of brush tracker Create an app in 3 days with none expertise with Swift, the first programming language for iOS improvement. I’ve a totally useful app on the App Retailer, however I nonetheless have little or no Swift data as I used “vibe coding” to develop this app.
On this article, we describe the method and the AI instruments we used, and share a few of our learnings and insights.
Something as a stunning various
I used to make use of Lovable for internet software improvement, nevertheless it would not appear to be an possibility for cellular software improvement, not less than for now.
There are alternate options to Lovable for app improvement. I not too long ago got here throughout a instrument referred to as Something. I had such a superb expertise with Lovable that I made a decision to provide it a attempt for app improvement. It appeared to work effectively at first, however the general expertise wasn’t as environment friendly as I anticipated.
The toughest half was not with the ability to take a look at modifications, fixes, and enhancements immediately. Each product has a built-in UI for testing, however the expertise wasn’t very clean. It additionally tells you to check your code via the Expo app, which additionally did not work for me.
Let me let you know, I had no expertise in app improvement. Should you’re a developer or have some coding expertise, Something can in all probability be a extra productive instrument than I used to be.
I attempted exporting the code from Something and testing it in Xcode on my Mac, however I obtained lots of errors and could not get it to work. So I made a decision to make use of an alternate. Cursors appeared like the plain selection.
cursor
I’ve heard superb issues about Cursor from lots of my pals who actively use it. I wished to attempt it myself.
I used the identical immediate in Cursor and requested it to construct the app. Subsequent, I created an XCode venture utilizing the folders and information generated by Cursor. I began the simulator in XCode and it labored on the primary attempt.
The purpose of Brush Tracker is that will help you keep constant together with your each day brushing routine. You’ll obtain a cleanliness rating beginning at 100%. Should you slack off for a day, your rating will drop and your tooth on the app will begin to look a bit yellowish to match your cleanliness rating.
Notice: All photos used on this article embrace screenshots from my app, Brush Tracker.
The primary model included solely the principle options of the app. I consider that is probably the most environment friendly method to construct merchandise utilizing AI-based instruments. Get your first model up and operating earlier than including options.
To check the app’s core performance within the simulator, I needed to change the date within the simulator with out finishing “At this time’s Brushing” to see if the cleanliness rating decreased and the tooth visualization up to date as anticipated.
Cursor prompt altering the date within the XCode simulator, however the simulator would not have date and time settings. Older variations of the XCode simulator had this setting, nevertheless it now not exists.
The workaround was to alter the date on my Mac. This fashion the date on the simulator was additionally modified and I used to be in a position to take a look at the performance.
One factor I observed was that after I modified the date on my Mac, Cursor did not acknowledge my account and stopped working. After I set the date again to computerized, issues went again to regular.
Timer perform
The built-in brushing timer felt like an awesome addition to Brush Tracker. Customers can merely mark their brushing session as full or use a timer whereas brushing.
It took me a number of tries to get this function to work as I imagined. You possibly can inform the Cursor so as to add performance, nevertheless it works higher when you tailor the immediate to explain precisely what you need. Cursors often do an awesome job when you give them clear directions.
Reward perform
We wished so as to add an additional layer of motivation when customers full their each day tooth brushing routine. As soon as your session is full, faucet “Get a Every day Reward” and a brief motivational quote will seem. It is a small factor, nevertheless it’s a superb reminder of your dental well being.
Be taught whereas really doing vibe coding
Cursors are helpful not just for writing code, but in addition for studying. After I tried so as to add the rewards function, the implementation wasn’t right at first. It wasn’t working correctly.
After I defined the issue to Cursor, it defined each the reason for the issue and how you can repair it. Listed here are two examples of how Cursors may also help you alongside your studying journey.
The issue is that the rewardQuote is empty on the primary faucet as a result of it’s set by handleRewardTap(), however the sheet seems instantly. Earlier than you’ll be able to view the sheet, you’ll want to make it possible for the estimate is ready up.
Fastened situation! The problem was that showReward = true was set instantly after rewardQuote, however the presentation of the sheet in SwiftUI might happen earlier than the state replace was absolutely processed.
Use cursors extra effectively
Cursors are nice instruments, however there are methods to make them extra environment friendly.
Let’s assume that your code fails or would not execute accurately. If you realize the problematic half, please spotlight it and add it to the chat. This can positively make it simpler for Cursor to repair the issue.
I am having hassle establishing notifications in Brush Tracker. I outlined the issue and requested Cursor to repair it. The cursor stated it was fastened, however the issue nonetheless exists. I then recognized the code modifications that had been inflicting the issue and added that half to the chat.
Cursor fastened it on the following attempt. The issue is that onTapGesture is utilized to the picker, however in SwiftUI, segmented pickers have their very own inner gesture dealing with, so they do not all the time reply correctly to faucet gestures. The onChange modifier is just triggered when the choice really modifications, not when the identical worth is tapped.
One other factor value mentioning is the “context of use” ratio in Cursor. It routinely captures the related context out of your codebase, so you do not have to specify which information to reference. Nonetheless, chat historical past can also be included in that context and should comprise previous points or irrelevant code.
The additional litter can improve token utilization and cut back Cursor effectivity. Clear chat historical past when the proportion of used context will increase.
Distribute your app on the App Retailer
As soon as you’ve got completed testing your app utilizing a simulator or a bodily system (corresponding to your iPhone), you’ll be able to distribute your app on the App Retailer so others can view (and ideally use) your app.
It is not an advanced course of, however there are lots of particulars and it may be time-consuming, particularly when you’re doing it for the primary time. I discovered it video YouTube offers an easy-to-follow step-by-step information to the whole course of.
After finishing all steps, you submitted your app for evaluate. As soon as accepted, you may obtain an e-mail from App Retailer Join letting you realize it is prepared for distribution.
I want to level out that I’ve nothing to do with the AI instruments talked about on this article.
Thanks for studying! You possibly can test it out brush tracker Within the App Retailer. Should you attempt it out and provides us your suggestions, we might love to listen to from you.
