History of WordPress CMS

CMS has a long history that goes back to the rise of the internet. Back in the day, websites were just static HTML pages that needed to be coded manually. It was a lot of work to update them. But with the advent of database-based websites, it became clear that people needed easier and more efficient ways to manage their content. That’s when the first CMS platforms came out in the late 1990s or early 2000s. It was a big change in the way we create, manage, and publish digital content. As a WordPress development company, in this blog, we’re going to take a closer look at the amazing journey of CMS and how it’s shaped modern web development.

History of CMS Infographic | History of WordPress, history of Joomla, Drupal, Shopify and other CMS - ColorWhistle

1985

FileNet is considered as the First CMS introduced

1995

FileNet introduced a complete integrated document management suite of programs

August 23, 1999

Blogger was launched by Pyra labs

May 18, 2000

Drupal was introduced

2001

Drupal became an open source project

May 27, 2003

WordPress was Launched and b2/cafelog has about 2000 users. WordPress 0.7

February 2003

Blogger, Pyra labs was acquired by Google

2004

Shopify was Founded.

2004

Square space was introduced

2004

WordPress developed the capabilites by adding Plugins

January 3, 2004

WordPress 1.0 was lanuched by Miles Davis.Minimalistic interface with performance improvements.

May 22, 2004

WordPress 1.2 was lanuched by Charlus Mingus. Came with ability to manage and develop plugins.

October 2004

Blogger’s Pyra Labs’ co-founder, Evan Williams, left Google

2004

Blogger allows his users to post photos to their blogs

February 17, 2005

WordPress 1.5 was launched by Billy strayhorn. Themes and pages are introduced.

August 17, 2005

Joomla was Officially introduced

September 2005

Joomla released Mambo 4.5.2.3 that combined other bug and moderate-level security fixes.( version 1.0)

October 2005

WordPress Automatic manages to raise $1.1 million in funding.

December 21, 2005

WordPress 2.0 launched and a text editor was introduced.

2006

Wix was Offically launched.

June 2006

The Snowdevil founders launched the platform as Shopify

August 14, 2006

Blogger launched its latest version in beta

August 2006

WordPress first wordcamp annual is held in San fransico

December 2006

Blogger’s new version was taken out of beta.

2007

Wix entered an open beta phase using a platform based on Adobe Flash.

January 22, 2007

WordPress 2.1 was launched by Ella Fitgerald. A new interface and an orthographic corrector.

May 2007

Blogger was completely moved over to Google operated servers.

May 16, 2007

WordPress 2.2 was launched by Stan Getz. Optimization of the loading speed of the CMS

September 24,2007

WordPress 2.3 was launched by Dexter Gordon. Tags and user notification for CMS updates.

July 2007- June 2008

Drupal.org site provided more than 1.4 million downloads of Drupal software, an increase of approximately 125% from the previous year.

January 22, 2008

Joomla launched version 1.5

March 29, 2008

WordPress 2.5 was launched by Micheal Brecker. Improved UI and Widgets

July 15, 2008

WordPress 2.6 was launched by McCoy Tyner. Post revisons, word counts, image captions, theme previews and reordering of galleries.

December 10, 2010

WordPress 2.7 was launched by John Coltrane. Streamlined performance.

2008

WordPress won, Winner of InfoWorld’s “Best of open source software awards: collabration”.

2008

Magento won the “Best of open source software adwards” and ” SourceForge community choice Awards”

March 5, 2009

Drupal-Buytaert announced a code freeze for Drupal 7 for september 1, 2009

June 11, 2009

WordPress 2.8 was launched by Chet Baker. Browse Entire theme directory, single click theme install and code press editor.

December 18, 2009

WordPress 2.9 was launched by Carmen McRae. Global undo/trash feature, built-in image editor, batch plugin update.

From 2009-2012

Sqaure space grew an average of 266% in yearly revenue.

February 2010

WordPress unveils wapuu, their official mascot at wordcamp Fukuoka.

April 2010

Shopify launched a free mobile app and Apple app store.

