Title: Alex Kirk
Author: Alex Kirk
Published: August 25, 2022
Last modified: June 3, 2026

---

![Alex Kirk](https://alex.kirk.at/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/cropped-2025.
Alex-512x512-1-120x120.jpg)

Alex Kirk

[@alex](https://alex.kirk.at/author/alex/)


 **272** posts

 **279** followers

Hi there,

I’m Alex Kirk, a web application programmer and experienced lead of remote teams,
based in Vienna, Austria. I speak German and English.

I currently work with [Automattic](https://automattic.com/). In my personal time,
I created and maintain the [Friends](https://friends.kirk.at/) and the [Enable Mastodon Apps](https://ema.kirk.at)
plugins for WordPress.

Follow me via [RSS](https://alex.kirk.at/feed/) or reach me via ActivityPub (Mastodon)
at `@alex@kirk.at` (powered by Friends & EMA), or bridged on Bluesky at `@alex.kirk.
at`

Learn more more [about me](https://alex.kirk.at/about/) and check out my [talks & podcasts](https://alex.kirk.at/speaking/).

## Recent Post Highlights

I write about various aspects of web applications and WordPress. For example:

 * [Your WordPress as Your Personal Mastodon Instance](https://alex.kirk.at/2024/06/13/your-wordpress-as-your-personal-mastodon-instance/)
 * [WordPress as a Self-Hosting Platform](https://alex.kirk.at/2025/01/24/wordpress-as-a-self-hosting-platform/)
 * [[[Reducing Our Dependency On Third-Party Platforms For Our Online Activity](https://alex.kirk.at/2021/01/21/reducing-our-dependency-on-third-party-platforms-for-our-online-activity/)

## Last 5 Posts 󠀁[& more](https://alex.kirk.at/archive/)󠁿

 * 
   ### 󠀁[WordCamp Companion](https://alex.kirk.at/2026/06/03/wordcamp-companion/)󠁿
   
 * [June 3, 2026](https://alex.kirk.at/2026/06/03/wordcamp-companion/)
 * Posted in [My WordPress](https://alex.kirk.at/category/wordpress/my-wordpress/),
   [WordPress](https://alex.kirk.at/category/wordpress/)
 * I released a WordCamp Companion plugin to guide you through your day. You can
   run it inside my.wordpress.net.
 * [read more](https://alex.kirk.at/2026/06/03/wordcamp-companion/)
 * 
   ### 󠀁[Personal Software Needs a Home](https://alex.kirk.at/2026/05/14/personal-software-needs-a-home/)󠁿
   
 * [May 14, 2026](https://alex.kirk.at/2026/05/14/personal-software-needs-a-home/)
 * Posted in [AI](https://alex.kirk.at/category/ai/), [My WordPress](https://alex.kirk.at/category/wordpress/my-wordpress/),
   [Web](https://alex.kirk.at/category/web/), [WordPress](https://alex.kirk.at/category/wordpress/)
 * AI makes personal software easier to create, but it still needs a place to live.
   I see WordPress as an unexpected but practical platform for personal apps and
   data.
 * [read more](https://alex.kirk.at/2026/05/14/personal-software-needs-a-home/)
 * 
   ### 󠀁[Why My WordPress?](https://alex.kirk.at/2026/04/14/why-my-wordpress/)󠁿
   
 * [April 14, 2026](https://alex.kirk.at/2026/04/14/why-my-wordpress/)
 * Posted in [Personal](https://alex.kirk.at/category/personal/), [Web](https://alex.kirk.at/category/web/),
   [WordPress](https://alex.kirk.at/category/wordpress/)
 * WordPress as a personal tool: for keeping memories, staying in touch, owning 
   your data. No audience required.
 * [read more](https://alex.kirk.at/2026/04/14/why-my-wordpress/)
 * 
   ### 󠀁[Friends 4.0](https://alex.kirk.at/2026/03/25/friends-4-0/)󠁿
   
 * [March 25, 2026](https://alex.kirk.at/2026/03/25/friends-4-0/)
 * Posted in [Enable Mastodon Apps](https://alex.kirk.at/category/wordpress/enable-mastodon-apps/),
   [Friends Plugin](https://alex.kirk.at/category/wordpress/friends-plugin/), [WordPress](https://alex.kirk.at/category/wordpress/)
 * It has been baking for much longer than I wanted, but today I released the next
   major version of my Friends Plugin for WordPress. Focusing on ActivityPub The
   biggest change is a deviation from the original idea: Friendships between WordPresses
   have been removed. With ActivityPub (when the respective ActivityPub plugin is
   installed, too) we have…
 * [read more](https://alex.kirk.at/2026/03/25/friends-4-0/)
 * 
   ### 󠀁[WordPress Development Without a Computer](https://alex.kirk.at/2025/11/29/wordpress-development-without-a-computer/)󠁿
   
 * [November 29, 2025](https://alex.kirk.at/2025/11/29/wordpress-development-without-a-computer/)
 * Posted in [AI](https://alex.kirk.at/category/ai/), [Code](https://alex.kirk.at/category/code/),
   [Playground](https://alex.kirk.at/category/wordpress/playground/)
 * With AI coding assistants and WordPress Playground, you can now develop WordPress
   plugins from your phone. Here’s how to set it up.
 * [read more](https://alex.kirk.at/2025/11/29/wordpress-development-without-a-computer/)

Find all of my posts in the [archive](https://alex.kirk.at/archive/).