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Modaal builds native iOS and Android apps from plain-language descriptions — what Modaal is and why it works this way is the one-read overview. You describe what you want, and the coding agent writes the Swift or Kotlin, builds it through Xcode or Gradle, fixes the errors, and iterates with you. Here’s how to get from nothing to a running app.

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1. Download and install Modaal

Get the app from modaal.dev/download and install it on your Mac. Modaal runs on macOS only — building iOS apps requires a Mac, and Android builds run from the same machine. Release notes are in the changelog.

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2. Connect a coding agent

Every project starts on the built-in free preview, so you can begin right away. To use a more capable model — or a subscription you already pay for (Claude Agent, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot CLI, Cursor and more) — connect your own agent from User Menu → Agent settings. See Connect your agent.

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3. Set up the toolchain

Xcode is what compiles and runs your app on the iOS simulator. You can start chatting and planning before it’s ready — the toolchain only gates building and running. Install Xcode, open it once to download an iOS simulator runtime, then confirm it in User Menu → Set up Xcode. Full walkthrough: Set up Xcode. For Android, Modaal shows a banner offering to install the SDK, a user-local JDK and a first emulator; press the button and it does the whole install. Full walkthrough: Set up the Android toolchain.

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4. Start your project

Type your idea in plain language and press Start new project. Modaal asks two quick questions before anything is created:
  1. What are you building? — pick a template. Quick prototype to test an idea fast, Production app to build something you’ll ship and grow, or one of the Apple Watch templates. The Multiplatform lane adds the two Duet cards — native iOS and Android from one shared core. The template decides your project’s structure and architecture.
  2. Name and identifiers — the product name is suggested from your description; set your organization identifier and which devices to support.
Press Create and the project is scaffolded — targets, modules, build settings, app icon, and a passing test suite — then the agent picks up your description and writes a PRD plus a plan for the first feature. Full walkthrough, and how to choose between the templates: Starting a new project.

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5. Build, review, iterate

From there you describe what you want, and Modaal generates the code and runs a build-and-fix loop through Xcode or Gradle after each step — so you get a real native project that stays maintainable as it grows. Review each step and steer as you go; the Modes and prompts guide shows how to get the most out of your prompts. For a bug you can see on screen, point at it. The work around the code — scoping the first release, designing it, getting it into a store — is covered in how to build a mobile app from scratch.
Helpful to have ready (optional):
  • A clear app idea in 3–5 sentences, a short PRD, or one core user flow to ship first.
  • An iPhone, iPad or Android device for real-device testing — the simulator and the emulator are great, but not real life.
When you’re ready to test with others or ship, you’ll need an Apple Developer account for TestFlight and App Store distribution.
Need help? The FAQ answers the questions people ask first; for the rest, join our community.
Last modified on September 8, 2026