CodeWithChris

Think like a developer, don't let AI think for you.

Because when AI coding tools fall short, real-world skills and foundations will be the ones that’ll keep you moving.

And this is exactly what we're teaching inside CWC+. How to solve real-world problems. Debugging. Mastering the fundamentals.

And with our iOS 26 Launch Sale, you get up to $500 off your membership!

Click to learn more: cwc.to/ios26sale

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14 hours ago | [YT] | 10

CodeWithChris

Here are some highlights from my new GitHub tutorial (beginner friendly!) on YT.

I think this is especially relevant in this vibe coding era bc I encounter many people who constantly have to restart their project from scratch.

It doesn't have to be that way!
--
Ever wish your project had a giant undo button?

That’s what source control is. And the best part: you can use it even if you’ve never coded before.

--
Picture this:
- AI breaks your project
- Undo doesn’t work
- Multiple copies scattered across folders (if you even have that..)

Source control is the answer.

--
Source control = snapshots of your project you can roll back to anytime.

Think of it as a time machine for your files.

--
The vault where your project lives is called a "repository" (or repo).

Inside it, you save snapshots (commits).

And you can always restore an old snapshot if things go sideways.

--
GitHub is the online vault.

It’s free, easy to set up, and it keeps your projects:

- Backed up
- Synced across computers
- Ready for collaboration

--
Getting started is simple:

1. Create a free GitHub account
2. Download GitHub Desktop
3. Sign in and create your first repo

--
From there, you can:

- Save commits as you go
- Publish your repo to GitHub for cloud backup
- Revert to older versions when needed

--
You can even create "branches."

Branches are safe copies of your project where you can try new ideas without breaking your main version.

--
If you use source control, you’ll never have to start a project over from scratch again.

Want to see how it works step by step?
Check out my full GitHub tutorial that I just released:
https://youtu.be/v5gnvDUWqFM

2 days ago | [YT] | 19

CodeWithChris

🚨iOS 26 LAUNCH SALE!

Celebrating the announcement of new iPhones, iOS 26, and an AI-oriented future!

But let's talk about AI and coding...

Here’s a harsh truth: vibe coding with AI will leave you stranded when things break. Real developers stay in the driver’s seat, able to figure things out.

Our CWC+ program, now updated with AI coding lessons, teaches you how to leverage AI while building future-proof development foundations.

And with our iOS 26 Launch sale, you get up to $500 off your CWC+ membership!

Offer ends soon, so don’t miss it!

Check out the sale here: cwc.to/ios26sale

2 days ago | [YT] | 12

CodeWithChris

Automate your app idea research with this Zapier workflow.

Paste a keyword into a spreadsheet and get back a preliminary analysis that you can scan in seconds.

🧵 Set it up in 3 steps:

Step 1:
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Find good keywords with your favorite tool. I use Astro.

However, keyword research is only half the battle.

You still need to check: are ranking apps making money, are listings under-optimized, how many ratings, and other signals that you can win.

But doing this by hand is slow. Let's try to automate some of it!

Step 2:
--
Create a Google Sheet with columns keyword, score, explanation.

Step 3:
--
Set up a trigger in Zapier where adding a new keyword kicks off a workflow.

Use the AI step to automatically analyze the keyword and write back the result to the spreadsheet.

The initial score is simple: up to 4 points based on four checks:
• are there apps with ≤100 ratings?
• are there apps not using the keyword in title/subtitle?
• are there recently released apps ranking?
• are there apps generating revenue?

This workflow lets me sift more keywords, faster, then cherry-pick winners for deeper research and prototypes.

I show how to build this workflow in my latest video:
https://youtu.be/WKN0spC_o08

4 days ago | [YT] | 25

CodeWithChris

Here’s how I used AI tools to design a clean app interface and bring it to life inside Cursor.

The problem with most AI design tools?

If you just drop in a generic prompt, you’ll usually get the same "safe" blue-and-white businessy designs.

Not terrible, but also not unique.

The fix:

Combine UX Pilot (AI design generator) with Mobbin (a huge library of real app screenshots).

👉 Mobbin gives you style inspiration
👉 UX Pilot turns that vibe into a new design

Example: I wanted a design for a tip calculator app.

I grabbed a screenshot from the Crypto com app inside Mobbin, then asked AI to describe the design and use that as the style reference in UX Pilot.

The result?

Check out the screenshot for yourself

From there, I could tweak it with simple prompts:
- remove backgrounds
- remove charts
- adjust UI elements

Once the design looked good, I brought it into Cursor.

