open-slopware/README.md

# Open Slopware

Free/Open Source Software tainted by LLM developers/developed by genAI boosters, along with alternatives.

The intention of this list is to raise awareness of this technology's usage in popular software, as well as give people informed alternatives that they can reach for when they want to make decisions for themselves. This is not a list created so you can go and give these projects trouble for their decision. If you want to file a complaint about it with them, we consider that acceptable but ask that it be done respectfully and constructively.

For more information on why we think this list matters, please see [Why not LLMs?](#why-not-llms).

To Contribute, checkout our [`CONTRIBUTING.md`](./CONTRIBUTING.md).

> [!Note]
> This is a fork of a repo by the same name maintained by the @gen-ai-transparency org on Codeberg. If they up their repo again, we will contribute back.

* [Definitions](#definitions)
* [Tainted Software](#tainted-software)
  * [Browsers](#browsers)
  * [Command-Line Shells](#command-line-shells)
  * [Computer Graphics](#computer-graphics)
    * [Photography](#photography)
  * [Terminal Emulators](#terminal-emulators)
  * [Developer Tools](#developer-tools)
  * [Programming Languages](#programming-languages)
    * [Note on alternative languages](#note-on-alternative-languages)
  * [Editors](#editors)
  * [Accessibility Tools](#accessibility-tools)
  * [Microcontroller Tools and Libraries](#microcontroller-tools-and-libraries)
  * [Service Monitoring](#service-monitoring)
  * [Libraries](#libraries)
    * [Rust](#rust)
    * [CSS](#css)
  * [Game Engines](#game-engines)
  * [Services and Utilities](#services-and-utilities)
    * [File Storage](#file-storage)
    * [Password Management](#password-management)
    * [Social Media](#social-media)
  * [Operating Systems](#operating-systems)
* [Why not LLMs?](#why-not-llms)
  * [Legal Ramifications](#legal-ramifications)
  * [Environmental Impact](#environmental-impact)


## Definitions

|Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| LLM        | Large Language Model, a language model trained on vast amounts of text (often entire websites without the website owner's permission) |
| slop       | Anything generated by AI, typically code, books, articles, or images. |
| sloperator | A person who uses AI prompts to generate anything, typically code or images. |
| slopshop   | Company, Organization, or Group of sloperators working together to use AI to generate content. |

## Tainted Software

### Browsers

| Name | Alternatives | Evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firefox | [LibreWolf](https://librewolf.net/), several other forks | [Blog post collecting details](https://alextheward.com/blog/mozilla_is_now_an_ai_company/) |

### Command-Line Shells

| Name | Alternative(s) | Evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| [`nushell`](https://www.nushell.sh/) | [`elvish` shell](https://elv.sh), [`fish` shell](https://fishshell.com/) | [Integrated MCP server](https://github.com/nushell/nushell/tree/main/crates/nu-mcp), [core developer sets Claude as a co-author](https://github.com/nushell/nushell/commit/21a54d47a00f09e3710e08ee7624e7b4332dcb27) |
| [`yash`](https://magicant.github.io/yash/) | `dash` shell, but there are no other major shells fully targeting POSIX | [Assigns and auto-reviews MRs with LLMs](https://github.com/magicant/yash/pull/217#issue-3699124790) |

### Computer Graphics

#### Photography

| Name | Alternative(s) | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| [RapidRAW](https://github.com/CyberTimon/RapidRAW/) | | From the README: "with the support from Google Gemini." Roadmap includes adding GenAI. |
| [RawTherapee](https://github.com/RawTherapee/RawTherapee/) | Stick to version 5.12 | Use Copilot for review [PR7518](https://github.com/RawTherapee/RawTherapee/pull/7518#pullrequestreview-3348449593), [PR 7435](https://github.com/RawTherapee/RawTherapee/pull/7435#pullrequestreview-3059697445), [PR 7378](https://github.com/RawTherapee/RawTherapee/pull/7378#pullrequestreview-2969042638) and code changes [commit c4b0400](https://github.com/RawTherapee/RawTherapee/commit/c4b04007107a426dd7011002e8085aa6f398ab60) |

### Terminal Emulators

| Name | Alternative(s) | Evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Warp](https://warp.dev) | | Advertised as an ["agentic development environment."](https://archive.ph/cfzad) |

