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README.md

app-factory

Mobile App Pipeline | Part of App Factory

Describe a mobile app idea—even a vague one. Get a complete, publishable Expo React Native application with monetization, market research, App Store optimization, and launch marketing materials.

Who Is This For?

  • Developers building iOS/Android mobile apps
  • Entrepreneurs who want a monetizable app quickly
  • Builders who want production-quality code, not tutorials
  • Anyone with an app idea (even vague ones)

Not for you if: You need a web app (use dapp-factory) or an AI agent (use agent-factory)

How to Start (Important)

cd app-factory
claude

Then type your app idea. Even something vague:

I want to make an app where you fly a plane

Claude will:

  1. Normalize your intent → "A flight simulation game with realistic physics, multiple aircraft, mission-based progression, and premium planes via RevenueCat"
  2. Plan → Comprehensive 9-section implementation plan
  3. Build → Complete Expo React Native app, milestone by milestone
  4. Integrate RevenueCat → Monetization with meaningful premium features
  5. Generate → Research, ASO, and marketing materials
  6. QA → Ralph loops until ≥97% quality per milestone

No scripts. No commands. No stopping. No asking you to write a better prompt.

Output: A store-ready app in builds/<app-slug>/

What "Done" Means

Your build is complete when:

  1. Code runs: npm install && npx expo start works
  2. RevenueCat integrated: Monetization SDK configured with paywall
  3. Quality passes: Ralph QA reaches ≥97% on each milestone
  4. All deliverables exist: research/, aso/, marketing/, docs

Claude won't stop until all of this is done. No demos. No toys. No half-products.

What Gets Generated

builds/<app-slug>/
├── package.json              # Dependencies
├── app.config.js             # Expo configuration
├── app/                      # Expo Router screens
│   ├── _layout.tsx
│   ├── index.tsx
│   ├── home.tsx
│   ├── paywall.tsx
│   └── settings.tsx
├── src/
│   ├── components/           # Reusable components
│   ├── services/             # RevenueCat, storage
│   ├── hooks/                # Custom hooks
│   └── ui/                   # Design system
├── assets/
│   ├── icon.png              # App icon (1024x1024)
│   └── splash.png            # Splash screen
│
├── research/                 # Market Intelligence
│   ├── market_research.md    # Market size, trends, opportunities
│   ├── competitor_analysis.md# Direct/indirect competitors
│   └── positioning.md        # Unique value proposition
│
├── aso/                      # App Store Optimization
│   ├── app_title.txt         # Store title (max 30 chars)
│   ├── subtitle.txt          # Store subtitle (max 30 chars)
│   ├── description.md        # Full App Store description
│   └── keywords.txt          # ASO keywords (max 100 chars)
│
├── marketing/                # Launch Materials
│   ├── launch_thread.md      # Twitter/X thread (10+ tweets)
│   ├── landing_copy.md       # Landing page copy
│   ├── press_kit.md          # Press one-pager
│   └── social_assets.md      # Social media descriptions
│
├── README.md                 # Project overview
├── RUNBOOK.md                # Copy-paste run commands
├── TESTING.md                # Smoke test checklist
├── LAUNCH_CHECKLIST.md       # Pre-launch steps
└── privacy_policy.md         # Privacy policy

Execution artifacts (in runs/):

runs/YYYY-MM-DD/build-<timestamp>/
├── inputs/
│   ├── user_prompt.md        # Your original idea (raw)
│   └── normalized_prompt.md  # Upgraded product intent
├── planning/plan.md          # Implementation plan
└── polish/                   # Ralph QA reports
    ├── ralph_report_*.md
    └── ralph_final_verdict.md

Running Your App

After Claude finishes:

cd builds/<app-slug>
npm install
npx expo start

Press i for iOS simulator or a for Android emulator.

The Build Process

When you describe an app, Claude automatically:

  1. Normalizes - Upgrades your raw idea into a publishable product intent
  2. Plans - Creates comprehensive implementation plan with monetization flow
  3. Builds - Implements milestone by milestone
  4. QA - Runs Ralph quality loop after each milestone (must reach ≥97%)
  5. Finalizes - Completes all deliverables and confirms success

Milestones:

  1. Project scaffold (config, dependencies)
  2. Core screens (navigation, main UI)
  3. Feature implementation (core functionality)
  4. Monetization (RevenueCat SDK, paywall, premium gating)
  5. Polish (onboarding, icons, assets)
  6. Research, marketing & ASO (all artifacts)

Intent Normalization Example:

Your input:

I want to make an app where you fly a plane

Claude normalizes to:

Product: SkyPilot
Pitch: Master the skies in a realistic flight simulator with stunning visuals

Core Loop: Select mission → Fly aircraft → Complete objectives → Unlock rewards

Free Tier: 3 starter aircraft, tutorial missions, basic environments
Premium ($4.99/mo): All 12 aircraft, advanced missions, all environments, no ads

Visual: Realistic 3D cockpit views, dynamic weather, day/night cycles

This normalized intent drives all planning, building, and deliverables.

Quality Assurance

Every build includes Ralph Mode - automatic adversarial QA:

  • Reviews each milestone against checklist
  • Fixes issues automatically
  • Loops until ≥97% quality reached
  • Must pass on research, ASO, AND marketing

Quality threshold (≥97%):

  • ALL critical items must pass
  • At most 3% non-critical items can fail
  • Zero runtime errors
  • No placeholder content

Technology Stack

Component Technology
Framework Expo SDK 54+
Language TypeScript
Navigation Expo Router v4
Monetization RevenueCat
Storage expo-sqlite + AsyncStorage
State Zustand or React Context

Defaults

When you don't specify:

Aspect Default
Monetization Freemium: $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr
Data storage Local-only (offline-first)
Backend None
Authentication Guest-first (no login)
Platform iOS + Android

Troubleshooting

npm install fails

IMPORTANT: Do NOT use --legacy-peer-deps, --force, or --ignore-engines flags. These are forbidden by the Local Run Proof Gate and will cause verification failure.

  1. Clear npm cache:

    npm cache clean --force
npm install

  2. Check Node version:

    node --version
# Need 18+

  3. Fresh install:

    rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json
npm install

Expo won't start

npx expo start --clear

App crashes

  1. Check Metro for red errors
  2. Verify dependencies installed
  3. See RUNBOOK.md in build directory

Internal Scripts (Debug/CI Only)

The scripts/ directory contains helper utilities for debugging and CI. Normal users don't need these - just use claude.

Script Purpose
build_proof_gate.sh CI validation
ralph/ralph.sh Debug: manual Ralph
auto_plan_build.sh Debug: standalone planning

Directory Structure

app-factory/
├── CLAUDE.md             # Constitution (Claude's instructions)
├── README.md             # This file
├── skills/               # Code quality rules
│   ├── mobile-interface-guidelines/  # Touch, accessibility, performance
│   ├── mobile-ui-guidelines/         # UI/UX standards
│   ├── react-native-best-practices/  # Performance patterns
│   └── expo-standards/               # Expo-specific patterns
├── templates/
│   ├── system/           # Execution templates
│   └── app_template/     # Expo scaffolding
├── builds/               # Generated apps (output)
├── runs/                 # Execution artifacts
├── scripts/              # Debug/CI helpers
├── standards/            # Quality standards
└── vendor/               # Cached documentation

Links

app-factory v7.2 — cd app-factory && claude → describe your idea → get a publishable product.