How To Vibe Code Your First Iphone App With Ai - No Experience Necessary

22 hours ago

How to vibe codification your first iPhone app pinch AI

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

You request a Mac, Xcode, and a connected AI model.
Start tiny, build confidence, past grow your project.
AI coding useful champion erstwhile you springiness clear, circumstantial intent.

So you want to create your ain iPhone app, instrumentality it connected nan App Store, make a cardinal dollars, and discontinue to Maui? Well, really astir if I conscionable thief you pinch nan first part, and we spot really it goes?

After all, creating a hugely successful app takes a batch much than conscionable coding. It involves infrastructure, marketing, vision, capitalization, squad composition, and conscionable plain luck. All of that's connected you.

But successful this article, I'll show you really to usage an AI to make your very first, very, very basal iPhone app. We're going to do it measurement by step, screenshot by screenshot, truthful each you person to do is travel along.

Also: The champion free AI for coding successful 2025 - only 3 make nan trim now

So spell up and slap connected immoderate tunes, and let's get started. Right now, I'm listening to Antti Martikainen connected Spotify.

Let's meet your devices

The main instrumentality you'll beryllium utilizing is Xcode. Xcode is simply a development environment, different known arsenic an IDE (the "I" is for interactive). An IDE is your moving abstraction while coding.

If you've utilized Photoshop, you cognize it centers astir photograph editing, but it has a full bunch of devices and views, each successful 1 program. If you've utilized Adobe Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, aliases Final Cut Pro, you cognize that they each person a wide scope of video editing tools, each wrong 1 program.

Also: Why I'm switching to VS Code - it's each astir AI instrumentality integration

An IDE is for illustration that, isolated from for programming. Most IDEs incorporate a matter editor, a record browser, a debugger (used to find errors), a assortment of root guidance tools, information guidance tools, and more. They besides "build" nan app erstwhile you're ready.

Actually, let's talk astir building nan app pinch different analogy, nan kitchen. Now, I'll admit that passim my 30s, my superior usage of nan room was to shop and microwave leftovers. There were full appliances (the point that made pans basking and did baking was among those that went unused).

But I'm a large boy now, and I understand that there's a process called "cooking" that involves much than taking a edifice package and tossing it into nan zapper. In fact, nan prep activity progressive pinch cooking -- from choosing nan look to cutting up nan veg and combining ingredients -- is each done earlier filling a skillet aliases a baking cookware and applying heat.

In Xcode, you request to get your ingredients together, too. Those see blocks of code, settings for apps, and various assets (like icons). Most of nan processing will beryllium nan creating and gathering of these tools. Then, erstwhile you're ready, you'll show Xcode to build your app, which is erstwhile it applies nan heat, taking each your components and turning them into thing magical moving connected your phone.

In summation to Xcode, you'll beryllium utilizing an AI ample connection model. Apple's ain exemplary is disposable for Xcode. That said, you'll astir apt do amended pinch a much broad instrumentality for illustration ChatGPT aliases Claude Code, because some person extended coding abilities built in. In this article, we'll usage Claude Code, but you tin make different choices if you want.

What's each this cost?

Xcode is free. You do request a Mac. All you request to do to get Xcode onto that Mac is to unfastened nan App Store app connected your machine, hunt for Xcode, and download it.

Depending connected what you scheme to do pinch your app, you whitethorn request a rank successful Apple's Developer Program, which costs $99 per year. If you scheme connected trading aliases distributing your app, a Developer Program rank is simply a must.

You'll besides request it if you usage definite features successful your app. For example, I'm processing an app that scans NFC tags and takes photos. Both of those characteristic sets are only disposable pinch a Developer Program entitlement.

Also: What is AI vibe coding? It's each nan rage, but it's not for everyone - here's why

If you're readying connected utilizing an AI to "vibe code" your app, you'll request a ample connection model. So far, Apple's ain AI models are meh. I'd counsel you to take betwixt ChatGPT and Claude.

(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, ZDNET's genitor company, revenge an April 2025 suit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights successful training and operating its AI systems.)

Both are good. Both person very basal free versions. But nan truth is, you won't get very acold without spending immoderate money. Both commencement astatine $20 per month. If you're not doing excessively overmuch coding, that will activity for you. You'll get astir 5 hours of changeless coding activity done earlier they inquire you to return a time-out.

Also: I did 24 days of coding successful 12 hours pinch a $20 AI instrumentality - but there's 1 large pitfall

If you're conscionable dabbling, aliases you're going existent slow, that should do you. But if you're powering done a project, you'll astir apt request to upgrade to nan $200 per period Pro mode for ChatGPT aliases nan $100 aliases $200 Max modes for Claude Code.

