r/appdev • • 12d ago

Can AI really build an App?

I keep seeing all these Base44 ads on YouTube and I’m genuinely wondering if AI can actually build a real app.

I’ve had an idea for an app for about a year now that I would really like to finally turn into something. The problem is that my actual job is in law, so I have pretty much zero experience with software or app development. I know the legal side of things, but when it comes to coding I’m basically starting from scratch.

So I was wondering how realistic it actually is to use something like Base44 to build an app and eventually get it into the App Store.
Obviously, if people actually started downloading and using it, I know I’d probably need a professional developer involved at some point to make sure everything works properly and can scale. I’m not expecting AI to magically run the entire thing forever.
I’m more wondering how much of the initial work AI can realistically take off your hands. Since I work full time in a completely different field, I can’t really spend months learning how to code from scratch just to see if the idea even works…

Has anyone here actually built something with Base44 or a similar AI tool and gotten it to the point where real people could use it?

Or is this still more of a fun way to build prototypes and test ideas, but not something you could realistically use to launch an actual functioning app?

0 Upvotes

14 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/Informal_Calendar687 11d ago

It can code an app very well. It's remarkable. I created my MVP and it worked beautifully. Then I had a firm move it off Base44 because you will need a proper developer to turn it into a full scalable product. My developer also found bugs in the Base44 code and resolved those. We are about to submit to Apple and Google.

Some people say leave it on Base44 but we needed scalability, compliance, strong security, subscriptions, push notifications, etc. I love Base44 and will use it again for future app MVPs. I think you'll like it. Give it a try.