History
WordPress has come a long way since 2003. What started as a few lines of code and a mission to build a better web has become a prevalent web platform and thriving community.
Read about the project’s journey through its first ten years in Milestones: The Story of WordPress—with a follow-up covering the latest decade available in May 2023. Just in time for the project’s 20th anniversary.
Jazzers and release dates
WordPress core developers share a love of jazz music, and all our major releases are named in honor of jazz musicians we personally admire. Here’s a list of releases and the musicians they were named for:
| Version | Musician | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 6.8 | Cecil Taylor | April 15, 2025 |
| 6.7 | Sonny Rollins | November 12, 2024 |
| 6.6 | Tommy Dorsey | July 16, 2024 |
| 6.5 | Regina Carter | April 2, 2024 |
| 6.4 | Shirley Horn | November 7, 2023 |
| 6.3 | Lionel Hampton | August 8, 2023 |
| 6.2 | Eric Dolphy | March 29, 2023 |
| 6.1 | Mikhail Alperin | November 1, 2022 |
| 6.0 | Arturo O’Farrill | May 24, 2022 |
| 5.9 | Joséphine Baker | January 25, 2022 |
| 5.8 | Art Tatum | July 20, 2021 |
| 5.7 | Esperanza Spalding | March 9, 2021 |
| 5.6 | Nina Simone | December 8, 2020 |
| 5.5 | Billy Eckstine | August 11, 2020 |
| 5.4 | Nat Adderley | March 31, 2020 |
| 5.3 | Rahsaan Roland Kirk | November 12, 2019 |
| 5.2 | Jaco Pastorius | May 7, 2019 |
| 5.1 | Betty Carter | February 21, 2019 |
| 5.0 | Bebo Valdés | December 6, 2018 |
| 4.9 | Billy Tipton | November 15, 2017 |
| 4.8 | Bill Evans | June 8, 2017 |
| 4.7 | Sarah Vaughan | December 6, 2016 |
| 4.6 | Pepper Adams | August 16, 2016 |
| 4.5 | Coleman Hawkins | April 12, 2016 |
| 4.4 | Clifford Brown | December 8, 2015 |
| 4.3 | Billie Holiday | August 18, 2015 |
| 4.2 | Bud Powell | April 23, 2015 |
| 4.1 | Dinah Washington | December 18, 2014 |
| 4.0 | Benny Goodman | September 4, 2014 |
| 3.9 | Jimmy Smith | April 16, 2014 |
| 3.8 | Charlie Parker | December 12, 2013 |
| 3.7 | Count Basie | October 24, 2013 |
| 3.6 | Oscar Peterson | August 1, 2013 |
| 3.5 | Elvin Jones | December 11, 2012 |
| 3.4 | Grant Green | June 13, 2012 |
| 3.3 | Sonny Stitt | December 12, 2011 |
| 3.2 | George Gershwin | July 4, 2011 |
| 3.1 | Django Reinhardt | February 23, 2011 |
| 3.0 | Thelonious Monk | June 17, 2010 |
| 2.9 | Carmen McRae | December 18, 2009 |
| 2.8 | Chet Baker | June 11, 2009 |
| 2.7 | John Coltrane | December 10, 2008 |
| 2.6 | McCoy Tyner | July 15, 2008 |
| 2.5 | Michael Brecker | March 29, 2008 |
| 2.3 | Dexter Gordon | September 24, 2007 |
| 2.2 | Stan Getz | May 16, 2007 |
| 2.1 | Ella Fitzgerald | January 22, 2007 |
| 2.0 | Duke Ellington | December 31, 2005 |
| 1.5 | Billy Strayhorn | February 17, 2005 |
| 1.2 | Charles Mingus | May 22, 2004 |
| 1.0 | Miles Davis | January 3, 2004 |
| .70 | No musician chosen. | May 27, 2003 |