With the release of Mattermost v10, we are making a significant shift in how integrations are developed and supported on our platform. Historically, Mattermost has offered two integration development frameworks: the Plugin Framework and the Apps Framework. Both have been instrumental in enhancing our platform’s capabilities, but as we continue to evolve, it’s time to streamline our approach.
Starting with Mattermost v10, the Apps Framework will no longer be supported by the Mattermost server. This change means that if you have developed integrations using the Apps Framework, we strongly recommend transitioning these to plugins or webhooks. Additionally, it’s important to uninstall the Apps plugin altogether, as Apps will cease to function entirely with the release of Mattermost v11, scheduled for summer 2025.
While the Apps Framework’s backend is implemented as a plugin, the Mattermost web and mobile apps also contain specific code to integrate with this framework. As part of this transition, we will be removing this code from both client applications in v11. Consequently, no features of the Apps Framework will work moving forward. It’s important to note that once we remove this code from the mobile app, Apps will no longer function even on older server versions.
The core technical change in this transition is that the client applications will no longer send requests to the Apps Framework’s /bindings endpoint. As a result, no UI elements or slash commands associated with any installed App will be loaded on the client, effectively preventing any user interaction with Apps.
Our focus moving forward will be on strengthening the Plugin Framework, which powers key products like Calls and Playbooks. The technical investments made in supporting the Apps Framework on mobile will be redirected to ensure similar functionality and enhancements within the Plugin Framework.
This transition marks a new phase in our platform’s development, allowing us to concentrate our efforts on a more unified and robust integration framework. We encourage all developers and users to begin the transition process now to ensure a smooth experience as we approach the release of Mattermost v11.
If you’ve developed integrations using the Apps Framework in the past and have concerns about moving to the Plugin Framework, please respond to this thread with any questions or concerns you have regarding this deprecation.