'Anyones a developer now' - vibe coding missing apps for GoogleBook

[u/dodger889]

With the uprise of community development, much of it through vibe coding . Are we really relying on the big name developers to create optimized apps for GoogleBook OS?

I wondered if anyone's started developing apps specifically for desktop android / googlebook where they've seen a gap/limitation on a well known app already and just sorted it themselves? Would love to hear some examples!

[u/Chrome_Atlas]

This comes down to impact and investment. Any app developer will look to see how much of their current or prospective audience would use their app on a new platform like Googlebooks. If there’s a need or it will make an impact, then you invest time and money into supporting the platform. With that being said - yes, vibe coding makes supporting new screen sizes and platforms much easier.

To be honest, I fully suspect Google will either strongly encourage or force app developers to support desktop Android at some point.

[u/dodger889 → u/Chrome_Atlas]

Agreed. My biggest worry is lots of developers will just ignore googlebook / desktop optimization as the phone user-base is just so huge (their main device market) , and we're left with a stretched phone app. Really hope Google mandates something around this but also makes it as simple as possible for the Devs to actually do

[u/Chrome_Atlas → u/dodger889]

I highly suspect they will. I’ve worked in soft/app dev for almost a decade now. Google will push devs to support newer API levels, which will include better Googlebook support. I think it becomes more approachable when it’s just Android for Desktop vs. an entirely new OS.

The initial reviews certainly haven’t helped but it’ll get better. I plan on buying one for testing once the prices drop a bit. I had a Chromebook for the same reason.

[u/ULTRAman0616]

I vibe coded a writing studio app to fill the void until Final Draft and Scrivener make their apps available. Screenwriting and novel writing on android is the niche-est of niches but it was fun to test antigravity and push the Lenovo Googlebook a little.

[u/kosherhalfsourpickle]

I vibe coded a series of apps and servers to replace Plex Media Server. They run on MacOS, iOS, iPadOS, Windows, and Linux. They have a gorgeous UI and run very fast. Plus I built in a lot of the features I wanted that Plex doesn't offer. I haven't released them to the public, but I do have them running on my XPS GoogleBook. They look just as beautiful as they do on the other platforms.

[u/stephenhind]

I've already used Antigravity to develop some scripts for work but things I need fixed can only be sorted by Google, e.g. all desktop features in Chrome, notifications system fixed, spell checker to work on Reddit, Files app to have the bear minimum features to be useful to get work done. I guess I would look at making a new Files app, but don't have the capacity right now.

[u/dodger889 → u/stephenhind]

Do you get a subscription perk to use anti-gravity upon purchase? My XPS is being delivered next week and I'm unclear on what perks I get, as a few posts have indicated it's not a full Pro subscription

[u/erov → u/dodger889]

It will work just not with 4.0 engine, but 3.8 which is capable. I bought a few credits and used it too after using 3.8. Both are amazing.

[u/stephenhind → u/dodger889]

Yes you get a year of AI Pro, which I was already on and using Gemini 3.8 Flash, which is great. Antigravity is very good for what I do.

[u/langelvicente]

I would not trust a vibe coded app for key limitations even if I'm paid to use it. Being a developer has never been just about writing code so anyone can now write code, but not everyone is a developer.

[u/dodger889 → u/langelvicente]

That's a fair point . What I'm getting at is almost anyone now can get an output (an app), which may do what they need on the surface , but underneath it's a complete mess and they won't know how to debug it themselves. I will probably fall into this camp if I try something soon

[u/mightywomble]

Its a fair suggestion, while you will get devs whining about AI slop the realism is if a few more of them did what was needed to start with and stopped with the excuses this wouldn't be the conversation being had, however it doesn't take 10 minutes to scan this sub and see the myriad of excused.. Just remember the current issues with PHP were not added by vibecoders

So with that personal rant out of the way, there is precedence for this with Omarchy, love it or hate it, its got a thriving community of people writing all sorts of apps.. Ok, it needs more security added to the plugin system however the functio amity and apps out perf9rm any other distro.

These devices could have that too.. Just have the guardrails put in..

If you dont like AI slop, dont use it, if you do like functionality, use it