Building iOS Apps with AI in 2026 — My Workflow with 8 Apps on the Store

I have 8 iOS apps in various stages of development. One is live on the App Store with 5 stars (IronLog). The rest are on their way.

Here’s how AI changed my development workflow and the hard lessons I learned about Apple’s review process.

The AI Coding Stack

I don’t write code the traditional way anymore. My stack:

• Claude Code — primary CLI with 13 MCP servers, hooks, and memory
• Codex CLI — OpenAI’s autonomous coding agent
• OpenCode — 10-agent fleet across 10 AI providers
• Aider — code review and refactoring through LiteLLM proxy
• Cursor — visual IDE when I need to see diffs

All of these route through LiteLLM (24 models) so I can use whichever AI is best for each task. GPT-5.4 for complex logic, Gemini Flash for speed, Groq for instant responses.

The Apple App Store Reality Check

Apple rejected my apps. Twice. Here’s what I learned:

1. Apps must NOT look like templates — Apple flags identical-looking apps. Each needs unique colors, fonts, and icons
2. No default icons in tab bars — custom SVG only, not @expo/vector-icons
3. First launch must show sample data — never an empty screen
4. Every button needs haptic feedback — expo-haptics on every interaction
5. Each app needs a unique color palette — Apple compares apps from the same developer

These rules are non-negotiable. I now run a 2-agent compliance review before every submission.

The Apps

App	What It Does	Status
IronLog	AI gym training partner	Live, 5 stars
SparkFit	Fitness-minded dating	Waiting for review
HungRecover	Hangover recovery guide	60% complete
ProfitCalc	Business profit calculator	Build succeeded
Anchor	Habit tracking	Build succeeded
HerPhase	Cycle and energy planner	Build succeeded
Drift	AI voice companion	Build succeeded
SubAlert	Subscription tracker	80% complete

What’s Next

Memorial Day push: HungRecover launch + SubAlert submission. The goal is 4 apps live on the store by June.

If you’re building iOS apps with AI, the biggest advice I can give: test on device before submitting, and make every app look and feel unique.

Check out my apps at gusdigitalsolutions.com/portfolio.