bitrig

What do they actually do

bitrig is an iPhone app that turns a short text or voice description into a working native iOS app built in Swift/SwiftUI. You can see an instant, interactive preview on the phone via a custom on‑device Swift interpreter, inspect/edit the generated Swift code, and iterate quickly without waiting for a full compile step bitrig site, HN launch thread, Dataconomy coverage, bitrig blog.

When you want a distributable build, Pro users who also have a paid Apple Developer account can have bitrig compile and upload an optimized build to App Store Connect/TestFlight from the phone; the app intentionally outputs native Swift and supports core Apple frameworks like AVFoundation, ContactsUI, MapKit, PhotosUI, and WidgetKit today pricing/FAQ, HN launch thread, Dataconomy.

Who are their target customer(s)

• Designers and product managers needing interactive native prototypes: They struggle to show real iPhone behavior quickly and to iterate without engineering bandwidth; on‑device preview plus editable Swift output gives them native feel with quick tweaks.
• Solo indie developers and makers shipping small apps: Setting up a full macOS toolchain and handling signing/distribution slows them down; bitrig enables on‑device prototyping and can handle TestFlight/App Store uploads for Pro users who have an Apple Developer account.
• Non‑technical founders validating an MVP: They don’t know how to turn a concept into a working native app and contractor cycles are slow/expensive; bitrig creates runnable SwiftUI apps from voice/text so they can test ideas faster.
• Students and developers learning Swift/SwiftUI: Traditional compile cycles and simulator setup slow learning; the on‑device interpreter gives instant, interactive feedback alongside editable code.
• Freelancers and small agencies delivering early demos: Web/mock prototypes don’t match native behavior and require rework; bitrig outputs native Swift code and previews so early demos are closer to production.

How would they acquire their first 10, 50, and 100 customers

• First 10: Personally recruit early users from founders’ networks and the HN launch thread, onboard them via 1:1 sessions, and grant extended Pro credits in a closed TestFlight to ship one real app and gather bug/feature feedback HN thread, pricing.
• First 50: Run a focused Product Hunt/HN follow‑up with short demo videos; post reproducible how‑tos in designer/indie‑dev communities and host weekly live workshops showing voice→preview→TestFlight end‑to‑end HN thread, Dataconomy.
• First 100: Turn early wins into case studies and referrals; run small paid social targeting designers/solo app makers with demo clips; partner with design programs and agencies for paid workshops and multi‑seat Pro pilots.

What is the rough total addressable market

Top-down context:

bitrig sits at the intersection of mobile app dev tools and low‑/no‑code creation. As context, the global low‑code development platform market is estimated around $50B in 2025 Research & Markets, while Apple’s App Store ecosystem facilitated $1.3T in billings/sales in 2024, underscoring the scale of iOS app creation and distribution Apple Newsroom.

Bottom-up calculation:

Starting wedge TAM: target a subset of the global developer population (~27M in 2024) plus design learners using Swift/SwiftUI workflows. If 5% of developers and adjacent designers are iOS‑focused and 10% of those adopt a $25/month Pro plan, that’s roughly 135k subscribers and ~$40M ARR Evans Data press.

Assumptions:

• Global developers ~27M (2024) and includes adjacent roles who experiment with prototyping tools Evans Data press.
• About 5% of the broader pool are iOS/Swift‑curious or active enough to try an on‑device generator; 10% conversion to paid among that niche.
• ARPU approximated at $25/month based on listed Pro pricing; excludes app store fees and enterprise/multi‑seat discounts.

Who are some of their notable competitors

• Draftbit: Browser‑based visual builder exporting React Native code; strong for screen‑accurate prototypes and handoff, but it’s web/desktop and outputs React Native, not native Swift generated on an iPhone docs.
• FlutterFlow: No/low‑code Flutter app builder with preview, export, and store deployment; cross‑platform focus and web/desktop workflow rather than on‑device iPhone generation deployment docs.
• Builder.ai: Template‑ and AI‑assisted agency building custom apps end‑to‑end; competes for non‑technical founders who don’t want to hire engineers, not a self‑serve on‑phone generator overview/pricing.
• Glide: Spreadsheet‑driven no‑code tool producing progressive web apps quickly; helpful for data‑driven prototypes but not native Swift/SwiftUI code or on‑device native previews Glide blog.
• Swift Playgrounds: Apple’s learning/prototyping app with live SwiftUI previews and export to Xcode/App Store Connect; not an AI prompt‑to‑app generator and doesn’t automate iPhone‑only build/upload flows support.