After a dispute that led to its removal from the App Store twice, the developers of the vibe coding platform Anything announced to the public that Apple is excluding a new generation of app creators through outdated app review guidelines. Here are the details.

Vibe Coding Apps Challenge Long-Standing App Store Rules

Several weeks ago, The Information reported that Apple removed the vibe coding app "Anything" from the App Store.

Apple claimed that Anything violated long-standing App Store rules stating that "an app cannot run code that alters its own functionality or the functionality of other apps."

The rules in question were:

  • Section 2.5.2 of the App Review Guidelines: "Apps must be self-contained within their own bundles and cannot read or write data outside the designated container area, nor can they download, upload, or run code that alters the features or functionality of the app or other apps."
  • Section 3.3.1(B) of the Developer Program License: "Interpreted code can be downloaded to an App but only if that code does not change the app's primary purpose or provide features or functionality inconsistent with the app's intended and advertised purpose."

This is partly how vibe coding apps operate. They typically allow users to send text prompts, which are then converted into code by AI models to create a working version of the app.

In the case of Anything, users can preview the app on their devices and may decide to submit it for approval on the App Store if they have developer accounts.

However, Apple has been experiencing issues with Anything's app development and preview workflows, which is why the company has removed the app from the App Store twice.

According to the developers, Apple removed the app from the App Store on March 26, and then removed it again just a few days after it was reinstated, following back-and-forth communications with the company.

The developers share their story in a lengthy post on the X platform (via TechCrunch):

Our mobile app was approved last year. We had no concerns. Then in December, they started blocking our updates citing the infamous Guideline 2.5.2. A rule designed to prevent malicious apps from downloading code to change their behavior after review. We understood the concern, even though we disagreed that it applied to us. We tried to fix it. Four different technical approaches, each designed to comply with what they said. Each was rejected. We did not make a public statement. We did not tweet. We kept trying. Then we were removed from the App Store. We still said nothing. We worked with them, got reinstated, thought we found a way to move forward. Then they removed us again.

In the post, the Anything team states that "the number of people who can create apps will go from millions to hundreds of millions and ultimately to everyone" and adds that "these people are the future of the App Store."

Guideline 2.5.2 – Door Surveillance – Vibes rejected

we said nothing public about this

for months we tried to solve this privately through emails, phone calls, appeals, and four technical rewrites to comply with whatever Apple wanted

here's our truth, unfiltered

on March 26, Apple… pic.twitter.com/yJfjxonC41

— Anything (@anything) April 7, 2026

They also list examples of users successfully launching vibe-coded apps on the App Store and promise to continue working to improve their product:

“We are not waiting. We launched an app from text. Message us, and let’s build your iOS app in the cloud. We are sending a desktop companion for preview on the device. We will find a way to serve our builders.”

9to5Mac's Opinion

Anything's post came just days after The Information reported a surge in new apps on the App Store; this can be partly explained by the boom in vibe coding tools.

Of course, not all vibe-coded apps will be as useful or effective (or safe) as those listed in Anything's post. However, this should not completely invalidate the new possibilities opened up by vibe coding tools.

In recent months, there has been increasing pressure on Apple to address or at least acknowledge the changing landscape of app development.

As vibe coding becomes increasingly popular and with WWDC26 around the corner, it will be interesting to see how Apple handles the situation.

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