# Aptly: Making Mobile Apps from Natural Language

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.00229 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.00229/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 12 of its 34 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 30 Apr 2024.

## Builds on (most cited first, 12 of 12)

- [Attention Is All You Need](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1706.03762/) (2017)
- [Language Models are Few-Shot Learners](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.14165/) (2020)
- [GPT-4 Technical Report](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.08774/) (2023)
- [Evaluating Large Language Models Trained on Code](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2107.03374/) (2021)
- [Prompt Programming for Large Language Models: Beyond the Few-Shot Paradigm](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2102.07350/) (2021)
- [Text and Code Embeddings by Contrastive Pre-Training](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2201.10005/) (2022)
- [CodeNet: A Large-Scale AI for Code Dataset for Learning a Diversity of Coding Tasks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2105.12655/) (2021)
- [GitHub Copilot AI pair programmer: Asset or Liability?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.15331/) (2022)
- [Automatic Generation of Programming Exercises and Code Explanations using Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.11861/) (2022)
- [Conversing with Copilot: Exploring Prompt Engineering for Solving CS1 Problems Using Natural Language](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2210.15157/) (2022)
- [Generative AI Assistants in Software Development Education: A vision for integrating Generative AI into educational practice, not instinctively defending against it](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.13936/) (2023)
- [Text2App: A Framework for Creating Android Apps from Text Descriptions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.08301/) (2021)

## Abstract (arXiv)

This paper introduces Aptly, a platform designed to democratize mobile app development, particularly for young learners. Aptly integrates a Large Language Model (LLM) with App Inventor, enabling users to create apps using their natural language. User's description is translated into a programming language that corresponds with App Inventor's visual blocks. A preliminary study with high school students demonstrated the usability and potential of the platform. Prior programming experience influenced how users interact with Aptly. Participants identified areas for improvement and expressed a shift in perspective regarding programming accessibility and AI's role in creative endeavors.