Cursor can take your screenshot + context (like your SwiftUI ContentView file) and implement the layout directly in code.

Learn to use AI tools to enhance your workflow!

Sometimes it's about combining multiple tools like in this example.

Combine this design workflow with the AI coding workflow earlier in this series and you'll be able to create your app idea easily.

Here's where keyword research comes in.

Find app store search phrases with high demand and low competition, build an app around them, and you’ll start getting organic downloads.

I’ve done this myself.

A handful of simple apps, no big marketing push, but steady growth because they rank for the right keywords.

I demonstrate all these steps in part 5 of my video series on How To Build an App with AI.

If you'd like to dive into more details and follow along, check it out! https://youtu.be/HtuGkTjh6u0

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3 weeks ago | [YT] | 47

CodeWithChris

Ever wondered how to build an iOS app with AI — even if you’ve never coded before?

Here’s my step-by-step process using Cursor to go from idea to app.

There are only TWO steps.

Step 1:
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Create a requirements document. This tells AI exactly what you want.

Include:
- App overview & goals

- User stories (what users can do)

- Features & screens

- Data storage details

- Step-by-step build plan

(I have a prompt to generate this)

Pro tip:
---
Try to flesh out your app idea as much as possible.

If you’re vague, AI will fill in the blanks for you (sometimes with stuff you don’t want). The clearer you are, the closer the build will match your vision.

Step 2:
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Follow the Build → Test → Save method for each build step of the doc.

- Build: Prompt AI to implement the next step.

- Test: Run it in the iOS simulator to make sure it works.

- Save: Use GitHub for source control or make a copy of your project folder.

If you hit an error:
---
- Ask AI in context (share error logs or screenshots)

- Let it guide you through a fix

- Worst case? Roll back to your last good save and try again

Bonus tip:
---
AI results vary.

The same prompt might give you slightly different layouts or features. That’s normal — just adjust the requirements doc and prompt again until it matches what you want.

Result:
---
By the end of this process, you’ll have a functional app built with AI.
AI can’t read your mind — but if you can describe your idea clearly, it can build it for you.

If you’ve been waiting to try building your own app, now’s the time.

Next step? Use AI to design your app and make it look great. That’s what we’ll cover in the next part of this series.

I demonstrate all these steps in part 4 of my video series on How To Build an App with AI here on YT.
If you'd like to dive into more details and follow along, you know where to go ;)

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 67

CodeWithChris

Building an iOS app with AI isn’t just about “telling it what to do.”

You need a setup that makes prompting easier, keeps things organized, and avoids those “oh no, I broke it” moments.

Here’s how I set up my AI dev environment so I can build faster (and safer).

--
First, open your Xcode project in Cursor.

Cursor is your AI coding environment — like VS Code but with AI deeply integrated.

We’re going to:

- Set it up to launch the iOS simulator

- Add rules for how we want AI to code

- Create a file for step-by-step build instructions

The iOS simulator is your “virtual iPhone” for testing apps.

Being able to run it from Cursor lets you can run your app without switching back to Xcode.

It keeps you in flow and saves a surprising amount of time when you’re prompting and testing AI-generated code.

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Add a Cursor Rules file.

This is where you set guidelines for how you want AI to code — file structure, naming conventions, frameworks to use, etc.

Think of it as guardrails so AI writes code the way you like it.

--
Create an Instructions file.

This is where you:

- Write out your app idea

- Break it into small steps

- Have AI build one step at a time

Why? AI does better when you feed it a clear, bite-sized to-do list instead of a massive “build the whole app” prompt.

--
Here’s an easy first AI coding task to try:

In your new project, tell AI to add a button the default label. When tapped, the label’s text changes to something new.

Why?

- It’s simple, so you can quickly see AI’s output

- You learn how to phrase prompts for precise results

- It’s the fastest way to build confidence before moving to bigger features

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When (not if) AI breaks your build, don’t panic.

You have options:

- Ask AI to fix it, giving it the exact error text as context

- Undo changes to before the issue happened

- Revert to a previous checkpoint

--
Pro tip: Learn to recognize common errors. Over time, you’ll be able to fix some of them yourself without waiting for AI.

This skill compounds fast — the more errors you troubleshoot, the better your prompts become.

--
These are some takeaways from Part 3 of my Build an App with AI video series here on YT.

If you want to follow along via video, you know where to go!

1 month ago | [YT] | 85

CodeWithChris

Want to build an iOS app with AI? (Part 2)

Even if the AI is writing your code, there’s still a bit of setup required to get everything running smoothly.

