The rise of ‘micro’ apps: non-developers are writing apps instead of buying them

Rebecca Yu recently completed her dining app in just seven days, driven by her frustration with indecisive group chats about where to eat. With the help of AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT, she took the plunge to create a solution tailored to her circle of friends. "Once vibe-coding apps became popular, I heard stories of non-technical individuals successfully crafting their own applications," Yu shared. This led her to develop Where2Eat, a web app that suggests dining options based on shared preferences. Yu is part of a burgeoning movement where advancements in AI are enabling users without programming backgrounds to create personal apps with ease. While most of these creations are web-based, there’s a growing trend of mobile apps designed for individual use. Some aspiring developers, already registered with Apple, keep their apps in beta on platforms like TestFlight. These creations are often categorized as micro apps or fleeting apps, intended for limited use by the creator and a select few, rather than for public distribution. For instance, entrepreneur Jordi Amat crafted a temporary gaming app for family entertainment during the holidays, which he promptly deactivated after the season ended. Similarly, Shamillah Bankiya, a partner at Dawn Capital, is working on a podcast translation app for her personal use. Former TechCrunch writer Darrell Etherington has also ventured into building a podcast translation tool of his own. "Many people I know are utilizing platforms like Claude Code, Replit, and Lovable to address specific needs through app creation," Etherington noted. The trend underscores the rise of micro apps that cater to niche demands and often vanish once they’re no longer needed. Howard University computer science professor Legand L. Burge III likens this to fleeting social media trends. Yu has six more app ideas in mind, expressing excitement about the current landscape. Previously, creating web apps was accessible through no-code platforms like Bubble and Adalo, but today, the capability to build personal mobile apps is gaining traction. Mobile micro apps face their own challenges, primarily due to the traditional App Store model, which requires a paid developer account for iPhone apps. However, startups such as Anything and VibeCode are emerging to facilitate the mobile app creation process. Bain Capital Ventures partner Christina Melas-Kyriazi compares this app-building revolution to the early days of social media and e-commerce, where content creation became democratized and led to an explosion of small businesses. While the ease of building apps is appealing, challenges remain. Yu remarked that although her dining app was straightforward to build, it was time-consuming. She relied on AI tools to navigate coding challenges efficiently. Furthermore, personal apps may have bugs or security vulnerabilities, making them unsuitable for mass distribution. Nevertheless, the potential for personal app development is vast as AI technologies advance in quality and security. Software engineer James Waugh shared his experience of creating a logging app for a friend with health concerns, emphasizing the personal impact of tailored software solutions. Nick Simpson, another developer, built an app to automate parking ticket payments due to the challenges he faced in San Francisco. This app is currently in beta testing, and interest from friends has already begun to grow. Burge III believes these developments present exhilarating opportunities for creators to design hyper-personalized experiences. Etherington predicts a shift away from subscription-based apps, leading individuals to create their own solutions. Melas-Kyriazi envisions a future where these temporary apps fill the gap between basic tools like spreadsheets and full software products. Media strategist Hollie Krause, dissatisfied with her doctor’s app suggestions, created her own allergy tracking application in a remarkably short time, illustrating the accessibility of app development. She foresees vibe coding fostering innovation and providing solutions for underserved communities. Krause's ambition is to beta-test her app and eventually share it with others, demonstrating her belief in the power of DIY app creation to improve lives.