Vibe coding may seem intimidating, but it’s actually really easy to get started. There are tons of tools and guides all over the internet that teach you which tools work best and explain the basics of vibe coding for beginners. So, let’s say you’ve already reviewed all of that, gone through the process, and out popped an app that you’re really proud to have made. What on Earth are you supposed to do with it?
Most vibe coding projects start the same way. You start making code with AI, test it, fix it, and repeat until the app works. The overwhelming majority of stories on Reddit start this way, and so that seems to be the most popular process. However, doing it this way has its problems, and since vibe coding is quickly becoming so popular, many of the same mistakes keep appearing.
So, for this guide, we’ll assume you’ve already vibe coded your app and are looking for the next steps. For instance, now that you have an app, how do you actually get it into the app stores?
Make your developer accounts
Every app platform has a developer account, and you’ll need to learn how to make one, the process involved, and the cost. For example, an Apple Developer account costs $99 per year, and a Google Play Developer account costs $25 one time. If you build a PC game, Steam charges you $100 per game that you want to upload. This isn’t about which one you choose, but more about expectations.
You should also set yourself up properly to avoid worst-case scenarios. For example, you can create a Steam developer account with your normal account. However, if you get caught in a ban wave, you’ll lose access to your games as well, causing a serious problem. Always use a separate email for your developer accounts to avoid these kinds of problems.
When you’re confident your app is ready, you can submit it for approval. Before you do, check the app stores’ terms of service and app policies.
Decide how much effort you want to put in
This one seems silly, but it’s one of the most important. People who give their apps away for free don’t have the same expectations from users as someone who sells their apps for money. Selling your app for money means you’ll be expected to maintain it, fix bugs, add features, and continually improve the app. After all, it is now a product with a revenue stream, and products with revenue streams rarely retain a user base if they make no upward movement.
Sharing your app for free is much easier. There is virtually no expectation for upgrades or bug fixes, although you may still get requests for updates. You should also prepare for some negative feedback, as developing apps with AI seems to bring out the worst kinds of critics. Before you do anything else, decide how much of your time you want to dedicate to the app going forward.
Mashable Light Speed
Know when to clean up and ship
Vibe coding is addictive in the same way that mobile games are. You get that quick dopamine drip by asking the AI to add something, and immediately watching it add the thing. Then, you think of another feature, and it adds that too. What was once a day or two of polish and adding a few extra features turns into weeks of getting stuck in the weeds with various additions to the project (a phenomenon called feature creep). You have to stop coding and start using the app at some point. Remember: You can always add more updates later.
When you do decide the app is ready, don’t forget about documentation. A lot of your ideas probably live in your chat logs and in your head, and when you come back to a project after a couple of weeks of not working on it, you may have forgotten how each element works. So, once your app is complete, go through and document everything. If you do, you’ll be much more ready to find a broken module and fix it that much faster.
Begin market research for your app
If you do decide to monetize your new app, your work is cut out for you. You can easily find in-depth guides and videos with tips on selling your app, but you’ll want to do some market research first, including your target demographics, competitor apps, and the price you should charge. One common piece of advice is to go to related subreddits and ask people to test out your app, tell you how much they’d pay for it, and give feedback. Any advantage over existing products is a plus.
Luckily, the same AI tools that helped you build your app can also help you draft a business plan, write marketing copy, and come up with a logo.
Shape up your design
The app works, and that’s great, but does it look good? That’s a question you should answer. There are tons of vibe coded apps on the Internet that work fine but look like something you’d see in a programming class in 2015. Spend some time refining your UI and making sure all the functions are logically placed where the user expects them to be. If the overall flow doesn’t make sense, your users will quickly get frustrated and head for the exit.
This is especially important if you want your AI vibe coding project to live on a website. Poorly designed websites can chase people away, either because they look bad, don’t work properly, or both. Once you have your UI built, whether it’s on a website or in an app, test it to make sure it works as expected. You’ll be glad you did when you don’t get flooded with criticism over a small, accidentally overlooked mistake.
Be patient
Everything above takes time to do. Shipping an app, making it better, creating a UX that people actually want to use and pay for, and getting out into the world are all monumental tasks for first-timers. It’s important to go into these tasks with a realistic mindset. While vibe coding tools are getting a lot better, you can’t simply select same-day shipping like you would when buying headphones online. It takes time to create a functioning product that is available on an app store, generates revenue, and has a user base.
You will have setbacks and get stuck on obstacles. It’s all part of the coding process, whether you’re writing code by hand or creating an app with vibes. You can do a lot of amazing things as a vibe coder, but AI tools can’t turn your app into a finished consumer product, at least not yet.
Have fun with it
Creating a mobile app is a process that used to require years of school, practice, and specialized expertise. The fact that your favorite AI chatbot can now help you whip up a custom app in minutes is incredibly cool. While researching this article, I found many examples of full-stack developers with well over a decade of experience who now use Vibe Coding. Often, these professionals use an AI coding agent to create the groundwork, and then they go to clean up the code afterward with their experience and skill.
Remember to take a moment to appreciate the fact that you talked to a robot — and the robot built an app for you. Modern technology is incredible like that. If all you need is an app for personal use, you don’t even have to do any of the stuff I described if you don’t want to. But, if you’re looking to make this a career or side hustle, then your work is just getting started.
Topics
Artificial Intelligence