Also: I sewage 4 years of merchandise improvement done successful 4 days for $200, and I'm still stunned

Don't worry, though. For this intro, you won't request to walk overmuch astatine all.

Install Xcode

Once you download Xcode, click to motorboat it. At this point, you'll beryllium fixed nan action to instal Xcode components. You'll spot this screen.

Since we're building an iOS app, make judge that's checked. I added nan Apple Watch components because I mightiness want to make a Watch type of my app. It's not very big, truthful you mightiness arsenic good spell for it.

Make judge you cheque "Predictive Code Completion Model," because that will nett you Apple's Code Intelligence features.

Click Download & Install, and past spell get your basking beverage of choice. Right now, I'm sipping Kirkland Pacific Bold, which is helping maine enactment alert while writing.

Connect your AI

First, make judge you person a ChatGPT aliases Claude account. Once that's group up, move backmost to Xcode. Choose Settings nether nan Xcode menu, and past take nan Intelligence tab.

Code Intelligence is group up to easy configure either ChatGPT aliases Claude, but you tin adhd different models via nan Add a Model Provider button. That takes much fiddling, truthful we'll conscionable link Claude.

Also: I sewage 4 years of merchandise improvement done successful 4 days for $200, and I'm still stunned

By nan way, either ChatGPT aliases Claude will do for this. I'm utilizing Claude present because I've antecedently talked a batch astir ChatGPT coding successful ZDNET and want to springiness Claude immoderate attention, too.

Go up and click nan Claude successful Xcode button, and you'll beryllium taken to an authorization screen. A akin surface will beryllium presented for ChatGPT. Click Authorize.

You tin really authorize much than 1 AI successful Xcode, but only 1 tin beryllium progressive astatine a time. To take which 1 is active, click nan toggle fastener for nan 1 you want to enable. Here, I've enabled Claude.

Let's commencement making an app

Okay, it's clip to make our first app. Now, don't get excessively excited. We're going to make a very elemental app. But it will beryllium you tin make an app that runs. Besides, going from perfectly thing each nan measurement to installing an app connected your telephone is rather a large accomplishment.

When you motorboat Xcode and it's not already successful a project, you'll spot this dialog. Choose New Project.

If you don't spot that screen, aliases you accidentally closed it, conscionable move connected to nan adjacent step. Selecting New → New Project from nan File paper will besides get you to nan task template screen.

Make judge iOS is chosen arsenic your level (at 1) and App is chosen (at 2). Then click Next.

You'll beryllium asked to sanction your project. Mine is called Filamentory, for "filament inventory." I want to build thing that tracks my 3D printer filament, but nan aforesaid benignant of task could beryllium utilized for your wardrobe, book collection, euphony collection, knitting patterns, expanse music, yarn stash, cloth stash, hobby management, exemplary kits, LEGO sets, photograph management, spare parts, and more.

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Don't get excessively excited, though. In this article, each we're going to do is get it to opportunity hello. But I needed to springiness it a sanction to show you what to do. I'll beryllium digging successful later to create nan filament inventory app utilizing AI. Stay tuned, because I'll person much to opportunity astir it successful early articles.

Take a look astatine nan supra screen. There's nan "Filamentory" name. Let's skip nan squad and statement identifier for a minute. After that is nan Interface and Language. We'll beryllium utilizing Apple's Swift for both, since that's a very communal and powerful connection designed by Apple for processing apps successful nan Apple ecosystem. Go up and prime Swift and SwiftUI.

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Now let's spell backmost and look astatine Team. To do so, return a look astatine this screenshot.

This is wherever your developer relationship specifications would spell if you signed up for a $99 per twelvemonth developer programme entitlement. But for now, you tin conscionable usage your Apple account. Go up and click Add Account. In nan popup, click Add Apple Account. That should get you going.

Click Next.

Let's build our app for nan first clip

Xcode will past unfastened up into its editing environment. This is wherever nan magic happens. It tin beryllium overwhelming, truthful we'll conscionable attraction connected a fewer things first.

There are 3 panes visible. On nan near is simply a pane that lets you spot your record structure. There's a batch much you tin do here, but we'll conscionable mention record building for now. The mediate pane is code. It's wherever programmers constitute programs. The acold correct is nan UI constituent browser, wherever nan UI tin beryllium seen.

Notice nan greenish arrow pointing to a right-pointing triangle. This is nan Build button. When you click it, Xcode builds your app.

This template app is very simple. All it does is show an icon and nan words "Hello, world." But that intends a batch is happening. To effort it out, deed nan Build button.

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Here, you've sewage a batch much going on. The mini iPhone is nan personification interface area, utilized to thief specify your UI. The large iPhone is nan iPhone simulator, which is fundamentally a virtual iPhone moving your app connected your computer. Until you commencement utilizing hardware-specific features (like nan camera), nan simulator is simply a awesome measurement to go.