### Developer Tools

| Name | Alternative(s) | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| [`cargo-nextest`](https://github.com/nextest-rs/nextest) | Just use `cargo test` | [`CLAUDE.md` and `AGENTS.md` in repository](https://github.com/nextest-rs/nextest/commit/3853279b41cc4a81f82e26fd88fac3bf85054af5) |
| [`jujutsu`](https://www.jj-vcs.dev/latest/) | continue using `git` itself | [A core dev occasionally uses Claude to generate local test cases.](https://codeberg.org/gen-ai-transparency/open-slopware/src/branch/main/img/Screenshot%202026-01-08%20at%2016.13.46.png), [(Discord link)](https://discord.com/channels/968932220549103686/1458877549034864703) |
| [`just`](https://just.systems/) | | Lists an [MCP server in its User Manual](https://just.systems/man/en/model-context-protocol.html). |
| [`oh-my-posh`](https://github.com/JanDeDobbeleer/oh-my-posh/) | [Starship] | [`AGENTS.md` file in main repository](https://github.com/JanDeDobbeleer/oh-my-posh/commit/0ca76357a608f2e4043e10fe9591709ca554d75d) |
| [`oh-my-bash`](https://github.com/ohmybash/oh-my-bash) | [Starship] | [All PRs are reviewed with "Qodo"](https://github.com/apps/qodo-free-for-open-source-projects) [Example PR](https://github.com/ohmybash/oh-my-bash/pull/729) |
| [`ohmyzsh`](https://github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh) | [Starship] | [Added Claude and Grok as search engines](https://github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/pull/13222) |
| [Taskfile](https://taskfile.dev) |  | [Uses Copilot for PRs](https://github.com/go-task/task/pull/2592) |

### Programming Languages

| Name | Alternative(s) | Evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| [`.NET`](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/) | See below | [`.NET Runtime` PRs](https://github.com/dotnet/runtime/pulls?q=author%3A%40copilot+is%3Amerged), [`.NET SDK` PRs](https://github.com/dotnet/sdk/pulls?q=author%3A%40copilot+is%3Amerged) |
| [Julia](https://julialang.org/) | Python (w/ appropriate scientific libraries) | [`AGENTS.md` in main repository](https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/pull/58561), [PRs "written by Claude"](https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/pulls?q=is%3Apr+written+by+Claude) | |

#### Note on alternative languages

Suggestions for alternative programming languages are necessarily more complex than many other categories considered here, as that's one of the core technical choices to be made when starting a new software development project.

Depending on your needs and technical concerns, you may find any number of different alternative languages useful. For example, when considering alternatives to .NET, Java or Scala may be interesting candidates from the perspective of being similar VM-based frameworks, while Python or Rust may be interesting alternatives in other ways.

### Editors

| Name | Alternative(s) | Evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Zed](https://zed.dev) | [Lapce](https://lap.dev/lapce/), other popular editors like neovim, emacs, etc | They prominently advertise genAI features as a core part of their product. See their website. | There's a killswitch to disable genAI features entirely, but it's likely the code itself is still heavily LLM-authored. |
| [VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/) | [VS Codium](https://vscodium.com/)* removes the AI _features_ from VS Code | [It's literally their main advertising tagline](./img/vscode.png), and they publicly use LLMs in [their public repository](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/pulls). Most AI "features" are enabled by default, and some cannot be disabled. | *VS Codium is still written with LLMs since Microsoft owns it |

### Accessibility Tools

| Name | Alternative(s) | Evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| [espeak-ng](https://github.com/espeak-ng/espeak-ng) | [flite](http://cmuflite.org/) | [Dev uses copilot for review](https://github.com/espeak-ng/espeak-ng/pull/2328#pullrequestreview-3559773058) and [is setting up copilot instructions](https://github.com/espeak-ng/espeak-ng/pull/2302) | espeak still exists, but is heavily outdated and very bad from a modern standpoint, so it cannot be considered as an alternative. `flite` users may also wish to install `speech-dispatcher-flite`. |

### Microcontroller Tools and Libraries

| Name | Alternative(s) | Evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| [FastLED](https://fastled.io/) | | [`.claude` and `.cursor` folders in main repository](https://github.com/FastLED/FastLED/commit/d0d3627eded2e83f52a16763950de94e70c35c4e) |

### Service Monitoring

| Name | Alternative(s) | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| [Uptime Kuma](https://github.com/louislam/uptime-kuma) | [Gatus](https://github.com/TwiN/gatus) | [Dev uses copilot for review](https://github.com/louislam/uptime-kuma/pull/6645) |


### Libraries

#### Rust

| Name | Alternative(s) | Evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| [`facet`](https://github.com/facet-rs/facet) | Use more specific deserialization libraries and avoid macros that slow things down anyway. [`serde`](https://serde.rs) itself is [tainted by its Palantir-defending author](https://archive.ph/fe9g5). [`nanoserde`](https://github.com/not-fl3/nanoserde) could be suitable for certain use cases. | [Core developer openly uses LLMs for library dev](https://archive.ph/YhcOh) | |
| [`ratatui`](https://github.com/ratatui/ratatui) | [`iocraft`](https://github.com/ccbrown/iocraft) and [`cursive`](https://github.com/gyscos/cursive). [`console`](https://github.com/console-rs/console) and its family of libraries may also be enough for some use cases. | [Core developer has stated their use of AI for rust code](https://github.com/ratatui/ratatui/discussions/2201) | |

