Vibra Code quickstart: backend, sandbox, and mobile app

This guide walks you through setting up the full Vibra Code stack: the Next.js backend, Convex database, Inngest job server, E2B sandbox template, and the iOS mobile app. By the end you will have a running system and your first AI-built app previewing on your phone.

Prerequisites

You need accounts and API keys for the following services before you start. Stripe and RevenueCat are optional — only needed if you want payment processing.

Requirement	Purpose	Where to get it
`ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`	AI code generation with Claude (default agent)	console.anthropic.com
`E2B_API_KEY`	Cloud sandboxes for code execution	e2b.dev
Clerk publishable + secret keys	Authentication for backend and mobile	clerk.com
Convex deployment URL	Real-time database	convex.dev

You can use Cursor or Gemini instead of Claude by setting AGENT_TYPE=cursor or AGENT_TYPE=gemini and providing the corresponding API key. See the AI providers guide for details.

Backend setup
E2B sandbox template
Mobile app setup

Backend setup

The backend is a Next.js 15 app with Convex for real-time data and Inngest for background job processing.

Clone the repository

Clone with submodules — the Expo template used inside sandboxes is included as a Git submodule.

git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/sa4hnd/vibra-code.git
cd vibra-code/vibracode-backend

Install dependencies

npm install

Configure environment variables

Copy the example file and fill in your API keys.

cp .env.example .env.local

Open .env.local and set at minimum:

ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_key_here
E2B_API_KEY=your_key_here
NEXT_PUBLIC_CONVEX_URL=https://your-deployment.convex.cloud
CONVEX_DEPLOYMENT=your-deployment-name
CLERK_SECRET_KEY=sk_live_...
NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=pk_live_...

The .env.example file contains comments explaining every variable. Optional integrations like Stripe, RevenueCat, and GitHub OAuth can be added later.

Deploy the Convex schema

This creates the real-time database tables (users, sessions, messages, and more) in your Convex project.

npx convex deploy

Start the Inngest dev server

Inngest processes background jobs — sandbox creation, agent runs, and GitHub pushes. Run it in a separate terminal.

npx inngest-cli@latest dev

The Inngest dashboard will be available at http://localhost:8288.

Start the Next.js dev server

In another terminal, start the main backend:

npm run dev

The backend is now running at http://localhost:3000.

E2B sandbox template

Vibra Code runs each build inside a custom E2B sandbox image that has Node.js, Expo CLI, and the Expo template pre-installed. You need to build and register this image before you can generate apps.

Install the E2B CLI and log in

npm install -g @e2b/cli
e2b auth login

Build the sandbox template

cd vibracode-backend/e2b-cursor-template
e2b template build

This uploads the Dockerfile to E2B and returns a template ID that looks like vibracode-expo-cursor-v2.

Set the template ID in config

Open vibracode-backend/config.ts and set the image field of the expo template entry to your new template ID:

{
  id: "expo",
  name: "Expo React Native",
  image: "YOUR_E2B_TEMPLATE_ID", // Replace with the ID from the previous step
  // ...
}

Also set it in vibracode-backend/lib/e2b/config.ts if that file exists separately in your version.

Mobile app setup

Building the Vibra Code iOS app requires macOS. The build chain uses Xcode, CocoaPods, and Hermes (which needs cmake and ninja via Homebrew). Linux and Windows are not supported for the native iOS build.

The mobile app is a modified Expo Go built from source. This takes longer than a typical React Native setup because Hermes and React Native are compiled from source.

Install system dependencies

Homebrew must be installed. Run the Brewfile to install cmake and ninja (required to build Hermes):

cd vibra-code/vibracode-mobile
brew bundle

Install JavaScript dependencies

yarn

Run native setup

yarn setup:native

Build Expo packages

cd packages/expo && yarn build && cd ../..

Install React Native from source

cd react-native-lab/react-native && yarn install && cd ../..

Install CocoaPods

cd apps/expo-go/ios && pod install && cd ../../..

Configure environment variables

Create apps/expo-go/.env with:

EXPO_PUBLIC_CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=pk_live_...
EXPO_PUBLIC_CONVEX_URL=https://your-deployment.convex.cloud
EXPO_PUBLIC_V0_API_URL=http://localhost:3000

Start Metro bundler

Metro must run on port 80. Run this in a dedicated terminal:

cd apps/expo-go && yarn start

Build in Xcode

Open apps/expo-go/ios/Exponent.xcworkspace in Xcode (not the .xcodeproj file).
In EXBuildConstants.plist, set DEV_KERNEL_SOURCE to LOCAL.
Select your simulator or connected device, then build and run.

Troubleshooting common build errors

Problem	Fix
SHA-1 / symlink errors	`rm -rf ./react-native-lab/react-native/node_modules`
C++ build errors	`find . -name ".cxx" -type d -prune -exec rm -rf '{}' +`
Everything broken	`git submodule foreach --recursive git clean -xfd` then re-run setup steps

Build your first app

Once the backend is running and the mobile app is installed on your device or simulator:

Open the Create tab

In the mobile app, tap the Create tab at the bottom of the screen. This opens VibraCreateAppScreen.

Describe your app

Type (or tap the microphone to speak) a description of the app you want to build. Be as specific or as brief as you like. For example:

“A habit tracker with a daily checklist and a streak counter”

Watch it build

Vibra Code creates a session in Convex, spawns an E2B sandbox, and starts the AI agent. You will see status updates stream in real time:Cloning repo → Installing dependencies → Starting dev server → Creating tunnel → RunningThe chat view shows every file the agent reads, edits, and runs as it works.

Preview the app

Once the tunnel is ready, the app preview loads directly on your device. Tap the preview to interact with your new app. Tap the chat area to send follow-up instructions.

The first build takes longer because the sandbox clones the Expo template and installs npm dependencies from scratch. Subsequent messages in the same session reuse the running sandbox and are much faster.

Get Started

Using Vibra Code

Plans & Billing

Vibra Code quickstart: backend, sandbox, and mobile app

Prerequisites

Backend setup

E2B sandbox template

Mobile app setup

Build your first app

​Prerequisites

​Backend setup

​E2B sandbox template

​Mobile app setup

​Build your first app

Prerequisites

Backend setup

E2B sandbox template

Mobile app setup

Build your first app