About MIT App Inventor
MIT App Inventor is a free, block-based tool for building mobile apps. It runs in a web browser, so there is nothing to install, and it is used widely in schools and by beginners.
What it does
You build an app by arranging visual blocks in an editor and testing it on your own phone or tablet. The MIT AI2 Companion app for iPhone and Android connects the editor to a device. Tutorials are grouped into beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, and cover topics such as generative AI, maps, the camera, saved data and machine learning. Video tutorials are also available on the project's YouTube channel.
Key features
- Build apps by snapping together visual blocks
- Runs in a browser with nothing to install
- Test apps on a phone with the AI2 Companion
- Tutorials from beginner to advanced levels
Who it's for
Students, teachers and beginners who want to learn app development. It also suits makers who want a quick way to test an idea on a phone without a full developer setup.
Pricing and good to know
The site says the tool is free to use. It runs on Mac, Windows and Chromebook computers. The project publishes news, research and events, such as a free virtual hackathon called the Global Appathon.
Highlights
- Build apps by snapping together visual blocks
- Runs in a browser with nothing to install
- Test apps on a phone with the AI2 Companion
- Tutorials from beginner to advanced levels
