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Apple has removed a "vibe coding" app from its App Store, reports The Information. AI app building app "Anything" was pulled from the App Store, and Anything co-founder Dhruv Amin was told that his app violated Guideline 2.5.2.

iOS-App-Store-General-Feature-Black.jpg

"Vibe coding" is a term used for code generated using AI based on natural language with no coding experience necessary. Anything and other apps like it let users create apps, websites, and tools with text-based prompts.

Apple started removing vibe coding apps from the App Store earlier in March, and the company said that certain features in the apps that were pulled violate code execution rules. In a statement to MacRumors, Apple said that there are no specific rules against vibe coding, but the apps have to adhere to longstanding guidelines. Apple specifically mentioned Guideline 2.5.2, which is the rule Anything apparently violated.
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.
"Anything" launched on iOS back in November with no issue, and Amin says the tool has been used to publish thousands of apps in the App Store. The app let users create and preview vibe code apps on the iPhone, and it raised $11 million at a valuation of $100 million back in September.

While Anything was removed from the App Store on March 26, Apple has been blocking updates to the app since December. Amin submitted an update that would allow vibe coded apps to be previewed in a web browser instead of in the app to attempt to comply with the 2.5.2 rule, but Apple blocked the update and pulled the app.

Apple previously blocked iOS updates to Vibecode and Replit, vibe coding apps used to generate other apps.

Update 4/3: Anything has returned to the App Store.

Article Link: Apple Pulls Vibe Coding App 'Anything' From App Store, Escalating Enforcement [Updated]
 
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The problem is Apple forcing these things to go through the App Store.

There should be no problem with generating and running applications on one's own device.

Of course the problem with that is an existential one for Apple, as their entire business depends on siphoning a cut of all applications that run on their platform.

Edit: I'm curious which part of this people are disagreeing with. As usual most people just drive by disagree without saying why.

Is it the local code part, the business model part, or both? I'm genuinely curious and want to hear a different opinion than mine.
 
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The problem is Apple forcing these things to go through the App Store.

There should be no problem with generating and running applications on one's own device.

Of course the problem with that is an existential one for Apple, as their entire business depends on siphoning a cut of all applications that run on their platform.
One’s own device. 🙂 I’ve yet to meet anyone that’s designed and shipped their own devices, but for those that do, they don’t have to worry about Apple or Apple’s App Store or any Apps coded to run on Apple’s devices. Not sure how that factors in when a device is shipped by Apple with an OS designed by Apple.
 
You've never been allowed to dynamically change an app at runtime after it's been reviewed, it's part of ensuring quality. These apps just need to work around their flows and reframe things as an interactive preview in a web view or something and I'm sure it'll be fine.
 
One’s own device. 🙂 I’ve yet to meet anyone that’s designed and shipped their own devices, but for those that do, they don’t have to worry about Apple or Apple’s App Store or any Apps coded to run on Apple’s devices. Not sure how that factors in when a device is shipped by Apple with an OS designed by Apple.
When you buy a home, you can put any furniture in it you like, remodel its interior however you like, and so on. You don't have to have architected it for it to be your own home.
 
It'd be great if Apple enforced the App Store rules consistently across all developers/apps, instead of turning a blind eye to the CSAM generating apps of X and Grok.
 
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I don't understand much in this article, but I'd like to! I had never heard of vibe coding until I read this article. Can someone help explain in lay terms the problem with vibe coded apps?
 
When you buy a home, you can put any furniture in it you like, remodel its interior however you like, and so on. You don't have to have architected it for it to be your own home.
You do if you sign an agreement when you purchase the house saying that you won't remodel the interior. You agree to play by the rules when you buy that house, or you don't buy the house. The same thing, right?
 
This has inspired me. I am going to vibe code an app called something. After that gets pulled, I am going to vibe code another app called nothing. The memes will flow.

Imagine big tech hyping A.I. and then acting like you did something wrong when you use A.I. to make something. 🤦
 
The problem is Apple forcing these things to go through the App Store.

There should be no problem with generating and running applications on one's own device.

Of course the problem with that is an existential one for Apple, as their entire business depends on siphoning a cut of all applications that run on their platform.
One’s own device. 🙂 I’ve yet to meet anyone that’s designed and shipped their own devices, but for those that do, they don’t have to worry about Apple or Apple’s App Store or any Apps coded to run on Apple’s devices. Not sure how that factors in when a device is shipped by Apple with an OS designed by Apple.
My Mac is a device that was shipped by Apple and cames with an OS (macOS 15) that was designed by Apple.

Apple doesn't force me to go through their App Store to get apps.
 
When you buy a home, you can put any furniture in it you like, remodel its interior however you like, and so on. You don't have to have architected it for it to be your own home.
Thank you. I love this way of putting it. I don’t understand why so many act like they buy the house but the builder gets to decide what goes in it. They even decide if your own kids get to go into the house as you can’t write your own software and just put it onto your devices. They actually have to be provisioned by Apple.


Again, Apple is selling these for profit not at a loss. There should be no expectation for them to get any further revenue from you once they sell you the device.

It’s not it works for Macs, Windows, Linux, Android.
 
Apple could be Sherlocking these apps... AI assisted custom apps/shortcuts directly in iOS 27 I could see, especially is the New Siri is going to have a feature like Claude Cowork, it could just build you simple sandboxed swift UI apps to customize the way you do tasks.
 
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Apple could be Sherlocking these apps... AI assisted custom apps/shortcuts directly in iOS 27 I could see, especially is the New Siri is going to have a feature like Claude Cowork, it could just build you simple sandboxed swift UI apps to customize the way you do tasks.
iPadOS gets playgrounds but that’s it. You can run scripting languages as well just not compiled or JIT we wouldn’t want performance to be good. 😊
 
Thank you. I love this way of putting it. I don’t understand why so many act like they buy the house but the builder gets to decide what goes in it. They even decide if your own kids get to go into the house as you can’t write your own software and just put it onto your devices. They actually have to be provisioned by Apple.


Again, Apple is selling these for profit not at a loss. There should be no expectation for them to get any further revenue from you once they sell you the device.

It’s not it works for Macs, Windows, Linux, Android.
That whole house/builder thing is real. It's too much of bother for them to actually make mods on the fly. If you are ever fortunate to be in a position to buy new on some tract, it would be great if they would just f'ink ask you "uh, would you like to upgrade all the plumbing to burst-proof 30-year materials vs. the crap pvc/vinyl hoses and crap valves we use?" Sorta like, "would you like the upgraded iPhone with an -easily- user-replaceable battery?"
 
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