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Launch HN: Bitrig (YC S25) – Build Swift apps on your iPhone

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Re: Launch HN: Bitrig (YC S25) – Build Swift apps on your iPhone

#51
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't tell anyone, but once you're on the paid plan we're not actually enforcing the 100 message limit right now ;) We're still in the learning phase, and are going to adjust the plans based on exactly the kind of considerations you're raising

Your secret is safe, hah! It's almost like you need an intermediate 'cheap/dumb' AI as a proxy to flesh everything out ahead of sending it off to be coded ... something that crisps up all the requirement and ultimately crafts a more cost-effective and likely all-around-better prompt. Even being semi-technical, I'm always surprised how much the details matter when describing something to AI (e.g., the fireworks should…

There's a lot I want to do to improve the prompting experience. As I mentioned in the original post, it's very simple right now.

There's a lot of inspiration we could (and probably will) draw from other products (e.g. Cline's Plan vs Act modes) to build what you're describing.

It can also be really fun and productive to just rapidly iterate on what the AI gives back, without having to take the time to describe it all up front. Sometimes this approach can lead to a new directions you might not have thought of.

Re: Launch HN: Bitrig (YC S25) – Build Swift apps on your iPhone

#55
This app is really quite fascinating as well as amazing. I have been using it for a week now. I do like how it is so good with Swift and iOS; you have done a great job of removing so much of the confusion that LLMs must face when trying to develop for a demanding platform. The API insight the app has is a testament to your deep background and foresight into iOS development. I really love this.

Also, I have been taking the code and advice from Bitrig into Cursor, because it solves problems Cursor struggles with no matter what model it calls.

Your work is empowering, but more than that, it is inspiring, because I can now start to envisage what computer human interaction will look like in the near future.

You have taken away a layer of complexity to creation and that is to be applauded. I think your work is a landmark. I think Bitrig will unleash a new era of creative expression. I wish that I was part of your team.

Re: Launch HN: Bitrig (YC S25) – Build Swift apps on your iPhone

#59

Neat. I just tried it out and one thing I was pleasantly surprised about was the styling it came up with. It was sleek, and it did not have the purply gradienty tailwindy styling that I always get from Claude. Did you do much to adjust the prompt for custom styles?

Styling apps is an area we're excited to spend time exploring. Today in our system prompt we say "ALWAYS make the design Apple-like. Use clean typography and consistent padding/spacing." However, tbh it's not something we carefully tested. For the most part, I think the look and feel of the apps benefits from SwiftUI baking Apple's design system into the defaults so heavily.

This is really cool of you to openly share the prompt - props for that.

Really cool product, as someone currently attempting to build a somewhat similar internal tool I have an understanding of some of the pain points involved.

Please don't allow yourselves to be bought out by Apple in the way Buddy Build were back in 2018 though! (and then shut down)

Re: Launch HN: Bitrig (YC S25) – Build Swift apps on your iPhone

#60
post #58

Tried to create a canvas like app view, your app froze after some prompts (guess the swift interpreter?) reopening the app and selecting the project again does not help

Thanks for trying, sorry you hit that issue!

Could you send us feedback from your project? (Go to the ... menu, then Send Feedback.) If you're not able to use the UI from within your project you can long-press on it from the main screen and choose Recovery Mode, and then enter the project with the interpreter disabled.

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