Automattic launches Spacefast, a platform for deploying vibe-coded apps

Automattic, the US technology company that owns the website platform WordPress.com, officially launched a new service called Spacefast on 9 November. It is meant for publishing websites and apps created through "vibe coding", where AI agents write much of the software from a user's instructions. The launch comes as the web changes and many publishers lose traffic to AI chatbots and summaries.

What Spacefast offers

The platform supplies the infrastructure needed to turn generated code into a working website or service: databases, user authentication, file uploads, email and analytics. Spacefast can be connected to agents and chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor and others, or users can start from a Git repository.

The product is led by Batuhan Icoz, who developed the idea during a company hackathon sprint while working on Automattic's messaging app Beeper. He said non-technical friends kept sending him Vercel links, and he wanted an easier way to deploy projects using Automattic's existing infrastructure. A soft launch took place in September to gather feedback. Early uses include internal mockups, slideshows and offer-related websites.

Competition and challenges

Spacefast competes with Lovable and Emergent, as well as with products from Figma, Canva and Notion that combine vibe coding, mockups and presentations. Icoz believes its advantages are the freedom to choose one's own agent and Automattic's tools, including WordPress integration and WooCommerce e-commerce features. For enterprises, he pitched consolidating landing pages that marketing teams build across various services.

Icoz acknowledged that some users will leave after a short time because they may not be interested in building apps at all. He also said some sites will not need a content management system as the web expands.

The past months have been turbulent at Automattic: its board forced out CEO Matt Mullenweg, but he regained control within days. In October the company began layoffs across several properties, with more cuts expected.