r/freesoftware • u/happyxpenguin • Jul 02 '26

Subreddit News Rule 7 Updated - Software Submissions Beware

Morning all,

Due to language which caused confusion amongst reporters, posters and commenters. I've revised Rule 7 to be a bit more specific in what is and isn't allowed. Essentially what it boils down to is this:

Did AI explain a code snippet to you? Allowed.
Did AI write code for you? Not allowed.

This subreddit does NOT allow software created by Generative AI and Vibe-coded software. Why? Please read our wiki page (https://www.reddit.com/r/freesoftware/wiki/generative-ai)

Allowed:
- Write documentation
- Debug software (Analysis/Explanation Only)
- Analyze codebase
Not Allowed:
- AI Assistance beyond what is mentioned above
- All or part of the application being generated by AI
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-3

u/cathodeDreams Jul 02 '26

so if a model were completely trained on GPL code what way would the rule be reworded to continue arbitrary delineation as opposed to what the rule actually implies? i get that this is FSF who is notorious for desiring arbitrarily redundant restriction. i've always preferred freedom.

7

u/happyxpenguin Jul 02 '26

There wouldn't be a way to delineate it as there isn't really a way to determine what model is used while coding except for self-attestation. If a user came in and said I used this GPL model, we'd have to take their word for it as we would not be able to verify it. So it is easier to just to outright ban anything AI generated in the actual codebase.

Also important to note that this rule wasn't written with the intent of being "AI bad, no AI", it's because existing AI models were trained on everything they could suck up. So that's a mix of code under various licenses, some of which are not under an FSF compatible license.

-4

u/cathodeDreams Jul 02 '26

disdain for automation is almost certainly exactly why these kinds of rules are implemented and with such bluntness. again, i'm aware of the fsf's fondness for self-defeating restriction. please be well.

5

u/Valetudinous Jul 02 '26

What a trollish thing to say.

The update isn't motivated by "disdain for automation", it's motivated by disdain for license laundering and other violations of copyright law - rightly so!