Why I'm proposing we rename add-ons to "apps" (and why it matters for newcomers)

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Moving forward with the add-ons to apps rename

First off: thank you. Genuinely. :pray:

The responses in this thread, on GitHub, and across the community have been incredibly valuable. Whether you supported the idea, pushed back hard, or landed somewhere in between, I read it all (I especially loved the helicopter view @Chykan!). This is exactly the kind of engaged feedback that makes our community so special. :heart:

After careful consideration, I’ve decided to move forward with renaming add-ons to apps.

I know this won’t make everyone happy, and I want to acknowledge the concerns that came up most often:

  • The Companion App confusion: This is a fair point. But here’s the thing: lots of devices support apps nowadays. Televisions, phones, cars, NAS devices, hubs, you name it. While the concern is valid, I believe we’re also quite used to the concept of each “thing” having its own apps available. Your TV has apps. Your NAS has apps. And soon, your Home Assistant will have apps too.

  • The “Add-on Apps” compromise: I understand why this suggestion gained traction (in many places). It feels like a smooth transition path. But here’s my concern: in practice, nobody is going to say “Add-on Apps”. People will shorten it to either “add-ons” or “apps,” and we’ll end up with both terms floating around in parallel, causing just as much confusion down the line. If we’re going to make a change, let’s make a clean one.

  • Documentation and searchability: Existing documentation, tutorials, and yes, even AI assistants will take time to catch up. We’ll ensure redirects and references are in place. Where needed will ensure that “add-ons” will still find the thing you are looking for.

  • Change fatigue: I hear you. I really do. But I believe this particular change genuinely lowers the barrier for newcomers, and that’s worth the short-term adjustment.

The goal has always been the same: making Home Assistant more approachable without losing what makes it powerful. I believe this gets us closer to that.

Thanks again for being part of this conversation.

…/Frenck

                       

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