From idea to store publication: a route without a developer

You have an app idea. Maybe a habit tracker with the features you need, or a tool for your niche that doesn't exist in the store. Previously, the next step was obvious: find a developer, negotiate a price, wait several months.

Now this route is not the only one. Vibe-coding tools allow you to go from idea to a live app in the store on your own. This doesn't mean it will be easy. But it does mean it's possible — without hiring a team and without months of programming training.

Below are five specific stages with what to do at each.

Stage 1: A testable idea

Before writing code, test the idea for free. Create a Google Form with a description of the app and ask people from your target audience: would they use this? If 10 out of 20 say 'yes' — move forward.

Stage 2: Building through vibe-coding

Claude Code will create the project structure and main files. You run it through npx expo start, open it on your phone via Expo Go — and see a working prototype. Then iterations: add features, tweak design, fix what's not working.

For the app you plan to publish, use the stack:

• Expo + React Native — one code for iOS and Android
• AsyncStorage or SQLite — local data storage
• Expo Router — navigation between screens
• NativeWind or StyleSheet — styles

Building a simple app takes from one day to a weekend. More complex apps — with multiple screens, authentication, API — take 1-2 weeks of iterations.

Stage 3: Testing before publication

For iOS testing, use TestFlight — up to 10,000 testers. For Android — internal track in Google Play Console.

What to look for:

• Do people understand what to do on first opening — without explanations
• Where do they get stuck or do something unexpected
• Which features do they use immediately, and which do they ignore
• Do they return the next day

Pass the feedback you receive to Claude Code and adjust the app. Most changes based on feedback take from a few minutes to a couple of hours.

Step 4: Publishing in the Store

Ask Claude to write the privacy policy — it’s a mandatory requirement for both stores. Use a simple design for the icon — an overloaded icon is hard to read on the screen.

Step 5: First Users and Promotion

Where to find the first users without an ad budget:

• Reddit — find relevant subreddits, post 'I made X for Y, looking for feedback'
• ProductHunt — launch in your app's category, for free
• Telegram chats — niche-specific communities
• Twitter/X — posts about the creation process gather an audience even during the development stage

After the first 100 users, you’ll have a real picture: who is using it, how often, what they request to add. This is data for the next version.

Route in Numbers

For comparison: the minimum budget for a developer for a similar app is from 150,000 rubles, timeline — 2-4 months. Vibe-coding does not replace a developer in any situation. But for the first version of the product that you want to quickly test — this is a viable route.