Non-technical PM Builds & Ships Stress App with Claude Code in 6 Weeks

TL;DR

• A project manager with no coding background built and launched a stress management app, Respiro, in just six weeks.
• The app, Respiro, was developed using Claude Code during a 72-hour hackathon.
• Respiro leverages an architecture of over 15 specialized sub-agents to provide science-backed stress management.
• The project manager utilized Claude Code not only for app development but also for navigating the App Store submission process.

Kostiantyn Vlasenko, a project manager with a decade of experience, achieved a remarkable feat by building and launching a stress management app named Respiro on the App Store, all without prior coding knowledge. His journey, which began in February 2026, culminated in a fully functional iOS app just six weeks later. This impressive accomplishment was realized during the Built With Opus 4.6 Claude Code Hackathon, where Vlasenko spent 72 hours creating Respiro. The app is designed to offer science-backed stress management techniques, and remarkably, it runs on an architecture comprising more than 15 specialized sub-agents that Vlasenko himself developed and orchestrated.

Vlasenko's motivation stemmed from his personal experience as a project manager dealing with high-pressure environments. While he found mindfulness techniques helpful, he noticed a gap in existing apps that could provide real-time intervention during moments of acute stress. He envisioned an app that could detect stress signals from personal devices and proactively offer guided breathing exercises when needed most. The challenge, however, was his lack of programming expertise. He had previously used Claude for automating work tasks, such as updating Jira and posting messages to Slack, and had only recently started experimenting with the Claude Code CLI. This familiarity led him to consider using Claude Code for his app development aspirations.

Leveraging his project management skills in orchestrating "agents" within his IDE, Vlasenko found the process surprisingly manageable. He initiated the project with a broad prompt to Claude, asking for an app to reduce stress. The initial output not only met his expectations but exceeded them, providing a tangible and functional application. Vlasenko then delved deeper, using Claude to research agent system functionalities and relevant Apple APIs for stress detection. This led to the development of a sophisticated multi-agent architecture, involving specialized agents for tasks like TCA architecture, Swift development, Metal processing, and code review, all working in parallel.

The flexibility of Claude Code proved crucial when Vlasenko needed to pivot. An initial React Native-based Minimum Viable Product (MVP) presented testing challenges due to his lack of an Android device. He then used Claude Code to rewrite the entire application in Swift, a process that took only a few hours. Beyond development, Vlasenko also relied on Claude to guide him through the intricacies of the Apple Developer Program and set up essential third-party services like Sentry for logging and Amplitude for analytics. He could even submit screenshots of his progress and ask Claude for guidance on specific steps, demonstrating the tool's practical utility in real-world development hurdles.

Summary

• Kostiantyn Vlasenko, a project manager with no coding experience, successfully built and launched the iOS stress management app, Respiro, in six weeks.
• The app was developed using Claude Code during a 72-hour hackathon, showcasing the power of AI in democratizing app creation.
• Respiro employs a complex architecture of over 15 specialized sub-agents orchestrated by Vlasenko, offering science-backed stress relief.
• Vlasenko also utilized Claude to navigate the complexities of the Apple App Store submission process, highlighting its end-to-end development support.

Source: How a non-technical project manager built and shipped a stress management app with Claude Code in six weeks | Claude