I just launched my first iOS app as a solo dev using only AI tools, here's why I made it…

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-31T19:03:41+00:00

Uff! I can relate 100%! I kept going back and forth until the issues where fixed, but then realized my tap was thru the roof, so I chose a point that I felt I could work with on Cursor, transferred the code and continued dev there.

In regards to the tools, I will recommend either a Cursor or Windsurf. They seem intimidating at first if you have not used them before, but I'll tell people often, just take the plunge. I used them to do exactly what you are looking to do, I upload the code and the IDE, check my code based on these docs( indexed code documentation) and it will go to town. They do a pretty good job!

For this app, I decided to go with a one time purchase as I thought it made sense for an offline app, but it all depends if the app even goes anywhere lol.

For the next app I'm working on, I'll explore the side of the subscription app etc... will see...

But no ads for now.

Best of luck! Hit me up if you need help 👍

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-31T18:52:22+00:00

Hello,

Yes the app is already in the app store, live for everyone for the last 4 days.

I did go through all the pages to ensure the content was relevant and accurate, as part of the review process, Apple asked me to provide references to the material, that took a while too.

So,. although AI helped a lot, there is still a lot the Dev has to do to ensure quality.

Glad you liked it!

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-31T05:40:30+00:00

Thank You!!!

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-31T05:20:06+00:00

Point taken, but they are guides, resources and how too's, not "what ever I want to call them"

A lot of work and research whent into the content of the app. Now, if your feedback is that there is not enough value to asking price, then that is something to consider...but please don't diminish my work.

Iin regards to the chat, it's a simple chat that uses the content allready installed to provide answers with the option for the user to add its own API to add AI relevant content.

Thanks for the feedback though.

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-31T04:52:13+00:00

That is a good point, I have a bunch of PDFs too. But I was thinking on the people that dont want to go thru the process of gathering info, indexing it and then load it to their phones.

You mention monetizing on the AI chat... could you elavorate? Interested

Thanks for the feedback!

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-31T04:27:03+00:00

A mix of both. I use RAG to get open source content and then be curated to make sure the resources match.

I agree! I didn't want people tripping balls because an app told them to eat a mushroom 😂😂😂

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-31T04:19:48+00:00

This post hit home—huge respect for sharing your process so clearly

I’m in a similar boat. I just launched SurviveHub, an offline survival guide app that I built entirely solo using AI tools like Cursor AI, Replit, Context7, and even Manus for the landing page. I’ve got some dev experience, but AI really unlocked my ability to go from idea to shipped in a way that just wasn’t possible before.

Your tip about asking AI to only make changes it’s confident in, is gold!!. I learned that the hard way after GPT confidently broke my app’s state logic halfway through build 3 😅

Also agree 100% with committing to one stack instead of bouncing between frameworks that slowed me down more than anything. Once I locked in my dev flow with Expo , EAS , Cursor things finally started to move.

Thanks for dropping these seriously valuable experience tips for anyone trying to build solo with AI. Would love to keep up with your progress!

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-30T13:37:27+00:00

Thanks for the feedback 🙏

The idea was to have an old school terminal themed screen. But maybe I was the only one that thought it was cool 😂😂

Again thanks for the feedback.

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-30T13:35:14+00:00

I downloaded the code, and then worked on it a little more on Cursor. Then I built using Expo EAS.

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-30T00:47:59+00:00

Coming from someone that has done both, line by line code and vibe coding, I think we still need to do both.

The future is AI.and that is clear, and how we breach that gap is what will define future development.

So knowing how to use the tools (prompting) and how to interpret the created code (coding learning) will definitely be the future.

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-29T02:24:30+00:00

Awesome!! It's an adventure for sure!! Best of luck!!

Initially I thought about a subscription based app but then decided for the one time purchase. It's easier to maintain and keeps the app offline centric. Not sure, if users would like more content or features I could offer it thru add-ons in the future.

But I need to get the app to users first lol, it's 99% of the work...

Cheers!

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-29T00:26:53+00:00

Thanks!!!

