How do I handle app versions and updates?
Quick Answer
Use Git for version control, deploy updates through Vercel or your hosting platform, and communicate changes to users. AI tools often integrate version control automatically.
Full Explanation
Managing updates becomes important once you have real users. Here's how it works:
Version control basics:
Git is the standard tool for tracking code changes. It lets you:
- See what changed and when
- Revert to previous versions if something breaks
- Work on new features without affecting the live app
Most AI tools (Lovable, Bolt) integrate with GitHub automatically, so you get version control without extra setup.
Deployment workflow:
Simple approach (most AI-built apps):
- . Make changes in your AI tool or code editor
- . Save/push changes
- . Hosting platform (Vercel) automatically deploys updates
- . Changes go live in minutes
More controlled approach:
- . Work on a development branch
- . Test changes thoroughly
- . Merge to main branch
- . Production deployment happens
Communicating updates to users:
For web apps: Changes deploy silently. Consider a changelog page or in-app notifications for major updates.
For significant changes: Email users about new features or changes that affect their workflow.
For breaking changes: Give users advance notice. Consider maintaining old functionality temporarily.
Rollback strategy:
If an update breaks something:
- Vercel and similar platforms let you instantly redeploy previous versions
- Git lets you revert code changes
- Database changes are trickier-always back up before major changes
Start simple and add process as your user base grows.
Related Questions
How do I deploy my app?
Most AI tools handle deployment automatically. If deploying manually, Vercel and Netlify are the easiest options with generous free tiers and one-click deployment from GitHub.
What happens when my AI-built app breaks?
You debug it the same way any app is debugged-error messages, testing, and iteration. AI tools can often help fix issues they created, or you can hire help for complex problems.
Is vibe coding just for MVPs or can I scale?
You can scale AI-built apps to significant user bases. However, high-scale applications usually require professional optimization and may need partial rewrites.
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