Aaron D. Campbell

My WordPress Origin Story: The One-Line Patch That Changed My Career

Aaron D. Campbell — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:42:35 +0000

I started using WordPress because it was a practical tool for client work. One tiny patch turned it into a community, a career, and a lasting lesson about what open source makes possible.

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Open Systems Preserve Choices

Aaron D. Campbell — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 12:58:37 +0000

Open systems give customers more than flexibility. They preserve agency, trust, and the ability to keep choosing a product instead of being trapped by it.

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WP2Shell: Coordination Was Part of the Protection

Aaron D. Campbell — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 18:37:35 +0000

WP2Shell showed that coordinated disclosure is more than a private warning. It's a system for turning trust, preparation, and fast execution into protection for users.

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Building Products for Hosting Providers Means Building for More Than One Customer

Aaron D. Campbell — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 18:34:06 +0000

In hosting, "the customer" is rarely one person. Building products for hosting providers means designing for buyers, operators, support teams, and end customers at the same time.

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Open Source Support Can’t Depend on Charity

Aaron D. Campbell — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 13:19:00 +0000

Companies depend on open source software. Supporting the projects that support your business shouldn't be treated as charity; it should be part of sustaining the infrastructure, ecosystem, and user trust your products rely on.

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Cleaned Isn’t Fixed

Aaron D. Campbell — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 22:21:53 +0000

Operation Endgame's SocGholish takedown was good news. It was also a warning. The cleanup bought time. The fix is what happens next.

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Start With the Experience, Not the Feature List

Aaron D. Campbell — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 14:32:32 +0000

Product teams shouldn't begin with a feature list. They should define the customer experience first, then let that shape the flows, interface, design, and functionality.

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Hanging My Hat at Monarx

Aaron D. Campbell — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 19:47:49 +0000

I’m excited to share that I’ve joined Monarx as their new Vice President of Product. For me, this feels like coming home. I’ve spent more than 25 years in the web space and over a decade working directly in hosting. Along the way, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges hosts face when it comes to protecting […]

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The Introvert Brain

Aaron D. Campbell — Sun, 25 May 2025 15:50:57 +0000

Everyone’s brain, introvert and extrovert alike, has what I call a peak efficiency zone. When your brain is operating in this zone, it’s easy to be productive; you’re motivated, focused, thinking clearly, and getting things done. Your brain is performing like a sports car and using fuel like a subcompact. Everyone has this peak efficiency zone, […]

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Looking Back at 2021

Aaron D. Campbell — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 22:14:13 +0000

Forgive me internet, for I have sinned. It has been 351 days since my last post on here. Here’s a short one on 2021 to try to get me back into the habit. Last year was one of self-assessment and struggle for me. I’ve heard several people refer to it as a roller coaster, but […]

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