2010

WordPress is the Winner of digitalsynergy’s “Hall of fame CMS category in the 2010 open source”

May 2010-April 2012

Prestashop grew from 17 employees to more than a hundred.

January 5, 2011

Drupal 7 was released with release parties in serveral countries.

January 10, 2011

Joomla adds a full access control list functionality plus, user-defined category hierarchy, and admin interface improvements. ( version 1.6)

February 23, 2011

WordPress 3.1 launched by Django Reinhardt. A new admin bar and improved taxonomy.

March 2011

Wix had 8.5 Million users and raised $40 Million.

June 2011

Wix launched the facebook store module, making its first step into the social commerce trend.

July 4, 2011

WordPress 3.2 was launched by George Gershwin. Fastera nd lighter with improvement typography, design and code.

July 19, 2011

Joomla adds enhanced security and improved migration tools. ( version 1.7)

December 12, 2011

WordPress 3.3 was launched by Sonny stitt. New drag-and-drop uploader, hover menus and pointer tips.

January 24, 2012

Joomla launches version 2.5-This version was the first to run on other databases besides MySQL (version 2.5)

November 6, 2013

Joomla launches version 3.2- Highlighting Content Versioning (version 3.2)

2013

The drupal website listed hundreds of vendors that offered Drupal-related services.

2014

Another funding round confirms that automatic is worth $1.16 billion.

April 1, 2014

it received another $40 million in funding

April 30, 2014

Joomla launches 3.3- Improved password hashing and microdata and documentation powered by MediaWiki Translate extension. (version 3.3

May 15, 2014

Wix launched the WixHive API which allows Wix apps within a user web site

December 18, 2014

WordPress 4.1 was launched by Dinah Washington. A new 2015 theme and multiple language option.

2014

Drupal developed by a community

January 1, 2015

Prestashop launched PrestaShop Cloud, a free self-hosted version of its software

February 24, 2015

Blogger announced that as of late March it will no longer allow its users to post sexually explicit content

February 28, 2015

Bloggers accounting for severe backlash from long-term bloggers

April 14, 2015

Shopify filed for an initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange

April 23, 2015

WordPress 4.2 was launched by Bud powell. Extended character support for mobile device.

August 18, 2015

Word press 4.3 launched by Billie Holiday. Optimization and Easy formatting.

October 7, 2015

Drupal 8 first release candidate (rc1) was announced.

November 3, 2015

Magento was spun out as an independent company by the new owner Permira private equity fund

November 19, 2015

Drupal 8.0.0 was released

2015

Sqaure space had reached $100 million in revenue and 550 employees.

2015

According to W3Techs, PrestaShop is used by 0.5% of all websites

March 21, 2016

joomla launches version 3.5-Contains download system information, category item counter, insert modules in articles, drag & drop images.

April 12, 2016

Word press 4.5lanuched byColeman Hawkins. Streamlined workflow, and live responsive previews.

August 16, 2016.

Word press 4.6 launched byPepper Adams. Streamline updates, native fonts, editor improvements ( Inline line checker, content recovery).

October 3, 2016

Shopify acquired Boltmade

November 1, 2016

Shopify partnered with Paystack

December 6, 2016

Word press 4.7 launched by Sarah vaughan. A new theme 2017, edit shortcuts, video headers, PDF thumbnails preview and dashboard in your language.

January 1, 2017

Shopify announced integration with Amazon

April 1, 2017

Shopify introduced a Bluetooth enabled debit and credit card reader for brick and mortar retail purchases

May 11, 2017

Shopify acquired Oberlo, which was one of the star applications on its own Shopify App Store

June 8, 2017

Word press 4.8 launched by Billy Evan. Exciting new widget ( image, video, audio and rich text), link boundaries.

September 19, 2017

Joomla launches 3.8- Contains Improved Routing System, Joomla 4 Compatibility Layer, Installable & Multilingual Sample Data, Code Improvements and Encryption Support

November 15, 2017

Word press 4.9 launched by Billy Tipton. Featuring design drafts, scheduling, and locking, along with preview links, the Customizer workflow improves collaboration for content creators

2017

Square space-Its 2017 ad won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Commercial.

