I think there needs to be some formalization for it's future. I really believe there’s a lot to learn from WordPress—both the wins and the facepalms.