Vibe coding guide
A practical, step-by-step path for people who are not developers: plan the app, build it with Claude Code, test it with real people and publish it on iPhone and Android.
Key takeaways
- Vibe coding means building software by describing what you want in plain language and letting AI write the code.
- An AI coding agent works best when you give it one small, clear task at a time and check each change on your phone.
- A cross-platform framework lets one codebase run on both iPhone and Android.
- Publishing has its own rules: Apple reviews every App Store release, and Google asks new personal developer accounts to run a closed test with 12 testers for 14 days.
- A first app should solve one clear problem for one type of user.
What is vibe coding?
Vibe coding is a way of building software where you describe the result you want in everyday language and an AI model writes the code. The term was popularised in early 2025 by AI researcher Andrej Karpathy. Since then it has grown from quick experiments into a practical way for founders, product managers and other non-developers to build working software.
On its own, vibe coding often produces apps that break as soon as they grow. What makes the difference is method: a clear plan, small steps, saved versions and testing. That is what this guide focuses on.
What you need before you start
- A laptop. Mac or Windows both work if you build the iPhone version in the cloud.
- A smartphone to run and test your app.
- An AI coding agent. This guide uses Claude Code, which runs in your terminal and can read, write and run code in your project.
- Developer accounts with Apple and Google when you are ready to publish. Both are paid, and approval of a new account can take a few days.
- An idea that fits on one page.
Step by step: building your app with AI
The path of an AI-built app
1. Write a one-page product brief
Before you open any tool, write down who the app is for, the one main task it helps them do, the three to five screens it needs and what it will not do. This page becomes your instructions for the AI. Most failed AI-built apps fail here, because the AI was asked to build something vague.
2. Set up Claude Code and a cross-platform project
Install Claude Code and create a new Expo project. Expo is built on React Native and lets one codebase run on iPhone and Android, and you can open the app on your own phone while you work. Create a Git repository from the first hour so you can always return to a version that worked.
3. Build the screens one task at a time
Give Claude Code your brief, then ask for one thing at a time: the home screen, then navigation, then a form. After each change, open the app on your phone and check it. If something breaks, ask Claude Code to explain the error, or roll back to the last saved version. Small steps are slower for ten minutes and much faster for the whole week.
4. Add data, login and one AI feature
Most useful apps need to remember things and know who the user is. A hosted backend such as Supabase gives you a database and user login without running your own server. Then add one AI feature that makes the app genuinely helpful, such as a suggestion, a summary or an answer. Keep secret keys out of the app code.
5. Test with code and with people
Ask Claude Code to write automated tests for the main user journey and read what they check. Then build the app in the cloud and give it to real testers: TestFlight on iPhone and a testing track on Google Play. Watch where people get stuck and fix those problems first.
6. Prepare the store listing and publish
Each store needs an icon, screenshots, a description, a privacy policy and answers about what data the app collects. Apple reviews every App Store submission and publishes guidelines explaining common reasons for rejection. On Google Play, new personal developer accounts must run a closed test with at least 12 testers for 14 days before they can release to everyone, so plan for it.
Which way of building is right for you?
| Option | Best for | What you get | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI app builder (no-code platform) | A quick prototype to show an idea | A working screen in minutes | The app lives inside the platform and custom features are hard |
| AI coding agent such as Claude Code | A real app you own and can keep improving | Full source code for iPhone and Android | You need a method and some patience with errors |
| Hiring a developer or agency | Complex apps with payments or sensitive data | Professional engineering | Higher cost and slower changes |
Common mistakes when building an app with AI
- Asking the AI to build the whole app in one prompt instead of in small steps.
- Not saving working versions, so one bad change breaks everything.
- Adding features before the main task works from start to finish.
- Putting secret keys inside the app code.
- Leaving store preparation for the last day and discovering the Google Play testing rule too late.
Build your app in one week with a teacher
Barcelona Code School’s Vibe Coding Bootcamp follows this path in five full-time days. You build and test your own iPhone and Android app with Claude Code, and on the last day you learn how publishing to the App Store and Google Play works, so you can decide if and when to publish.
The bootcamp runs on campus in Barcelona or live online, takes 40 hours, needs no coding experience and costs €1,600.
See the Vibe Coding BootcampFrequently asked questions
Can I build a mobile app with AI if I cannot code?
Yes. An AI coding agent such as Claude Code writes the code from your instructions. You still need to plan the app, give clear tasks, check results on your phone and test it, which are skills you can learn in days rather than years.
How long does it take to build an app with AI?
A focused first version with a few screens, data and login can be built in about a week of full-time work. Store review and Google Play testing add extra days or weeks after that.
Do I need a Mac to build an iPhone app?
Not necessarily. With Expo you can build the iPhone version in the cloud and test it on your phone, so Windows users can take part.
What is the difference between vibe coding and no code?
No-code tools let you assemble an app inside their platform. Vibe coding produces real source code that you own, can move anywhere and can keep developing.
Will Apple accept an app built with AI?
Apple reviews the app, not the way it was written. Your app must follow the App Store Review Guidelines, work reliably and explain how it uses personal data.