Fueled by advancements in artificial intelligence, a growing number of non-developers are creating their own applications, opting to build rather than buy. Rebecca Yu, for example, spent seven days developing a dining app to address the challenges of group decision-making on where to eat.

Yu, a non-technical user, leveraged AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT to create Where2Eat, a web application designed to recommend restaurants based on shared interests. "Once vibe-coding apps emerged, I started hearing about people with no tech backgrounds successfully building their own apps," Yu told TechCrunch. "When I had a week off before school started, I decided it was the perfect time to finally build my application."

This trend, sometimes referred to as "micro apps" or "personal apps," sees individuals creating applications primarily for their own use. While many focus on web applications, there is an increasing interest in mobile apps designed for personal phones and devices. Some, already registered as Apple developers, are even distributing their personal apps in beta through TestFlight.

The rise of these micro apps is largely attributed to the increasing accessibility of AI-powered coding tools. These tools allow individuals with limited or no coding experience to translate their ideas into functional applications. This shift has the potential to disrupt the traditional app development landscape, empowering individuals to create solutions tailored to their specific needs without relying on professional developers.

The long-term impact of this trend remains to be seen. However, it signals a potential democratization of app development, where individuals can leverage technology to solve personal problems and create customized digital experiences. The availability of user-friendly AI coding tools is expected to further fuel the growth of micro apps in the coming years.