Once a leading e-commerce platform with a rapidly growing and thriving community, Magento has experienced significant changes in recent years. With its acquisition by eBay and later Adobe, the platform has evolved into a less appealing option for small and medium businesses. This article explores why quitting Magento has become a trend among developers and companies alike.
The Stagnation of Magento
When Magento was under eBay's control, the platform stagnated for years with no improvements, innovation, or new features. The release of Magento 2 in 2015 was marked by an over-engineered and buggy product, leading to the platform moving upmarket. This shift made Magento an unviable option for small and medium businesses as costs increased substantially, and the complexity of the platform hindered customization and innovation.
The Exodus of the Magento Community
The changing landscape of Magento led to an exodus of agencies, talented developers, and merchants who sought more accessible and cost-effective e-commerce platforms like Shopify. This mass departure significantly reduced the once-vibrant Magento community and negatively impacted its reputation in the industry.
Adobe's Acquisition and the Decline of Open Source
Adobe's acquisition of Magento in 2018 led to further changes in priorities and focus. Renamed "Adobe Commerce," the platform shifted its development focus to Adobe Cloud, microservices, and Progressive Web App (PWA) studio, neglecting the open-source aspect that had helped Magento become the number one e-commerce platform for years. This pivot alienated long-time community members and discouraged newcomers from joining.
The Dwindling Magento Talent Pool
As a result of these changes, there are now fewer newcomers to the Magento community, with virtually no students or young developers considering the platform as a viable option. This scarcity of Magento developers has led to inflated salaries and unsustainable costs for businesses.
The Future of Magento
As a result of these changes, there are now fewer newcomers to the Magento community, with virtually no students or young developers considering the platform as a viable option. This scarcity of Magento developers has led to inflated salaries and unsustainable costs for businesses.