Also, arsenic you tin see, nan app is running, showing a globe and "Hello, world," corresponding to nan codification successful nan 2nd pane.

Click nan simulator paper barroom (at 1) and nan reddish adjacent fastener (not shown, but you cognize what a reddish adjacent fastener is). Then click nan achromatic quadrate (at 2) to extremity nan app from moving successful Xcode.

Time to consciousness nan vibes

You tin usage Apple's Code Intelligence correct from wrong Xcode. When you do, Xcode will talk to Claude (or ChatGPT, if you chose that binding) to modify codification successful Xcode and past tally it.

To do this, deed nan AI prima fastener (at 1). This changes nan near pane from a record browser to an AI chatbot interface.

As impervious of concept, we're going to springiness nan app immoderate insignificant interactive capabilities. When nan app is running, we want it to toggle betwixt "Hello, world" and "Hello, David." So, successful nan chat section (at 2), type:

Add a fastener that, erstwhile clicked, toggles betwixt "Hello, world!" and "Hello, David!" Make judge it checks nan existent authorities and changes to nan alternate state.

I guess, if you really had to, you could usage your ain sanction alternatively of David. Look astatine those 2 instructions. The first describes nan intent (make a fastener and make nan fastener toggle).

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But nan 2nd condemnation is wherever reasoning for illustration a programmer tin boost your success. We can't presume that nan connection displayed is going to beryllium known to nan code. So nan champion measurement to make it activity is to first ascertain what nan existent authorities is ("Hello, world" aliases "Hello, David") and past activity from that.

Hitting Return astatine nan extremity of nan punctual sends nan AI connected its way.

The AI has coded

Now, let's look astatine nan result. The leftmost pane shows nan AI discussing nan alteration and really it works. The mediate pane shows much code. On apical of nan correct pane, you tin spot nan simulator, which is showing nan matter fastener "Toggle Greeting" and 1 of nan matter toggle versions.

If you're curious, you tin look astatine nan generated code. The AI generated a bunch of lines of code, but nan halfway codification that does nan toggling is this line:

Text (isWorldGreeting ? "Hello, world!" : "Hello, David!")

The matter displayed is group to nan worth wrong nan parentheses. The ? : format is called nan "conditional operator." Basically, if nan worth to nan near of nan parenthesis (isWorldGreeting) is true, nan worth to nan near of nan colon is returned (in this case, "Hello, world!"). If nan worth of isWorldGreeting is false, nan worth to nan correct of nan colon is returned ("Hello, David!").

Also: Bad vibes: How an AI supplier coded its measurement to disaster

With this 1 command, nan AI took a 24-line programme and added six lines. Sometimes nan AI will alteration a statement aliases two; different times, it will alteration aliases adhd hundreds of lines. It really depends connected what you inquire it to do. In summation to getting nan AI to thief create nan app, you tin often look astatine nan codification nan AI generates to study really it does definite tasks.

Sending to an existent iPhone

If you want to tally your app connected a existent iPhone, nan process is beautiful overmuch identical. You request a USB cablegram to link your iPhone to your Mac. As agelong arsenic your telephone shows up successful nan Locations sidebar successful your Finder (shown astatine 1), you're good.

At nan apical of nan Xcode surface is simply a small action area (shown astatine 2). For nan simulator, we utilized a virtual iPhone 17 Pro. But if you toggle that to your existent iPhone (as I did pinch nan iPhone 16 Pro Max), erstwhile you deed Build, Xcode will nonstop nan app to your existent iPhone, instal it, and unfastened it.

Have fun!

We've travel a agelong measurement successful this article, from nary programming astatine each to creating our very first iPhone app utilizing AI coding. Have nosy pinch it. Make worldly that's cool. We'll beryllium backmost pinch much thoughts connected AI programming successful early articles.

Also: What Bill Gates really said astir AI replacing coding jobs

Have you tried utilizing an AI adjunct wrong Xcode aliases different IDE to thief constitute code, aliases are you still relying connected accepted methods? Do you deliberation devices for illustration this make learning programming much accessible, aliases do they consequence hiding excessively overmuch of nan halfway knowledge? If you've experimented pinch AI-assisted app building, what worked good and what didn't? Let america cognize successful nan comments below.

You tin travel my day-to-day task updates connected societal media. Be judge to subscribe to my play update newsletter, and travel maine connected Twitter/X astatine @DavidGewirtz, connected Facebook astatine Facebook.com/DavidGewirtz, connected Instagram astatine Instagram.com/DavidGewirtz, connected Bluesky astatine @DavidGewirtz.com, and connected YouTube astatine YouTube.com/DavidGewirtzTV.