Your First Mobile App - Documentation

Build native iOS and Android apps with IndigiCoder using React Native and Expo. No Xcode, Android Studio, or local development environment needed!

Zero Local Setup Required! IndigiCoder handles everything in the cloud. You just describe your app, click build, and download the result. It's that simple.

What You'll Need

To Build Apps (Required)

Requirement	Cost	Why It's Needed
IndigiCoder Pro Plan	Paid	Free plan cannot build mobile apps
GitHub Account	Free	Stores your app code securely
Expo Account	Free	Builds your app in the cloud
Supabase Account	Free	For apps that save user data (optional)

Need to Save Data? If your app stores user data (accounts, preferences, history, etc.), you'll need to connect Supabase. See our Integrations guide to set it up.

To Publish to App Stores (Optional)

Store	Account Required	Cost
Google Play Store	Google Play Developer Account	$25 one-time
Apple App Store	Apple Developer Program	$99/year

Start Free, Publish Later! You can build and test your apps with just the free accounts. Only pay for developer accounts when you're ready to publish to the app stores.

Mobile App Requirements Overview

Video coming soon

Quick Start: 5-Minute Setup

Step 1: Create Free Accounts

GitHub — Go to github.com and sign up (free)
Expo — Go to expo.dev and sign up (free)

Step 2: Get Your Expo Token

Go to expo.dev/settings/access-tokens
Click "Create Token"
Name it "IndigiCoder"
Select "Read and Write" permissions
Click "Create" and copy the token

Save your token! Expo only shows it once. Copy it somewhere safe before closing the page.

Step 3: Connect in IndigiCoder

Click your profile icon → Settings
Go to "Integrations"
Click "Connect GitHub" — authorize when prompted
Click "Connect Expo" — paste your token

Connecting Your Accounts

Video coming soon

Building Your First App

Step 1: Create Your App

Click "New Project"
Select project type: "Mobile App"
You'll see two options: Website (React + Tailwind) or Mobile App (React Native + Expo). Choose Mobile App for native iOS/Android apps.
Describe your app:
Example: "Create a habit tracker app where users can add daily habits, mark them complete, and see a weekly progress chart"
Note: Apps that save data (like this habit tracker) require Supabase. Make sure you've connected it in Settings → Integrations.
Watch the AI generate your React Native code!

Step 2: Preview & Refine

IndigiCoder offers multiple ways to preview your app:

Option A: In-Browser Preview (Instant)

Your app appears instantly in the preview panel. Toggle between Web, iOS, and Android tabs to see how it looks on different platforms.

Option B: On Your Phone via QR Code (Free)

Install Expo Go on your phone (free from App Store / Play Store)
Click the QR code icon in the preview panel
Scan with your phone's camera (iOS) or Expo Go app (Android)
Your app loads on your real device!

Option C: Download & Run Locally (Full Features)

For apps using advanced packages not supported in the browser preview:

Click "Download Project"
Unzip and open terminal in the folder
Run: npm install then npx expo start
Scan the QR code with Expo Go

Preview Method	Setup	Best For
In-Browser	None	Quick previews, rapid iteration
QR Code + Expo Go	Install Expo Go app	Testing on real device feel
Download & Run Locally	Node.js + Expo Go	Full package support

Chat with the AI to make changes:

"Make the buttons larger"
"Change the color scheme to blue"
"Add a settings screen"

Want more details? See our Expo Integration guide for advanced build profiles, troubleshooting, and signing configuration.

Step 3: Build for Real Devices

Click the "Build" button in the preview header
Select your platform: Android, iOS, or Both
Click "Start Build"
Wait 10-20 minutes for the build to complete
Download your app!

Building Your First Mobile App

Video coming soon

Android vs iOS: What's Different?

Platform	Setup Required	Output	Distribution
Android	None! (keystore auto-generated)	APK file	Install directly or publish to Play Store
iOS Simulator	None!	Simulator app	Test on Mac with Xcode Simulator
iOS Real Device	Apple Developer Account ($99/year)	IPA file	Install via TestFlight or App Store

Android is Easiest! We automatically generate a unique signing key for your app. Just click build and you're done. No certificates, no keystores, no hassle.

Installing Your Android App

After your Android build completes:

Download the .apk file from the build results
Transfer it to your Android phone (email, Google Drive, etc.)
Open the file on your phone
Tap "Install" (you may need to enable "Install from unknown sources")
Your app is now installed!

iOS: Understanding Your Options

Option 1: iOS Simulator (Free)

The default "Preview" build creates a simulator app. This is great for testing but requires a Mac with Xcode to run.

Option 2: Real iPhone/iPad (Requires Apple Developer Account)

To install on real iOS devices, you need an Apple Developer Account ($99/year). Once you have one:

Connect your Apple credentials to your Expo account at expo.dev
In IndigiCoder, select "Production" build profile for iOS
The build will use your Apple credentials automatically
Distribute via TestFlight or submit to the App Store

See our iOS App Store Guide for detailed instructions.

Build Limits by Plan

Plan	Builds per Month
Free	0 (not available)
Pro	100
Business	500
Enterprise	Unlimited

Common Questions

Do I need a Mac to build iOS apps?

No! IndigiCoder builds your iOS app in the cloud. You only need a Mac if you want to run the iOS Simulator, or you can use TestFlight to install on real devices.

Do I need Android Studio?

No! Everything is built in the cloud. Just download the APK and install it.

What about signing keys and certificates?

Android: We automatically generate and manage a unique signing key for each project. It's stored securely and reused for future builds.

iOS: For App Store builds, you'll connect your Apple Developer account to Expo, which then manages certificates for you automatically.

Can I publish to the app stores?

Yes! See our guides for Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Mobile App FAQ

Video coming soon