#### CSS

| Name | Alternative(s) | Evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| [`tailwindcss`](https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss) | [`twind`](https://github.com/tw-in-js/twind) | [Sponsorship page states explicitly that the founder uses AI to write code and even sells access to his "Cursor/Claude/AGENTS.md rules"](https://tailwindcss.com/sponsor) | |

### Game Engines

| Name | Alternative(s) | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| [UPBGE 0.5](https://upbge.org) | UPBGE 0.36.1 seems to be slop-free | [0.5 release notes state the use of AI in plain language](https://github.com/UPBGE/upbge/wiki/Release-notes-version-0.50#b-implementation-technique-and-limitations) |

### Services and Utilities

| Name | Alternative(s) | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| [Calibre 8.16.2](https://calibre-ebook.com) | [BookLore](https://booklore.org/)<br /> [Clbre](https://github.com/grimthorpe/clbre), a Calibre fork without AI<br /> [Arcalibre](https://codeberg.org/rereading/arcalibre), a Calibre hard-fork from before AI features | [Added "Discuss selected book(s) with AI" feature](https://github.com/kovidgoyal/calibre/blob/master/Changelog.txt)
| [Ghost](https://ghost.org/) | [WriteFreely] | Include configurations for [Claude](https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/tree/main/.claude) and [cursor](https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/blob/main/.cursor/rules/yarn.mdc); images on website seem generated |
| [Wagtail CMS](https://wagtail.org/) | [WriteFreely] | Include [AGENTS.md](https://github.com/wagtail/wagtail/blob/main/AGENTS.md); [Wagtail AI](https://wagtail.org/wagtail-ai/) |
| [WordPress](https://wordpress.org) | [WriteFreely] | Include [AGENTS.md](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/blob/trunk/AGENTS.md); has [Copilot PRs](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/74449) |

#### File Storage

| Name | Alternative(s) | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| [MinIO](https://www.min.io/) | [Garage] | Advertises AI as their primary focus on their website. |
| [Nextcloud](https://nextcloud.com/) |  | [✨ Nextcloud Assistant](https://nextcloud.com/assistant/); Nextcloud Desktop has [AGENTS.md](https://github.com/nextcloud/desktop/blob/master/AGENTS.md)|
| [SeaweedFS](https://seaweedfs.com/) | [Garage] for S3 api + [JuiceFS](https://juicefs.com/en/) for the NFS mounts ad K8s CSI driver - or [Rook/Ceph](https://rook.io/) | Using [Gemini and coderabbitai in PRs](https://github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/pull/7996). |

#### Password Management

| Name | Alternative(s) | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| [Bitwarden](https://bitwarden.com/) | [vaultwarden](https://github.com/dani-garcia/vaultwarden) | Include [CLAUDE.md](https://github.com/bitwarden/server/blob/main/.claude/CLAUDE.md) |
| [KeepassXC](https://keepassxc.org/) |  | Use Copilot to generate PRs: [Example 1](https://github.com/keepassxreboot/keepassxc/pull/12588), [Example 2](https://github.com/keepassxreboot/keepassxc/pull/12314), [Example 3](https://github.com/keepassxreboot/keepassxc/pull/12199)|

#### Social Media

This is for both social media websites and apps.

| Name | Alternative(s) | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| [Bluesky](https://bsky.app) | [Mastodon](https://joinmastodon.org/), [GoToSocial](https://codeberg.org/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial) | [CTO discusses using Claude in development](https://bsky.app/profile/pfrazee.com/post/3luyb3jcbv52d) |
| [IceCubesApp for iOS](https://github.com/Dimillian/IceCubesApp) | [Feditext](https://github.com/feditext/feditext), an iOS fediverse app in beta | Project uses [Claude](https://github.com/Dimillian/IceCubesApp/blob/main/CLAUDE.md)


### Operating Systems

| Name | Alternative(s) | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| [Linux Kernel](https://kernel.org/) | BSD? Honestly this one's tough | [Maintainers are explicitly trying out the technology and considering LLM-based reviews](https://lwn.net/Articles/1041694/)

## Why not LLMs?

Could use some help writing this with concrete receipts on environmental, social, political, and economic/labor harms.

### Legal Ramifications

1. LLMs are often trained on, and thus prone to, regurgitate either completely, or in-part, chunks of code that are licensed under terms which have specific legal requirements that a sloperator may not understand or even be aware of when making a contribution. Regardless of this ignorance, it falls to the repo's owner to comply with the terms of any and all licensed code integrated into their project.

### Environmental Impact

To start learning a bit more, you can checkout the wikipedia page on [Environmental impact of artificial intelligence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_artificial_intelligence#Individual_level). We're very open to people contributing other explanations, links, and resources to learn more about this.

<!-- please put your multi referenced links down here -->
[Garage]: https://garagehq.deuxfleurs.fr/
[Starship]: https://starship.rs
[WriteFreely]: https://writefreely.org/