May 1, 2018

Magento was announced that Magento would be acquired by Adobe for $1.68bn

September 1, 2018

Shopify announces plans to locate thousands of employees in Toronto’s King West neighborhood in 2022 as part of “The Well” complex

October 30, 2018

Joomla launches 3.9-Provides users with a comprehensive ‘Privacy Tool Suite’. This facilitates the compliance of Joomla websites with laws and regulations, most notably GDPR. The release includes over 250 improvements.

December 6, 2018

Word press 5.0 launched by Bebo.A new theme 2019, new block editor, classic editor,

2018

Squarespace partnered with the Madison Square Garden Company to launch the “Make It Awards”, which award $30,000 to entrepreneurs

January 2019

Shopify announced the launch of Shopify Studios

March 22, 2019

Shopify and email marketing platform Mailchimp ended an integration agreement over disputes involving customer privacy and data collection

April 2019

Shopify announced an integration with Snapchat

May 2019

Shopify acquired Handshake, a business-to-business e-commerce platform for wholesale goods.

June 2019

Shopify announced that it will launch its own Fulfillment Network

August 13th 2019

Joomla launshes version 3.9.11-Security release and minor bug fixes.

August 14, 2019

Shopify launched Shopify Chat

September 9, 2019

Shopify announced the acquisition of 6 River Systems

September 24th 2019

Joomla launches version 3.9.10-Security release and minor bug fixes.

October 2019

PrestaShop closed the Miami headquarters and ceased its operations in the Americas

1985

FileNet is considered as the First CMS introduced

1995

FileNet introduced a complete integrated document management suite of programs

August 23, 1999

Blogger was launched by Pyra labs

May 18, 2000

Drupal was introduced

2001

Drupal became an open source project

May 27, 2003

WordPress was Launched and b2/cafelog has about 2000 users. WordPress 0.7

February 2003

Blogger, Pyra labs was acquired by Google

2004

Shopify was Founded.

2004

Square space was introduced

2004

WordPress developed the capabilites by adding Plugins

January 3, 2004

WordPress 1.0 was lanuched by Miles Davis.Minimalistic interface with performance improvements.

May 22, 2004

WordPress 1.2 was lanuched by Charlus Mingus. Came with ability to manage and develop plugins.

October 2004

Blogger’s Pyra Labs’ co-founder, Evan Williams, left Google

2004

Blogger allows his users to post photos to their blogs

February 17, 2005

WordPress 1.5 was launched by Billy strayhorn. Themes and pages are introduced.

August 17, 2005

Joomla was Officially introduced

September 2005

Joomla released Mambo 4.5.2.3 that combined other bug and moderate-level security fixes.( version 1.0)

October 2005

WordPress Automatic manages to raise $1.1 million in funding.

December 21, 2005

WordPress 2.0 launched and a text editor was introduced.

2006

Wix was Offically launched.

June 2006

The Snowdevil founders launched the platform as Shopify

August 14, 2006

Blogger launched its latest version in beta

August 2006

WordPress first wordcamp annual is held in San fransico

December 2006

Blogger’s new version was taken out of beta.

2007

Wix entered an open beta phase using a platform based on Adobe Flash.

January 22, 2007

WordPress 2.1 was launched by Ella Fitgerald. A new interface and an orthographic corrector.

May 2007

Blogger was completely moved over to Google operated servers.

May 16, 2007

WordPress 2.2 was launched by Stan Getz. Optimization of the loading speed of the CMS

September 24,2007

WordPress 2.3 was launched by Dexter Gordon. Tags and user notification for CMS updates.

July 2007- June 2008

Drupal.org site provided more than 1.4 million downloads of Drupal software, an increase of approximately 125% from the previous year.

