AI-First Development on Mobile: Shakespeare Changes the Game

If you've tried using AI to build apps on your phone, you've probably been disappointed. A recent TechCrunch report found that dedicated mobile apps for vibe coding have largely failed to gain traction:

"Despite the massive success of vibe-coding startups on desktop (with billion-dollar valuations), dedicated mobile apps in this space have virtually failed to gain traction. The largest app, Instance: AI App Builder, has only 16,000 downloads and $1,000 in consumer spending. The consensus: vibe coding is not ready for prime time on mobile devices."

The data paints a bleak picture for mobile developers who want to build with AI. Most solutions are clunky, limited, or simply don't work well on smaller screens. But there's an exception that the mainstream hasn't discovered yet.

Getting Started: Install Shakespeare as a PWA

The first step is to install Shakespeare on your mobile device. Visit shakespeare.diy in your mobile browser and you'll see the option to install it as an app.

Step 1: Install the PWA

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Open shakespeare.diy in your mobile browser

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Tap the Install button when prompted (or use your browser's "Add to Home Screen" option)

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Shakespeare will now appear on your home screen like any other app

Step 2: Sign in with Nostr

To sync your projects across devices, you'll need to sign in with your Nostr account. This enables Nostr Git, which lets you push and pull code changes from any device.

1

Open the menu and go to Settings

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Select Nostr

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Add your Nostr account by signing in with a Nostr signer extension or entering your nsec

Why Nostr? Nostr Git is a decentralized version control system that stores your code on Nostr relays. This means you own your code, can access it from any device, and don't depend on any single company's servers.

Step 3: Create or Import a Project

You can start a new project from scratch or import an existing one. If you've already created projects on desktop, you can import them directly using Nostr Git.

Create a New Project

Tap the + New Project button to start fresh. Just describe what you want to build and let the AI create it for you.

Import from Nostr Git

Click the dropdown arrow next to "New Project" and select Import Repository. You'll see your existing Nostr Git projects listed under "My Projects".

Simply tap Clone on any project to import it to your mobile device.

Step 4: Work on Your Project

Once your project is imported, you'll see a success message and be ready to start developing. Shakespeare on mobile has all the same features as desktop:

Live Preview

See your app running in real-time as you make changes.

Code View

Browse and edit your project files directly.

Terminal Access

Run commands like curl, hexdump, and git directly from your phone.

Syncing Your Work Between Devices

One of the most powerful features of Shakespeare is seamless device sync via Nostr Git. Any changes you make on your phone can be pushed to Nostr relays and pulled on your desktop (or any other device).

This workflow means you're never stuck waiting to get back to your computer. See a bug while you're out? Fix it on your phone. Have an idea during lunch? Start building it immediately. Your work follows you everywhere.

Why Shakespeare Works When Others Don't

The reason most mobile vibe coding apps fail is they try to recreate a desktop IDE experience on a tiny screen. Shakespeare takes a different approach:

• Conversation-first interface - You don't need to navigate complex menus or type precise code. Just tell Shakespeare what you want in plain language.
• PWA architecture - By running as a web app, Shakespeare works on any device with a modern browser. No app store approval delays or platform restrictions.
• Decentralized sync - Nostr Git means your code isn't locked in anyone's cloud. It's stored on relays you choose and accessible from anywhere.
• Mobile-optimized UI - The interface adapts to smaller screens, with easy switching between Chat, Preview, and Code views.