Automattic Launches Spacefast for Hosting Coding Projects

Automattic unveils Spacefast, an infrastructure service designed to transform projects built with "vibe" coding into operational services. The project, born from a hackathon and led by Batuhan Icoz, focuses on native integrations with the group's ecosystem and the choice of AI agents, amid increased competition and recent internal tensions.

Governance Turmoil and Internal Cuts at Automattic

The launch of Spacefast comes as Automattic emerges from a tumultuous period. The board of directors forced Matt Mullenweg to step down as CEO before he returned just days later. The rebellious board was subsequently replaced. The interim CFO left his position a few weeks after his appointment. In October, it was reported that layoffs had begun in several entities within the group, with further cuts expected.

An Infrastructure Offering for "Vibe" Projects with In-House Integrations

Spacefast offers a service aimed at deploying sites and applications created with vibe coding. The platform provides technical options such as databases, authentication, file transfer, email management, and analytics to make projects fully functional. Users can integrate Spacefast with agents and chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, Hermes, OpenClaw, Grokbot, Muse, Pi, Cursor, Opencode, and Amp, or launch a project from a Git repository. Integration with the Automattic ecosystem enables web analytics, WordPress integration, and e-commerce functions via WooCommerce. Automattic is also the owner of WordPress.com.

Asserted Openness Against Lovable, Emergent, and Design Tools

Spacefast positions itself against Lovable and Emergent, which already offer environments for applications coded in vibe. The approach is presented as more open, allowing users to choose the AI agent and how to use the tool. Batuhan Icoz believes this flexibility is an asset, while acknowledging that some users prefer fully pre-configured solutions. Figma, Canva, and Notion also offer products at the intersection of vibe coding, mockups, and presentations. For businesses, Batuhan Icoz mentions a dispersion of tools, particularly in creating landing pages on services like Lovable, and highlights Automattic's experience with large enterprise clients.

Genesis, September Beta, and Initial Observed Uses

The development of Spacefast was initiated by Batuhan Icoz during an internal hackathon while he was working on the cross-platform messaging app Beeper. He noted frequently receiving Vercel links from non-technical acquaintances exploring vibe coding. Believing that Automattic has a CDN comparable to Cloudflare, he initially created a project named Stattic, which later became Spacefast, sharing it with close contacts before adding features to make it more dynamic. A beta was opened in September to gather feedback. The first recorded uses range from internal mockups to slideshows, and even sites related to offers.

Uncertain Adoption in a Web Redefined by AI Agents

User retention remains a recurring challenge for AI products, with a tendency for trial followed by abandonment. Batuhan Icoz anticipates disengagement from certain profiles and claims to aim for a very simple creation experience with results superior to using separate tools. The industry context is evolving: websites and publishers are seeing a decline in traffic related to chatbots and automated summaries, and Google has experienced a slowdown in the growth of its advertising revenue. Batuhan Icoz observes that creators are now building sites with agents like ChatGPT or Claude rather than deploying on WordPress, and he believes that some sites may no longer require a content management system. However, WordPress remains a historical technological pillar for online media.