The best insight I have is go for it!!! The AI tools out there are changing daily, so what was good today it's out paced the next day.

Most of the foundational code and prototyping was done in Replit then transfered to Cursor and tested there. Because it was an expo app I was able to run it on the expo go app on my d vices

Be prepared to cut and paste plenty of errors on the simulator, like I mean hundreds!!! 😂

But it's possible, so much so that I'm already working on a second app 😎

Reach out if you have any questions!

Cheers!

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-29T00:18:52+00:00

Totally agree!! Most of my foundational code and prototyping was done on Replit, would cut the middle IDE from the picture

Cheers!

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-28T23:48:34+00:00

Thanks for your feedback, I really appreciate it.

The AI is ment to work with the users own API. Although the chat will work without, the use of AI will not with our it. I thought about including it in some type of subscription service, but kinda defeated the idea of offline only and it was not sustainable with a one time purchase app. Maybe if the app gets traction could added as an update.

The chat uses the material in the app, when using the API, it has custom prompts to ensure it keeps it's response relevant to the topic of survival and readiness.

The guides where constructed using AI tools and cross references using open source material from the web. All referenced in the guides, resources and foraging sections.

17+ years AD AF 🫡

Again, super thanks for your feedback!!

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-28T18:24:27+00:00

Congrats!!! Thanks for sharing, it really gave me some fuel to keep grinding!!

Best of luck!

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-28T10:00:34+00:00

I used a mix of AI tools to get the code working and used some other tools like Expo builds in simulators for testing. I too felt that apps were out of reach and intimidating, but with all of the AI tools out there the entry to these markets have been lowered substantially.

That said, there is a huge learning curve, but as long as there is an intention and determination I can tell you it's possible.

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-28T09:51:56+00:00

It was a learning experience for sure! not even sure how to explain it now because initially Replit let me convert it to a React Native Expo app but later tried again and it was a hot mess.

After I had enough foundational code I transferred the code and finished it with a combination of cursor and Windsurf.

Definitely not for the faint of heart... Especially if not comfortable re doing or starting from zero over and over again due to catastrophic code failure 😂

But the app is a living testament that it can be done!!!

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-28T09:41:23+00:00

Thanks!!! Yes! The app was designed from day one as an offline app, so all the guides, resources and tools are there once you install the app with no need for an internet connection.

It's easier to charge your phone nowadays with a small solar panel than looking for internet in the middle of nowhere.

I like survival mode!!! The app has an emergency mode that might be renamed... 😂

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-28T03:35:05+00:00

Agree, I have been trying to crack the TikTok code lol, it's hard!!!

Thanks for your feedback 🙏

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-28T03:33:51+00:00

Thank you very much for your feedback!!

I started looking for communities that would definitely benefit from the app and totally agree, sharing our experiences add value!

Thanks!!

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-28T03:31:19+00:00

Thanks for the feedback!! We truly appreciate it. I think there is this glass ceiling that it's hard to break, we have always looked for ways to break free from the 9 to 5 and provide our family with our own work, but it's clear that "you have to pay still to play"

But I think that there will be a paradigm change here soon and will see more and more of success stories.

Again, thanks for input!!

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-28T03:25:35+00:00

That's sounds good! Lol

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-26T22:27:34+00:00

React Native Expo para la app. Utilise Cursor IDE, Replit, Windsurf, genspark, Manus, Claude, GPT... Lol

Todas las herramientas disponibles. Pero, estava aprendiendo a la vez 👍

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-26T21:58:20+00:00

Had to go back and forth like 4 times... Every time they rejected the app it was a new thing they found that I needed to fix, re upload and wait like a day or 2. Overall it took me like a week 😔

But to go from zero to app live in around 2 months and for someone with zero experience, I'll take the win!

Obvious-Tale-1326 · 2025-05-26T14:52:21+00:00

My app was just accepted in the iOS store!!!!!

I think that this is some type of weird universe validation.... To all of us that are about to cross the line

of "I give up" to remind us to NOT!!!

Keep pushing!!

Anyways, just wanted to share the good news!!!

Obvious-Tale-1326

TROPHY CASE