January 22, 2008

Joomla launched version 1.5

March 29, 2008

WordPress 2.5 was launched by Micheal Brecker. Improved UI and Widgets

July 15, 2008

WordPress 2.6 was launched by McCoy Tyner. Post revisons, word counts, image captions, theme previews and reordering of galleries.

December 10, 2010

WordPress 2.7 was launched by John Coltrane. Streamlined performance.

2008

WordPress won, Winner of InfoWorld’s “Best of open source software awards: collabration”.

2008

Magento won the “Best of open source software adwards” and ” SourceForge community choice Awards”

March 5, 2009

Drupal-Buytaert announced a code freeze for Drupal 7 for september 1, 2009

June 11, 2009

WordPress 2.8 was launched by Chet Baker. Browse Entire theme directory, single click theme install and code press editor.

December 18, 2009

WordPress 2.9 was launched by Carmen McRae. Global undo/trash feature, built-in image editor, batch plugin update.

From 2009-2012

Sqaure space grew an average of 266% in yearly revenue.

February 2010

WordPress unveils wapuu, their official mascot at wordcamp Fukuoka.

April 2010

Shopify launched a free mobile app and Apple app store.

2010

WordPress is the Winner of digitalsynergy’s “Hall of fame CMS category in the 2010 open source”

May 2010-April 2012

Prestashop grew from 17 employees to more than a hundred.

January 5, 2011

Drupal 7 was released with release parties in serveral countries.

January 10, 2011

Joomla adds a full access control list functionality plus, user-defined category hierarchy, and admin interface improvements. ( version 1.6)

February 23, 2011

WordPress 3.1 launched by Django Reinhardt. A new admin bar and improved taxonomy.

March 2011

Wix had 8.5 Million users and raised $40 Million.

June 2011

Wix launched the facebook store module, making its first step into the social commerce trend.

July 4, 2011

WordPress 3.2 was launched by George Gershwin. Fastera nd lighter with improvement typography, design and code.

July 19, 2011

Joomla adds enhanced security and improved migration tools. ( version 1.7)

December 12, 2011

WordPress 3.3 was launched by Sonny stitt. New drag-and-drop uploader, hover menus and pointer tips.

January 24, 2012

Joomla launches version 2.5-This version was the first to run on other databases besides MySQL (version 2.5)

November 6, 2013

Joomla launches version 3.2- Highlighting Content Versioning (version 3.2)

2013

The drupal website listed hundreds of vendors that offered Drupal-related services.

2014

Another funding round confirms that automatic is worth $1.16 billion.

April 1, 2014

it received another $40 million in funding

April 30, 2014

Joomla launches 3.3- Improved password hashing and microdata and documentation powered by MediaWiki Translate extension. (version 3.3

May 15, 2014

Wix launched the WixHive API which allows Wix apps within a user web site

December 18, 2014

WordPress 4.1 was launched by Dinah Washington. A new 2015 theme and multiple language option.

2014

Drupal developed by a community

January 1, 2015

Prestashop launched PrestaShop Cloud, a free self-hosted version of its software

February 24, 2015

Blogger announced that as of late March it will no longer allow its users to post sexually explicit content

February 28, 2015

Bloggers accounting for severe backlash from long-term bloggers

April 14, 2015

Shopify filed for an initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange

April 23, 2015

WordPress 4.2 was launched by Bud powell. Extended character support for mobile device.

August 18, 2015

Word press 4.3 launched by Billie Holiday. Optimization and Easy formatting.

October 7, 2015

Drupal 8 first release candidate (rc1) was announced.

November 3, 2015

Magento was spun out as an independent company by the new owner Permira private equity fund

November 19, 2015

Drupal 8.0.0 was released

2015

Sqaure space had reached $100 million in revenue and 550 employees.

2015

According to W3Techs, PrestaShop is used by 0.5% of all websites

March 21, 2016

joomla launches version 3.5-Contains download system information, category item counter, insert modules in articles, drag & drop images.

April 12, 2016

Word press 4.5lanuched byColeman Hawkins. Streamlined workflow, and live responsive previews.

