Launch HN: ASim (YC S21) – Mobile app that generates mobile apps

dli123 | 83 points

love it. but that makes me think that development is no longer the bottleneck —distribution and positioning are. and my bet that the ASim fucntionality will find it place in the current media platfrom.

say, if tiktok launches an ai app store, it won’t be for complex software—it’ll start with low-friction, high-retention apps: ai-powered video enhancements (think face-swaps, lip sync, object replacement) or micro-utilities, something like ASim does.

for platforms, it’s obvious—more engagement, higher monetization, and a new vertical.

for creators, it’s a no-brainer—why funnel traffic to some app store when you can keep users inside tiktok, get them to install, and even monetize directly?

even the infamous 30% app store cut could be creatively sidestepped—imagine launching your own meme coin for in-app purchases instead.

zkid18 | 2 days ago

[Answered]

Does it play sound at this stage? or other media (eg video, beyond still images and text and UI?)

EDIT Thank you for making and sharing this -- it is pushing the future closer to today (euphemisms are my superpower lol jk)!

EDIT 2: I see the "Enable Sound API/Access" toggle in the Gear icon, below my generation. Exploring this now.

EDIT 3: Behold the HORROR (Works in Desktop Browser) English -> Morse code with "Sound": http://asim.sh/s/160375

- tip: beware of playing long morse code sequences, there is no stopping it.

ncr100 | 14 hours ago

I tried and keep stuck in a loop between "Oops! Simulation failed" and "Try Fixing".

It's always the same error but it's not displayed in full: "Error: 297:3:invalid statement encou..." ('encountered' probably? but where? how? why not show the full error?)

Also, what are 'Agent' and 'Genius'? (two different app candidates?)

bambax | 17 hours ago

Cool, aSim - it's a0.dev + Expo?

aaurelions | a day ago

Looks awesome! How do you plan to monetize down the road?

realprimoh | 2 days ago

So where do the 'apps' you generate live? On my Google Play account or just inside of Asim?

ddxv | a day ago

Would like to try it out but I’m not receiving the verification code on my UK number.

leonhard | a day ago

Looks like many of those mobile app generators these days:

https://asim.sh/

https://bolt.new/

https://replit.com/

https://a0.dev/

https://www.create.xyz/

https://www.tempo.new/

Seems like most (all?) are making react native apps using expo.

pzo | a day ago

congrats on launching. how are you handling backend needs? firebase? supabse? whats good/whats missing?

swyx | a day ago

While that’s interesting, what I’m really after these days is a Mobile App that generates Mobile Apps that generate Mobile Apps

You can never have too many mobile app generators

purple-leafy | a day ago

I'd love to see this adapted for desktop apps. Any plans on doing that?

sirjaz | 18 hours ago

Ironic that I end up competing with an AI app generator for work...

asim | 2 days ago
[deleted]
| 15 hours ago

nice april fools joke!

compootr | a day ago

This is so wild. Definitely one of the cooler uses of AI I have seen, especially for a consumer/app/game.

lukaskf | 2 days ago

[flagged]

dostick | 2 days ago

Have to provide a number just to try someone else's app, hard pass.

999900000999 | 2 days ago

[dead]

hashmelons | a day ago

[dead]

hashmelons | a day ago