Here’s what you need to get started:

🖥 You’ll need a Mac (for building iPhone apps)
Xcode only runs on macOS—and it’s required to package and submit your app to the App Store.

If you don’t have a Mac:

- Borrow one (friend, school, library)
- Buy refurbished (check Apple’s official refurb store)
- Use a rental service (remote access to a Mac)

💻 You’ll also need two pieces of software:

Xcode – the official Apple tool for building iOS apps

Cursor – an AI-powered code editor with a built-in assistant

Right now, Xcode doesn’t have built-in AI—but that’s changing. Xcode 26 (coming Sept 2025) will include AI features, which will simplify this setup in the future.

🧠 How the workflow looks today:

- Create a new app project in Xcode
- Open the same project in Cursor
- Use Cursor’s AI to generate Swift/SwiftUI code

Return to Xcode to archive and submit to the App Store

⚙️ Cursor Setup Checklist:
Inside Cursor, you’ll want to install:

- Swift Language Support
- SweetPad (lets you run the app from inside Cursor)

You’ll also install a few Homebrew tools:

- Xcode Build Server
- iOS Deploy
- XCBeautify
- Swift Format

These plugins let you run and test iOS apps directly from Cursor.

🤖 What if something breaks?
That’s where the AI assistant shines.
You can copy-paste error messages into the chat and it will help you debug them step by step.

Once you’re set up, you’re ready to start building your app with AI.

--
Btw, this is a summary from part 2 of my video series on How To Build an App with AI.

If you'd like to dive into more details and follow along, check out this playlist:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

1 month ago | [YT] | 72

CodeWithChris

Thinking of using AI to build an app?

It’s a powerful tool—but it’s not the right fit for every project. Here’s when AI works great… and when you might want to be more cautious:

✅ Great use case: You're starting a brand new app from scratch.

AI thrives when there's no legacy code to untangle and you can give it a clean roadmap to follow.

❌ Be cautious if:

- You’re working with an existing project
- Your codebase is large or complex
- You’re integrating with legacy or proprietary systems
- Your app handles sensitive user data

AI tools have a limited context window—meaning they can only “see” a portion of your project at a time.

That makes large, existing apps harder to manage without breaking things or duplicating code.

But for simple, focused apps, AI can help you move incredibly fast.

For example: I was on a walk with my daughter and she spotted a strange bug.

We tried to find an app to identify it, but the good ones were locked behind a subscription.

So… we built our own using AI.
In no time.

That’s the real power here—getting from idea to working prototype quickly, especially if you're not a developer or just starting out.

This is part of my new video series for building apps with AI.

If you want to watch the videos, you know where to go ;)

1 month ago | [YT] | 76

CodeWithChris

I built something just for me (and other parents).
It’s called Daily Parent—a simple, free daily affirmation app.

But this post isn’t about the app. It’s about why I needed it.

For a while, I've felt stuck in a “blah” zone.
Not burnout. Not laziness. Just no spark—like I knew what to do, but felt zero motivation.
I hadn’t really talked about it before because I didn’t know how to explain it to myself.

I come from a background where feelings are basically taboo—corporate consulting didn’t leave room for emotions.

Finally admitting something was off was a big step.

Because I believe: your mindset drives your actions. And your actions shape your results.
I tried affirmations, even though I thought they were too fluffy.

Just reading one simple card:

“Today I make a difference.”

…helped shift my morning mindset—even if it was just 5%.
Over time, that small positivity builds momentum.

That led me to build Daily Parent.

An app for parents who:

- Doubt they’re doing enough
- Carry guilt or overwhelm
- Need a mental lift to keep going

It’s free, live now, and felt like something deeply needed.
swiy.co/affirmations

We quietly released it to the CodeWithChris audience.
What stood out? A nearly 10% conversion rate—three times higher than our other apps.
Mostly from referral links and socials—not app store search.

To me, this feels like an experiment in authenticity:
- When I build something personal, does it resonate?
- Can a small, honest app reach people?
- What marketing really works when it's human-centered?

We’re collecting data and testing channels.
Soon I’ll share full stats and breakdowns—so you can see exactly what’s working.

If you’re building something or trying to get unstuck, I hope it helps.
If you're a parent—or know one—check out the app:
swiy.co/affirmations

No spam, no pressure. Just something that’s helped me feel a little more clear and connected.

Appreciate the support and support the ratings if it resonates 🙏

1 month ago | [YT] | 46