[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #41404: Sunset Windows Live Writer Manifest File

[WordPress Trac]

#41404: Sunset Windows Live Writer Manifest File
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 Reporter:  jhabdas      |       Owner:  (none)
     Type:  enhancement  |      Status:  new
 Priority:  normal       |   Milestone:  Awaiting Review
Component:  General      |     Version:  4.9
 Severity:  normal       |  Resolution:
 Keywords:               |     Focuses:
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Comment (by wtranch):

 I'd like this to be considered soon as a commitment by WP to be more
 performant. Literally no one uses WLW, and yet, this PHP code and
 associated front-end "bloat" is on every WP installation. It was kind for
 @jhabdas to hope that up to 2% might still be using WLW, but here at the
 end of 2019, I don't think even that level of generosity for Microsoft's
 aged tool can be offered. If it was 0.01% of all WordPress installations,
 I'd be surprised it even has that level of usage.

 Regardless, WordPress once stated that core was to build out components
 that were in use by the majority of users (or for whom the majority of
 users would benefit). Of course, that ideal has long been side-stepped,
 but its unclear as to why (or if we need to even delve into the why).

 I disagree that removing this would have "drastic effects". It's bloated
 and unnecessary code. It actually *should* be removed. Leaving this dusty
 code to settle in the cobwebs of a "classic editor" is not the correct
 approach, in my opinion. The classic editor is for allowing some people to
 use the non-Gutenberg approach to creating content. Just because some
 people, for whatever reasons, want to develop content using the
 traditional WordPress method does *not* mean that those same people are
 running dormant and defunct versions of Microsoft's Windows Live Writer.

 We need to excise this code from core at once (along with a host of other
 legacy code that performs little to no function for 99% of WordPress
 installations). This is a win-win no matter how you slice it.

 To be clear, not only should the front-end calls, the API, and admin calls
 to WLWmanifest be removed, but also the file(s) itself and any and all
 references to it. Microsoft moved on nearly a decade ago
 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Live_Writer) with its last
 contribution to WLW's code in 2012. Maybe it's time WordPress moved on,
 too.

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/41404#comment:4>
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