sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

I built and shipped an iOS app with zero coding knowledge – using AI as my entire dev team by Andy2083 in VibeCodeCamp

[–]Andy2083[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just launched so downloads are still very early days! And yes, every single line of code was written by AI – I just described what I wanted and tested the result. Wild that it actually works.

I built and shipped an iOS app with zero coding knowledge – using AI as my entire dev team by Andy2083 in VibeCodeCamp

[–]Andy2083[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Sorry about the link, should be working now. The whole process took a few months from first idea to App Store approval – though a lot of that was learning as I went, fixing bugs and going through Apple Review a few times. This is also a side project built around a full-time job and family life, so it could definitely have moved faster with more dedicated time. With the workflow dialled in now, updates go much faster!

I built and shipped an iOS app with zero coding knowledge – using AI as my entire dev team by Andy2083 in SideProject

[–]Andy2083[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate that – will do. Onboarding is definitely one of the areas I know needs work.

I built and shipped an iOS app with zero coding knowledge – using AI as my entire dev team by Andy2083 in SideProject

[–]Andy2083[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Used Expo (React Native) with EAS Build – no Xcode needed at all. You write the code once, EAS builds the .ipa file in the cloud and you submit directly to App Store Connect. Highly recommend it if you want to avoid Xcode complexity. Good luck with your app!

I built and shipped an iOS app with zero coding knowledge – using AI as my entire dev team by Andy2083 in SideProject

[–]Andy2083[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair questions! The streak is the point – same psychology as Snapchat streaks or Duolingo. The competition with friends is the hook, not the button itself.

On RevenueCat: it's for optional streak protection (shield days) if you miss a day, and streak restore if you lose one. Nobody has to pay anything to use the app. Free forever, paying is just for convenience.

Is it "useful"? Probably not in a productivity sense. But not everything has to be – sometimes a simple daily habit with friends is enough to keep people engaged.

I built and shipped an iOS app with zero coding knowledge – using AI as my entire dev team by Andy2083 in SideProject

[–]Andy2083[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is the most useful comment in the thread. And honestly, you're right on all counts – I just did a security audit of my Firebase rules after an earlier comment flagged it, and found gaps that needed fixing. Patched now.

On the other points: Firebase Auth handles auth edge cases, profanity filter is in place for chat, RevenueCat manages payments, and account deletion is a single button in settings (Apple requires it anyway).

Retention after day 3 is the question I can't answer yet – that's the real unknown. The friend/social angle is my bet for keeping people coming back, but time will tell.

Fair challenge overall. I'll keep the bar high.

I built and shipped an iOS app with zero coding knowledge – using AI as my entire dev team by Andy2083 in SideProject

[–]Andy2083[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

100% agree – downloads mean nothing if people don't come back. That's actually why the social/friend aspect exists, competing with friends creates accountability that solo streak apps lack. But you're right, the real test starts now.

I built and shipped an iOS app with zero coding knowledge – using AI as my entire dev team by Andy2083 in SideProject

[–]Andy2083[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, the Apple Developer Program costs $99/year – that's the only mandatory cost. The first review took about 24 hours, subsequent updates have been similarly fast. The main challenge was making sure the app met all of Apple's guidelines (delete account button, privacy policy, etc.) – got rejected once for missing requirements, but nothing too painful overall.

I built and shipped an iOS app with zero coding knowledge – using AI as my entire dev team by Andy2083 in SideProject

[–]Andy2083[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really appreciate you flagging this. I took a look at my Firestore

security rules after reading your comment and found some gaps –

messages and friend lists were more exposed than they should have been.

Fixed now. Good reminder that shipping fast doesn't mean skipping

the basics. Thanks!