docs: update sharing, download code, and App Store deploy for Apple r…

[thinal12]

1. Sharing: replaced direct share link flow with Appsmith QR code workflow, noting that recipients need the Appsmith app installed to scan the QR code
2. Download Code: restricted to web only, updated steps to use the <> button with download link sent via email
3. Deploy to App Store: restricted to web only, commented out mobile submission steps

---

Note

Low Risk
Low risk documentation-only changes; main risk is user confusion if any outdated sharing instructions remain after commenting out the old link-based sections.

Overview
Updates the getting-started guides to reflect Apple restrictions: App Store deployment and code downloads are now documented as web-only, with prior mobile steps commented out and the App Store entry point corrected to the Deploy button.

Reworks iOS sharing guidance to a QR-code flow from the web preview’s On Mobile button, requiring recipients to install Appsmith - Vibecode Apps and scan the QR code; legacy direct-link sharing sections are commented out.

^{Reviewed by Cursor Bugbot for commit 7e142d1. Bugbot is set up for automated code reviews on this repo. Configure here.}

Greptile Summary

This PR updates three Getting Started docs to reflect Apple platform restrictions: App Store deployment and code download are restricted to web-only (with mobile steps commented out), and sharing is reworked to describe the Appsmith + QR code flow for iOS recipients.

• deploy-app-store.mdx: Adds a web-only Note, comments out mobile submission steps, and corrects the UI button name from Share to Deploy — all accurate and clean.
• download-code.mdx: Adds a web-only Note and a new web download section using the <> button (link sent by email); mobile steps commented out — clean and complete.
• sharing-app.mdx: Adds iOS restriction Note and a new "How to Share Your App on iOS" Appsmith QR-code flow, but comments out all of the old link-based sharing documentation. Multiple other pages (deploying/overview.mdx, faqs.mdx, resources/glossary.mdx) still reference link-based sharing and direct users to this page — leaving web users with no sharing instructions.

Confidence Score: 4/5

Safe to merge after addressing one P1 documentation gap in sharing-app.mdx — the other two files are clean.

Two of the three files are clean and well-structured. The sharing page has a P1 gap — link-based web sharing is referenced across the docs site but no longer documented on this page — which should be resolved before merging to avoid user confusion.

getting-started/sharing-app.mdx — needs either a restored web sharing section or explicit confirmation that link-based sharing has been fully retired across the product.

Important Files Changed

Filename	Overview
getting-started/sharing-app.mdx	Adds iOS/Appsmith QR-code sharing section but fully removes web link-based sharing docs, leaving a gap since other pages still direct web users here
getting-started/download-code.mdx	Cleanly adds web-only download instructions and comments out mobile steps; no issues found
getting-started/deploy-app-store.mdx	Adds web-only Note, comments out mobile submission steps, and corrects 'Share' → 'Deploy' button label; all changes look correct

Flowchart

%%{init: {'theme': 'neutral'}}%%
flowchart TD
    A[User wants to share Vibecode app] --> B{Recipient platform?}
    B -->|iOS recipient| C[Open project on Vibecode Web App]
    C --> D[Click 'On Mobile' button in preview]
    D --> E[QR code popup shown]
    E --> F[Share QR code with recipient]
    F --> G[Recipient downloads Appsmith app]
    G --> H[Recipient scans QR code]
    H --> I[App runs in Appsmith]
    B -->|Web / other| J[⚠️ No documentation — web sharing via link undocumented]
    style J fill:#f99,stroke:#c33

Loading

Comments Outside Diff (4)

1. getting-started/sharing-app.mdx, line 25-32 (link)

   Contradictory content: old link-sharing steps still present

   The new <Note> at the top explicitly states that "direct share links are no longer available," but the "How Sharing Works" section still describes the old link-based flow in full:

   • "Open the published app link"
   • "Copy the published app link"
   • "Share it directly to supported social channels"
   • "Send the link by message or email"

   This directly contradicts the QR-code-only workflow added at the top of the page and will confuse users who read further. This section should either be removed or rewritten to describe QR-code sharing semantics.

   Prompt To Fix With AI

   This is a comment left during a code review.
   Path: getting-started/sharing-app.mdx
   Line: 25-32
   
   Comment:
   **Contradictory content: old link-sharing steps still present**
   
   The new `<Note>` at the top explicitly states that "direct share links are no longer available," but the **"How Sharing Works"** section still describes the old link-based flow in full:
   
   - "Open the published app link"
   - "Copy the published app link"
   - "Share it directly to supported social channels"
   - "Send the link by message or email"
   
   This directly contradicts the QR-code-only workflow added at the top of the page and will confuse users who read further. This section should either be removed or rewritten to describe QR-code sharing semantics.
   
   How can I resolve this? If you propose a fix, please make it concise.

2. getting-started/sharing-app.mdx, line 36-41 (link)

   "Where to Share From" references the deprecated Share control and link UI

   This section still instructs users to "use the Share control" and says Vibecode will show:

   • "The published URL"
   • "Quick share and copy actions"

   These are features of the old direct-link flow. After the switch to QR codes, this section is outdated and misleading. It should be updated to describe where users can find the QR code in the UI, or removed.

   Prompt To Fix With AI

   This is a comment left during a code review.
   Path: getting-started/sharing-app.mdx
   Line: 36-41
   
   Comment:
   **"Where to Share From" references the deprecated Share control and link UI**
   
   This section still instructs users to "use the **Share** control" and says Vibecode will show:
   
   - "The published URL"
   - "Quick share and copy actions"
   
   These are features of the old direct-link flow. After the switch to QR codes, this section is outdated and misleading. It should be updated to describe where users can find the QR code in the UI, or removed.
   
