Artificial intelligence app builder startup Softr Platforms GmbH launched a platform today that lets users build software for businesses to run without writing a line of code.

With the introduction of the company’s AI Co-Builder, business teams can replace spreadsheets and manual work with fully functional apps, including internal tools, customer portals, partner platforms and other systems.

“For the first time, AI made the idea that ‘I can build something myself’ mainstream for millions of people – but most AI app-builders stop at the shiny demo stage,” said Softr co-founder and Chief Executive Mariam Hakobyan.

The new Co-Builder system allows users a mix of both, providing a prompt and a visual flow-chart and a no-code app design builder. The Co-Builder can iterate on the app, add new features, user roles and custom workflows immediately. For example, when clicking on the Approve button, it can also send an email to the manager.

In the case of a more complex integration, the Co-Builder will connect integrations to third-party tools and build main nodes and modules. Then it will ask the user to authenticate to those tools, for example, Google Workspace, Salesforce or Slack, so that it can proceed with the next steps.

Hakobyan told SiliconANGLE that Softr is fundamentally different than most vibe coding apps currently on the market, since it aims to produce a complete application out of the box. Vibe coding pushes users to keep prompting; Softr Co-Builder aims to produce a functioning product on the first-shot and then iterate on that. 

“When you ask for a ‘client portal to manage projects and requests,’ you don’t just get screens – you get an interface, database, user auth, workflow automation, permissions and third-party integrations,” Hakobyan explained. “Everything is connected and working from day one. We solve the ‘day two’ problem.”

In essence, Hakobyan said, the Co-Builder is designed to let users write exactly what they need and it will help them “get up and go.” Right from the starting line, they will have a working app that they can immediately start using.

The Co-Builder also allows users to maintain and add features to apps. All users need to do is bring the app back into the platform and either use the visual builder or natural language to describe what they want, and it will design and integrate the new features.

“The future of software isn’t written — it’s created,” Hakobyan added. “The next generation of software will be built by everyone — not because we simplified code, but because we simplified creation — and made building hard things easy.”

Image: Softr Systems