Apple's walled App Store Garden - Generated by Google Gemini
Apple is reportedly pushing back on allowing App Store updates for popular “vibe coding” apps, such as Replit and Vibecode, unless the apps change some features, The Information reports (paywalled).
“Vibe coding” apps allow users to build apps or websites with little to no programming experience, by using natural language prompts. The tools have become popular among both developers and non-techie types.
Apple told The Information that the vibe coding apps in question include features that break App Store rules prohibiting apps from executing code that alters their own functionality or that of other apps.
While an Apple spokesperson told The Information that the policy is not targeted specifically at vibe coding apps, some sources tell the publication that Apple was now close to approving updates for the Replit and Vibecode apps, but only after the developers agreed to modify how their apps display generated content or if they remove certain capabilities altogether, such as creating apps for Apple platforms.
When vibe coding apps generate an app, they usually display the generated app using an embedded web view. Apple has long objected to moves like this, and is only giving update approval if the apps are changed to open generated apps in an external browser in place of an in-app view.
“A person familiar with the situation” claims that the App Store review team indicated to Vibecode’s developer that the app would likely be approved once the the ability to generate software specifically for Apple devices was removed.
Vibe coding apps are viewed as a potential threat to Apple’s App Store ecosystem, as well as Apple’s Xcode development tools, as vibe apps allow users to build applications that can be released outside of Apple’s app marketplace.