How vibe coding app Anything is rebuilding after getting booted from the App Store twice
Apple removed the Anything app citing a developer clause that prevents code execution.
Apple has taken a hard line against 'vibe coding' apps, blocking updates for Replit and Vibecode and completely removing the app 'Anything' from the App Store twice. The removals, based on App Store guideline 2.5.2 which forbids apps from downloading, installing, or executing code, have sparked a public battle. Anything's co-founder, Dhruv Amin, detailed a months-long saga where the company attempted private resolution through emails, calls, appeals, and four technical rewrites to comply with Apple's demands. Apple's stated concern is that the app, which markets itself as a mobile app builder for iPhone, could be used to download malicious code or create harmful apps that users might mistakenly believe passed Apple's review.
Following its removal on March 26th and a brief, unsuccessful reinstatement, Anything is now forced to rebuild its strategy. The company is pivoting away from a direct iOS app, instead launching features to let users build apps via the iMessage platform and developing a desktop companion app for 'vibe coding' mobile apps on a computer. Amin also indicated the company may shift focus to Google's more open Android platform. The conflict has drawn criticism from industry figures like Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, who called Apple's blocking of development tools 'abhorrent.' This clash occurs as AI-powered coding tools drive an 84% quarterly jump in App Store submissions, potentially pressuring Apple's review processes and raising consumer demand for personal app creation tools.
- Apple removed the 'Anything' app twice citing guideline 2.5.2, which blocks code execution, over fears of malicious use.
- The company attempted four technical rewrites and private appeals before Apple stated the app couldn't market itself as an app maker.
- Anything is now pivoting to a desktop version and iMessage platform, and may target Android, following the standoff.
Why It Matters
This clash tests Apple's walled garden against the rise of AI-powered, user-friendly development tools, setting a precedent for future coding platforms.