August 16, 2016.

Word press 4.6 launched byPepper Adams. Streamline updates, native fonts, editor improvements ( Inline line checker, content recovery).

October 3, 2016

Shopify acquired Boltmade

November 1, 2016

Shopify partnered with Paystack

December 6, 2016

Word press 4.7 launched by Sarah vaughan. A new theme 2017, edit shortcuts, video headers, PDF thumbnails preview and dashboard in your language.

January 1, 2017

Shopify announced integration with Amazon

April 1, 2017

Shopify introduced a Bluetooth enabled debit and credit card reader for brick and mortar retail purchases

May 11, 2017

Shopify acquired Oberlo, which was one of the star applications on its own Shopify App Store

June 8, 2017

Word press 4.8 launched by Billy Evan. Exciting new widget ( image, video, audio and rich text), link boundaries.

September 19, 2017

Joomla launches 3.8- Contains Improved Routing System, Joomla 4 Compatibility Layer, Installable & Multilingual Sample Data, Code Improvements and Encryption Support

November 15, 2017

Word press 4.9 launched by Billy Tipton. Featuring design drafts, scheduling, and locking, along with preview links, the Customizer workflow improves collaboration for content creators

2017

Square space-Its 2017 ad won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Commercial.

May 1, 2018

Magento was announced that Magento would be acquired by Adobe for $1.68bn

September 1, 2018

Shopify announces plans to locate thousands of employees in Toronto’s King West neighborhood in 2022 as part of “The Well” complex

October 30, 2018

Joomla launches 3.9-Provides users with a comprehensive ‘Privacy Tool Suite’. This facilitates the compliance of Joomla websites with laws and regulations, most notably GDPR. The release includes over 250 improvements.

December 6, 2018

Word press 5.0 launched by Bebo.A new theme 2019, new block editor, classic editor,

2018

Squarespace partnered with the Madison Square Garden Company to launch the “Make It Awards”, which award $30,000 to entrepreneurs

January 2019

Shopify announced the launch of Shopify Studios

March 22, 2019

Shopify and email marketing platform Mailchimp ended an integration agreement over disputes involving customer privacy and data collection

April 2019

Shopify announced an integration with Snapchat

May 2019

Shopify acquired Handshake, a business-to-business e-commerce platform for wholesale goods.

June 2019

Shopify announced that it will launch its own Fulfillment Network

August 13th 2019

Joomla launshes version 3.9.11-Security release and minor bug fixes.

August 14, 2019

Shopify launched Shopify Chat

September 9, 2019

Shopify announced the acquisition of 6 River Systems

September 24th 2019

Joomla launches version 3.9.10-Security release and minor bug fixes.

October 2019

PrestaShop closed the Miami headquarters and ceased its operations in the Americas

2019

PrestaShop received the Acteurs du Libre International Award for its international development strategy.

January 28th 2020

Joomla launches version 3.9.11-Security release and minor bug fixes.

February 21, 2020

Shopify announced it would join the Libra Association

Basically, CMS has changed the way we interact with digital content. It’s been around since the late 90s or early 2000s, when static HTML pages were the norm, but it wasn’t until the late 2000s and early 2010s that CMS platforms started popping up that content management really took off. It’s made content management more accessible and easier for people to use, and it’s had a huge impact on how we interact with it. We as a WordPress development services company, know how much it’s changed the way we do web development and manage content.

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Pavithra Samuel
About the Author - Pavithra Samuel

I'm a word-aholic copywriter who always loves to share a close bond with digital marketing. Google, being my father of research, accompanies me shoulder-to-shoulder in every step of writing. I always look up to copywriters who generate educative, persuasive content impeccably seasoned with creativity & innovation. I can deliver content for web service pages, blogs, social media, emails, and so on. I can engage myself in content-related works for B2B, B2C, SMEs, niche-specific businesses. Other than reading & writing, my other two escapes are sweets & songs. My dream desk would be more of creative writing projects, desserts, music, & minions.

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