started · updated
PHP Foundation faces funding crisis despite powering 70% of web
The PHP Foundation, the non-profit organization responsible for the development of the PHP programming language, is facing significant underfunding. Despite PHP powering up to 70% of all websites globally, the foundation operates with a minimal staff. Executive Director Elizabeth Barron stated that she is the only full-time employee, supported by 14 part-time contractors and a board of unpaid volunteers.
The organization relies entirely on donations and grants to maintain the language. This resource scarcity comes at a time when the workload has intensified; the number of code change proposals has doubled over the past year, partly due to the rise of artificial intelligence. While AI tools have helped identify long-standing security vulnerabilities, they have also increased the volume of code contributions that require review.
Following the recent discovery of two critical security vulnerabilities, the foundation has collaborated with external partners, including OpenAI through its ‘Patch the Planet’ program, and cybersecurity firms Wiz and Calif, to implement fixes. Barron noted that while there were reports of hacking attempts, there is no evidence that the vulnerabilities were exploited before patches were released or on systems where updates had already been applied.
Entities
Calif · Drupal · Elizabeth Barron · Joomla · OpenAI · PHP Foundation · Wiz · WordPress
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 5 SOURCES] The foundation employs 14 part-time contractors. dijitaliyidir.com · cyberdefence24.pl · dziennik-polityczny.com · www.mynet.com · shiftdelete.net
- [● 3 SOURCES] The number of code change proposals has doubled compared to last year. cyberdefence24.pl · dziennik-polityczny.com · shiftdelete.net
- [● 5 SOURCES] PHP powers up to 70% of websites globally. dijitaliyidir.com · cyberdefence24.pl · dziennik-polityczny.com · www.mynet.com · shiftdelete.net
- [● 3 SOURCES] AI tools have increased the workload for PHP developers. dziennik-polityczny.com · www.mynet.com · shiftdelete.net
- [● 2 SOURCES] There is no evidence that recent PHP vulnerabilities were exploited before patches were applied. cyberdefence24.pl · www.mynet.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] OpenAI participates in the Patch the Planet program to assist with PHP security. cyberdefence24.pl · dziennik-polityczny.com · www.mynet.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] The foundation's budget is funded by donations and grants. dijitaliyidir.com · cyberdefence24.pl · dziennik-polityczny.com · www.mynet.com · shiftdelete.net
- [● 5 SOURCES] Elizabeth Barron is the only full-time employee at the PHP Foundation. dijitaliyidir.com · cyberdefence24.pl · dziennik-polityczny.com · www.mynet.com · shiftdelete.net