Easy app projects for cs student portfolio: ship real mobile apps fast with VibeCode

You know data structures, but your portfolio looks like class repos and half-baked side projects. Shipping a full app takes too long. You lose hours to setup, navigation, auth, state, and deployment before you even touch your idea.

That delay kills momentum. Recruiters want proof that you can ship something people can try on their phone. No-code tools feel fast until you hit their limits. Hand-coding everything feels powerful until week three when you still have no demo.

Here’s the practical fix. With VibeCode, you describe the app in plain English and it generates a complete React Native project with navigation, state management boilerplate, and UI components. It acts like an AI app architect, not an autocomplete. You can test instantly on your phone and share an App Clip link for free. Even if you’re early in your coding journey, you can ship a real app in days.

Easy app projects for cs student portfolio you can ship this week

These are simple, scannable, and credible. Each one proves product thinking and basic data modeling without months of work.

Gym log to track workouts

• Log sets, reps, weight, and notes. Filter by muscle group and view weekly volume. Stretch: rest timer and CSV export.

Habit tracker with streaks

• Daily check-ins with streak counters and reminders. Simple calendar view and stats. Stretch: tags and basic charts.

Budget tracker with categories

• Add income and expenses, assign categories, and see monthly totals. Stretch: recurring transactions and insights.

Tip: pick one and keep scope tiny. You can always add features after you have a shareable link.

Step-by-step: build one in VibeCode from idea to shareable link

Follow this exact flow. It’s fast and repeatable.

• Go to Plan Mode.
• Type your project idea in plain English. Example: “habit tracker with streaks, daily reminders, simple stats screen.”
• Choose GPT-5 or Claude as the AI.
• Ask for AI feedback on missing details like onboarding, settings, data model, and navigation.
• VibeCode generates the build prompt that captures screens, state, and UI components.
• Switch to Build Mode and generate the app.
• Test instantly on your phone with the mobile-first flow.
• Share the App Clip link for free on X or directly with friends and family. Put the link on your resume and LinkedIn.

Pro tips to make it portfolio-ready

• Name the problem clearly. One sentence at the top of your README.
• List the core features you shipped. Keep it to 3 to 5 bullets.
• Add screenshots and a 60 second Loom. Show the tap-through.
• Document tradeoffs and next steps. Shows you think like a builder.
• Optional: link a public GitHub repo of the generated project to show code familiarity.

What this shows hiring managers

• You can ship a working mobile app, not just code snippets.
• You move fast by removing boilerplate and focusing on UX.
• You understand product through clear flows and simple data models.
• You communicate well with a clean README and demo.

Why this approach works for students

• Speed over ceremony. Idea to prototype in a day, not weeks.
• Real tech, not toy demos. Full React Native projects you can extend later.
• Mobile-first testing. Tap through on your phone to get instant feedback.
• Beyond autocomplete. VibeCode acts as an AI app architect, handling structure so you focus on features.

Short summary: easy projects become real apps fast. Perfect for portfolio building, especially when you don’t want to spend all semester on boilerplate.

Ready to ship? Open VibeCode, go to Plan Mode, type your idea, choose GPT-5 or Claude, accept the AI feedback, generate in Build Mode, test on your phone, and share your App Clip today.