Both start from the same code. The difference is who does the setup work — you once, or every recipient, every time.
| Step | Vibe (.vibeapp) | GitHub repo |
|---|---|---|
| Get the app | Receive one file | Clone the repo |
| Install runtimes | None | Node / Python / etc. |
| Install dependencies | None | npm install / pip install |
| Databases & services | Start automatically | Set up by hand |
| Find the start command | Double-click to open | Read the README |
| Trust & isolation | Signed, sandboxed VM | Runs on your host |
| Persistent state | Auto-saved snapshots | Manual |
If the recipient is a collaborator who needs to read, edit, and commit code, a GitHub repo is exactly right — and Vibe doesn't replace it. Keep your source on GitHub for development.
When you just want someone to run the thing — a client reviewing a prototype, a teammate trying a tool, a friend you want to show — a repo is friction. With Vibe you package the app and its entire runtime into one signed .vibeapp. They open it on macOS 14+ and it runs in an isolated VM: no clone, no npm install, no Docker, no "works on my machine."
And because Vibe ships skills for AI coding tools, you can produce the file straight from your editor with /vibe it.