Automattic launches Spacefast for vibe-coded apps

Spacefast also offers email and analytics features, aiming to turn AI-generated projects into functioning websites, apps or services. It competes with products including Lovable and Emergent, which bundle app-building interfaces with deployment tools. Automattic says Spacefast takes a more open approach by letting users choose their agent, among them ChatGPT, Claude, Grokbot, Cursor and Amp.

The project is led by Batuhan Icoz, who began developing it during an Automattic hackathon sprint earlier this year while working on the cross-platform messaging app Beeper. He told TechCrunch that friends experimenting with vibe coding often sent him Vercel links, prompting him to look for a simpler way to set up and deploy their projects. The product, first called Stattic, was soft-launched in September to gather feedback before its public debut.

Automattic says customers have used Spacefast for internal mockups, slideshows and offer-related websites. Icoz argued that the company could also add services such as web analytics, WordPress integration and WooCommerce e-commerce features. He said established enterprise relationships may appeal to organizations seeking to consolidate marketing teams’ landing pages, which are increasingly being built on separate services.

The service faces competition beyond app-building platforms: Figma, Canva and Notion have also introduced products combining elements of coding, mockups and presentations. Icoz acknowledged that Spacefast will need to give users a reason to stay, saying the product must make projects easy to build and produce better results. He also said some websites created with ChatGPT or Claude may not need a content management system.

The launch comes during a turbulent period for Automattic. Its board forced CEO Matt Mullenweg out, then he returned to control within days; the board was later replaced, and an interim CFO departed within weeks of being appointed. TechCrunch reported in October that Automattic had begun layoffs across several properties, with further cuts expected.