My name is Vasyl Martyniuk. I was born and raised in Ukraine, and my first spark for computers came at the age of 8 when my cousin showed me how to write a game in the BASIC programming language. That moment lit a lifelong passion. The first language I truly mastered was Assembler, which I used professionally for about three years while working at Ericsson Telecom as a troubleshooter.
Although my parents hoped I’d become an economist, I was drawn to computers. I ended up studying economics and cybernetics – essentially, business software engineering. Looking back, those five years at university taught me a crucial skill: how to build software that empowers business.
When I moved to the US in 2011, I was introduced to the WordPress community. Out of curiosity, I built my first plugin over a weekend and submitted it to the WordPress.org repository. That’s how Advanced Access Manager (AAM) was born and the beginning of what’s now over 14 years in the WordPress ecosystem.
The Journey Began
At heart, I’ve always been a hardcore engineer. For a large part of my career, I worked with low-level languages like Assembler, C, C++, and C#. I thrived on solving tough problems and designing algorithms. But life has its own flow, and it eventually carried me toward PHP and WordPress.
My first job in the US was at a marketing agency called TheeDesign Studio in Raleigh, NC – a WordPress-focused shop. That first year, I dove deep into WordPress and released a few versions of AAM. It quickly became my strong link to the WordPress world and the foundation for everything that came after.
The Need for “Advanced Access Manager”
Advanced Access Manager logo
I believe there are two ways to create something meaningful: invent it from scratch or combine existing ideas in a new way. AAM was the latter. Existing WordPress solutions offered similar functionality, but required multiple plugins to install. I wanted something simpler. So I built AAM to manage roles, capabilities, and customize admin menus.
Shortly after its release, users began sending feedback and feature requests. That input shaped AAM into a true community-driven plugin. Every major idea has come directly from users. I just turn those ideas into code.
The biggest challenge was scale. WordPress core wasn’t designed with granular access control in mind, and building a solution that didn’t compromise performance took years. Today, AAM is considered faster than 99% of plugins in the repository.
To support AAM’s growth, I created a small business around it and developed tools to streamline operations. One example is the open-source Purple Questions project – an initiative to organize AAM knowledge in a way that can be consumed by large language models.
Myself with my Brilliant Team
For most of AAM’s journey, I’ve been a solopreneur. But I’ve had the privilege of working with brilliant people along the way.
Jason Lexell from Digital Harvest helped position AAM as a mature and reliable solution. Madison Dixon of Mad Goat Studio created the AAM logo. Ben Laun brought strong copywriting that accelerated growth. Olena Yablonska and Noel Alvarez provided essential customer support when it mattered most.
We’ve never all been in the same room. Everyone’s spread across the globe. But I hope one day to fly them all in to celebrate our shared wins.
Advice for Business Owners
The best way to predict the future is to create it. Anything is possible – you just have to make a first step and keep walking before you run.
WordPress isn’t going anywhere. Major corporations and media companies rely on it. And with the announcement that WordPress core will now release major versions only once a year, it’s clear the future lies in plugins and themes. That’s where innovation will happen.
Stay tuned to industry news, join community spaces, and you’ll never run out of ideas or opportunities.
WordPress & Beyond
It’s taken 10 years to bring AAM to where it is today: a stable, scalable, and mature product. Its features integrate seamlessly with solutions that follow WordPress best practices.
For a long time, I dreamed of creating a one-of-a-kind PHP access management framework that’s easy to learn and helps developers build secure systems. mac. The next phase is about spreading the word.
I’m raising awareness around WordPress’s weakest link – access control. Issues like privilege escalation and poor security design cause most security breaches. My goal is to shine a light on these problems and offer AAM as a practical, no-nonsense solution.
As AI continues to evolve, WordPress will only grow in importance. Even if machines create and consume content, there must still be a system to store, structure, and distribute it. WordPress is perfectly positioned to be that system.
Frankly, I don’t see any real competition. Most alternatives only tackle niche website features like page building or e-commerce. As long as the community stays strong, WordPress will remain the default choice for building online presence.
Stay in Touch
My Love for the WordPress Community
I occasionally attend WordCamps, especially WCUS, to stay connected with the community and follow emerging trends. It’s also a great way to catch up with friends and collaborators.
People like Cory Miller, Vova Feldman, and Nathan Ingram have been long-time sources of inspiration. We don’t talk daily, but we always enjoy reconnecting at events.
Recently, I met Ryan Loan from InfluenceWP. I love what he’s building – a community of professionals who promote their products and services ethically and without unnecessary restrictions. That kind of thinking energizes me.
Vasyl Martyniuk at WordCamp US
How I Keep Myself Updated
There’s an overwhelming amount of WordPress content out there. To stay grounded, I follow updates from Post Status and The Repository.
Part of my morning ritual is listening to WordPress podcasts. I enjoy WP Builds, Do_the_Woo, and WordPress Plugins from A to Z, among others.
I Have a Life Other Than Work
In my earlier days, I played volleyball semi-professionally. It was always my preferred way to escape for a few hours from the tech world. These days, I hit the gym to stay competitive with younger players.
When I’m not working out or playing ball, I spend time with my two kids. We love hiking and exploring new local restaurants.
And for almost a decade now, we’ve had a family tradition: a trip to St. Pete, Florida. I lived there when I first moved to the US, and it still feels like home. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend visiting this small but special city.
I Reward Myself by
I believe it’s important to celebrate both small wins and big milestones. For day-to-day victories, like shipping a new feature or getting great feedback from a user, I treat myself to a visit to a good local restaurant. Great food has always been a simple but meaningful way for me to pause, enjoy the moment, and reflect on progress.
For the big wins, I like to go all in. For instance, when AAM hits 200,000 active installations, I’ve promised myself something special: I’m going to get certified in scuba diving and take a trip to the Caribbean. It’s not just about the thrill, but about honoring the journey, stepping outside my comfort zone, and reminding myself that life should be lived fully, not just worked through.
Special Discount
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Connect With Me
I’ve never been a big fan of social networks, so my online presence is intentionally minimal. The only platform I actively use is LinkedIn, mainly to keep in touch with my professional network and occasionally share updates about my work. You won’t find me tweeting or posting daily content. But I do value meaningful, direct conversations.
If you’d like to connect, I’m always open to jumping on a video call using whatever platform you prefer. Just send a quick note to vasyl@vasyltech.com. I personally read every message and always respond. Whether you have a question, an idea, or just want to talk shop, I’d love to hear from you.
