Apple pushing back on ‘vibe coding’ iPhone apps, developers say [U]

Updated with Apple’s statement to 9to5Mac after the story.

AI is making app development easier than ever. However, a new report claims Apple’s App Store isn’t fully embracing these new tools. Companies behind two “vibe coding” apps that let you create tools by entering text prompts into an AI system say Apple is pushing back on the category.

Stephanie Palazzolo and Aaron Tilley, reporting for The Information:

Apple has quietly prevented AI vibe coding apps such as Replit and Vibecode, which help people create games and other applications, from releasing updates to their mobile apps on the App Store unless they make modifications, according to several people with knowledge of the situation.

9to5Mac has covered Mobile Apps by Replit for iPhone recently. The app technically supports building software that can be submitted to the App Store.

The Information includes Apple’s position, which cites existing App Store rules and not a new policy:

The company confirmed it has told some app developers that the vibe coding capabilities violate longstanding App Store rules that say an app can’t run code that changes the way it or other apps function. Apple’s crackdown is happening at a time when vibe coding apps are emerging as a potential threat to the company by helping developers create web apps that aren’t listed on its App Store, a key source of revenue and profits for Apple.

The report goes on to say that vibe coding apps may need to either pull back on some features or change how vibe coded apps are previewed after being created.

The challenge with vibe coding apps and App Store policy is straightforward. Apple doesn’t allow apps to change how they function after passing through the App Store review process.

Vibe coding apps essentially allow these apps to become something completely different. Still, the new app isn’t being actually being distributed by the App Store. It’s just running on the user’s device.

Apple points to App Store Guideline 2.5.2, which reads as follows:

Apps should be self-contained in their bundles, and may not read or write data outside the designated container area, nor may they download, install, or execute code which introduces or changes features or functionality of the app, including other apps. Educational apps designed to teach, develop, or allow students to test executable code may, in limited circumstances, download code provided that such code is not used for other purposes. Such apps must make the source code provided by the app completely viewable and editable by the user.

According to The Information, the fix for at least one of these apps may be simple. It can likely generate app previews in a browser and not inside the vibe coding app itself. You can read The Information report in full here.

Separately, Apple has embraced “vibe coding” technology with its Xcode development environment. Apple recently add support for integration with OpenAI and Anthropic agentic coding tools.

Update: Apple says it doesn’t have any App Store rules specifically against vibe coding apps. In addition to the App Store Guideline cited above, the company also points to section 3.3.1(B) of the Developer Program License, which reads as follows:

“Interpreted code may be downloaded to an Application but only so long as such code: (a) does not change the primary purpose of the Application by providing features or functionality that are inconsistent with the intended and advertised purpose of the Application.”

Apple also says it has maintained consistent communication with the app developers, explaining guideline violations and how to be in compliance, including over three phone conversations in two months.