How vibe coding app Anything is rebuilding after getting booted from the App Store twice

Apple has intensified its scrutiny of vibe coding applications, leading to the removal and stalled updates of several apps from the App Store, including Anything. This situation has prompted the company to explore alternative solutions, such as developing a desktop version of its service to facilitate mobile app creation. Dhruv Amin, co-founder of Anything, shared insights with TechCrunch about the challenges faced since the app's removal on March 26. Despite a temporary reinstatement, the app has struggled to gain approval from Apple. "It’s been a long saga. We built a mobile app primarily to let our users preview their iOS apps on their devices during development. We had no issues until December; however, after that, our updates faced significant hurdles," Amin explained. According to Apple, the app's removal was linked to clause 2.5.2 of their developer agreement, which prohibits apps from downloading, installing, or executing any code. The company communicated concerns about the potential for users to create harmful applications that could bypass Apple's review process. In a communication shared by Anything, Apple stated, "The app markets itself as a mobile app builder for iPhone, promoting features like one-tap App Store submissions and full source code editing." After a brief restoration on April 3, Anything's app was once again removed, with Apple asserting that it could not position itself as an app creator. In light of these ongoing challenges, Anything is pivoting its strategy. Recently, they introduced a feature allowing users to develop apps on the iMessage platform. Additionally, Amin mentioned plans for a desktop companion app that will enable users to create mobile apps from their computers, and they are considering the more open Android ecosystem for future development. The discourse around Apple's restrictive policies has attracted attention from industry leaders, including Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, who criticized Apple’s stance on development tools. He urged Apple to cease these practices, which he believes contradict the foundational principles laid out by Steve Wozniak regarding user empowerment in software creation. Amidst these developments, The Information reported a significant uptick in app submissions, attributed to AI-driven coding tools, which may prompt Apple to rethink its human-led review processes. As AI technology matures, consumers are likely to demand more freedom in app creation on platforms like Apple’s, potentially reshaping the landscape of mobile development.