   How can I resolve this? If you propose a fix, please make it concise.

3. getting-started/sharing-app.mdx, line 50-52 (link)

   Closing Note contradicts the new QR-code-only sharing model

   The closing <Note> block says:

   "Sharing gives people direct access to the published app link without going through the App Store review process."

   Since direct share links are explicitly removed per the top-of-page note, this statement is now inaccurate. It should be updated to reflect that sharing now works via QR code scanned through the Appsmith app.

   Prompt To Fix With AI

   This is a comment left during a code review.
   Path: getting-started/sharing-app.mdx
   Line: 50-52
   
   Comment:
   **Closing Note contradicts the new QR-code-only sharing model**
   
   The closing `<Note>` block says:
   
   > "Sharing gives people direct access to the **published app link** without going through the App Store review process."
   
   Since direct share links are explicitly removed per the top-of-page note, this statement is now inaccurate. It should be updated to reflect that sharing now works via QR code scanned through the Appsmith app.
   
   How can I resolve this? If you propose a fix, please make it concise.

4. getting-started/sharing-app.mdx, line 43-48 (link)

   "Sharing Tips" still uses link-centric language

   The "Sharing Tips" section uses language that no longer applies to the QR code workflow:

   • "Publish before sending the link so other people can open the latest version"
   • "If you make important changes, republish and resend the updated link"

   These tips should be reworded to reflect the QR code approach (e.g., resharing the QR code screenshot, asking recipients to rescan after republishing, etc.).

   Prompt To Fix With AI

   This is a comment left during a code review.
   Path: getting-started/sharing-app.mdx
   Line: 43-48
   
   Comment:
   **"Sharing Tips" still uses link-centric language**
   
   The **"Sharing Tips"** section uses language that no longer applies to the QR code workflow:
   
   - "Publish before sending the link so other people can open the latest version"
   - "If you make important changes, republish and **resend the updated link**"
   
   These tips should be reworded to reflect the QR code approach (e.g., resharing the QR code screenshot, asking recipients to rescan after republishing, etc.).
   
   How can I resolve this? If you propose a fix, please make it concise.

Prompt To Fix All With AI

This is a comment left during a code review.
Path: getting-started/sharing-app.mdx
Line: 26-56

Comment:
**Web sharing workflow is now undocumented**

The old link-based sharing sections ("How Sharing Works", "Where to Share From", "Sharing Tips") have been commented out entirely, but several other docs still direct web users to this page for sharing instructions:

- `deploying/overview.mdx` has a "Share Link — Share Instantly" card linking here as the how-to guide
- `faqs.mdx` answers "How do I share my apps?" by linking here
- `resources/glossary.mdx` defines "Share Link" as a core Vibecode feature

The opening `<Note>` says sharing is unavailable "on the iOS app" — implying the link-based share workflow still works on web. Web users arriving from any of those links will find no instructions for sharing via link. Consider either restoring the link-based sections under a "Sharing on Web" heading, or explicitly stating that web sharing via link has been retired if that is the case.

How can I resolve this? If you propose a fix, please make it concise.

_{Reviews (3): Last reviewed commit: "docs: fix sharing doc to clarify iOS-onl..." | Re-trigger Greptile}

[RikasMRM]

Code review

Found 2 issues:

1. "or link" contradicts the Note about links being removed — Line 9 states "direct share links are no longer available" but line 16 says "share the displayed QR code or link." The "or link" text contradicts the Note and will confuse users about what sharing methods are actually available. Consider removing "or link" from step 1.

docs/getting-started/sharing-app.mdx

Lines 8 to 16 in c2b9d02

	<Note>
	Due to Apple's restrictions, direct share links are no longer available. To run a Vibecode app on mobile, users need to download the Appsmith app and scan a QR code.
	</Note>
	## How to Share Your App
	To share your app with someone:
	1. Open your project on the Vibecode web app, click the **Share** button, and share the displayed QR code or link with the person you want to share with

2. Existing body sections still describe the old direct-link sharing flow — The "How Sharing Works" (L24-33), "Where to Share From" (L35-42), and "Sharing Tips" (L44-48) sections all reference "the published app link," "copy the published app link," "the published URL," and "resend the updated link." These contradict the Note on L9 saying direct share links are no longer available. These sections should be updated or commented out to match the new QR code workflow, similar to how mobile steps were commented out in the other two files.

docs/getting-started/sharing-app.mdx

Lines 24 to 52 in c2b9d02

	## How Sharing Works
	To share an app, it must be **published** first. If it is not published yet, Vibecode will prompt you to publish it before sharing.
	Once published, you can:
	- Open the published app link
	- Copy the published app link
	- Share it directly to supported social channels
	- Send the link by message or email
	## Where to Share From
	Open your project, use the **Share** control, and Vibecode will show:
	- A preview of the published app
	- Whether the app is published yet
	- The published URL
	- Quick share and copy actions
	## Sharing Tips
	- Publish before sending the link so other people can open the latest version
	- Double-check the published app on your own device before sharing widely
	- If you make important changes, republish and resend the updated link
	<Note>
	Sharing a published app is different from App Store distribution. Sharing gives people direct access to the published app link without going through the App Store review process.
	</Note>

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[RikasMRM]

LGTM