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Flathub bans AI-coded apps – with some exceptions
But there's carve-out for existing and 'mature projects'
You’ll have to sift through fewer vibe-coded apps on Flathub in future, as the store has announced a policy change on software made using AI tools.
Flathub, the de-facto place to find and install Flatpak applications, is banning the use of “AI” coded applications and automated submissions going forward.
It’s not a blanket ban – mature projects with AI code are allowed
A change to the store’s policy note says “applications containing AI-generated or AI-assisted code, documentation, or other content are not allowed”.
A carve out will allow “mature, well-maintained projects” to include AI generated code and use AI tools for generating and handling submissions.
Existing AI-coded apps available on Flathub are also exempt (which will be music to the ears of the Amberol-alikes, I’m sure).
Flathub’s Bart Piotrowski explained more on the reason behind the policy on Mastodon, citing negative experiences with “entitled submitters acting as if they were bestowing their brilliant software upon us idiots who are rejecting it”.
But they also note their own reservations in committing to banning vibe-coded software, feeling that “LLMs are inevitable”.
Submissions to Flathub are handled via GitHub pull requests. Under the new policy, no part of that process can be automated using AI tools or agents, including the manifest, metadata, patches, build scripts and the PR itself.