Replit Launches iOS App Creation via Natural Language Coding

Replit has launched Mobile Apps on Replit, enabling developers to create and publish iOS applications using natural language prompts. This "vibe-coding" approach integrates Stripe for in-app monetization, marking a significant expansion of Replit's cloud-based development environment.

What's claimed: The feature allows developers to describe app functionality in plain English, with Replit's AI generating corresponding SwiftUI code. The integrated Stripe implementation handles payments without requiring manual API configuration, theoretically enabling rapid mobile app deployment.

What's actually new: While AI-assisted coding isn't novel, Replit's implementation combines three key elements:

1. End-to-end iOS app generation from natural language prompts
2. Built-in monetization via Stripe's payment infrastructure
3. Direct publishing capabilities to Apple's App Store

The system reportedly handles certificate management and App Store Connect integration, automating traditionally complex iOS deployment steps.

Technical limitations: Early documentation suggests constraints:

• Apps appear limited to SwiftUI-based interfaces
• Complex native features (CoreML, ARKit) may require manual implementation
• App Store approval remains unpredictable - Apple's review guidelines for AI-generated apps remain untested
• Generated code quality for edge cases is unverified

Broader context: This launch coincides with reports that Replit is negotiating a $400M funding round at a $9B valuation. The timing suggests investor confidence in democratizing development tools, though it contrasts with Apple's recent multibillion-dollar deal for cloud-based Gemini AI integration - indicating divergent approaches to AI implementation.

Practical implications: While promising for prototypes and simple apps, professional developers will likely still need Xcode for:

• Performance optimization
• Custom native integrations
• Complex state management
• App Store compliance verification

The feature represents incremental progress in AI-assisted development rather than a replacement for traditional tooling. Its success will depend on Apple's tolerance for AI-generated submissions and whether generated code can meet performance expectations beyond basic applications.