The open‑source MeshCore project announced a split within its core developers after co‑founder Andy Kirby filed a trademark application for the brand on March 29 and began delivering most of the ecosystem—devices, mobile app, web flasher and config tools—using Claude‑generated code. The original team, which has shipped 85 firmware versions for 75 hardware variants, says Kirby kept the AI‑heavy approach secret until the dispute surfaced.

Discord polls revealed mixed feelings about AI‑written code, but the deeper issue became ownership of the "official" MeshCore identity. Kirby claims the MeshOS line bears the brand, while the remaining contributors argue that the GitHub repository remains the sole source of truth. In response, the core group launched a fresh site at meshcore.io, distancing itself from the contested meshcore.co.uk domain that Kirby controls.

Despite the internal turmoil, the network still hosts over 38,000 nodes and more than 100,000 active app users. The surviving team—Scott, Liam, Recrof, FDLamotte and Oltaco—continues to publish firmware updates, documentation, and a new Discord server under the meshcore.io banner, reaffirming their commitment to human‑written software.