The Distance App Developers

AI agents are becoming much more capable.

They can search databases, call APIs, update records, send emails and take actions on behalf of users. But the more an AI agent can do, the more important it becomes to think about what could happen if it’s manipulated or given too much access.

Prompt injection is one of the risks getting more attention, but it’s only part of the bigger security conversation.

Our latest blog explores the risks of AI agents, why permissions and guardrails matter, and what secure AI development should look like from the start 👇
https://thedistance.co.uk/insights/are-ai-agents-the-next-big-security-risk-for-apps

Got an app idea but not sure where to start?

You don’t need to have everything figured out before you get in touch.

We’ll start by understanding your idea, your goals and what you need the app to achieve. From there, we can shape the project, talk through the scope, timeline and cost, and help you understand what comes next.

Starting an app project doesn’t have to be complicated. We’ll guide you through the journey and keep things as simple as we can 👇
https://thedistance.co.uk/contact

94% of first impressions are influenced by design.

So when you're thinking about the cost of designing an app, it’s worth looking beyond the number of screens you need.

Research, user journeys, wireframes, prototyping, testing, accessibility, design systems and platform requirements can all affect the scope and, ultimately, the budget.

Our updated blog breaks down the key factors that influence app design costs in 2026, and what you should consider before setting your budget👇
https://thedistance.co.uk/insights/how-much-does-it-cost-to-design-an-app

50% of installed apps are uninstalled within 30 days.

That’s a pretty good reminder that having an app idea isn’t the same as having a product people need.

Before you invest thousands into development, it’s worth asking whether there’s a real problem to solve, who needs it, what alternatives already exist and whether your idea can create enough value to justify the investment.

Our latest blog explores the questions you should ask before turning your app idea into a real product👇
https://thedistance.co.uk/insights/How-do-I-know-if-my-app-idea-is-worth-investing-in

Vibe coding has made it easier than ever to turn an idea into an app. But what happens when your MVP starts attracting real users?

That’s when security, scalability, performance and maintainability become just as important as the features themselves.

Your AI-built app got you this far. Now it’s time to turn it into a product built for what comes next.

Read the full blog 👇
https://thedistance.co.uk/insights/turn-your-vibe-coded-app-into-a-real-product

How do you know you're building the right product?

There are plenty of assumptions that can creep into product development...
- That your product needs to be perfect before launch.
- That more features make a better experience.
- That you already know exactly what your users want.

The problem is, assumptions can get expensive when you don't test them.

The strongest products are built around learning. Test your ideas with real users, challenge what you think you know and use what you learn to shape what comes next.

We've broken down some of the biggest product development myths and what product teams should be doing instead.

Read the blog 👇
https://thedistance.co.uk/insights/the-product-development-myths-you-should-stop-believing

✨ It’s that time again - our Weekly Round-Up is here! ✨

This week, AI leaders call for development to slow down, Shopify ditches React Native for native apps with AI agents doing the heavy lifting, and OpenAI pauses Pro subscriptions amid Astra demand.

Catch the highlights 👇



To find out more about these topics:�https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/10/openai-puts-pro-subscriptions-on-hold-due-to-astra-demand/

https://thenewstack.io/shopify-native-ai-agents/

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/sep/14/ai-linked-stocks-fall-tech-bosses-call-slowdown-anthropic-openai

Apps lose 77% of their daily active users within the first three days.

Performance can make the difference between someone sticking around and deleting your app.

Slow load times, unresponsive interactions and crashes can quickly turn a promising first impression into a frustrating experience. That’s why performance needs to be considered throughout the development process, not treated as something to fix later.

Our blog explores why app performance plays such an important role in retention, and what you can do to keep users coming back.

Read the full blog 👇
https://thedistance.co.uk/insights/why-app-performance-makes-or-breaks-user-retention

Apple has finally entered the foldable phone market...

After years of Samsung, Google, Motorola and others developing foldable devices, Apple’s new iPhone Duo brings the format into another major smartphone ecosystem.

For product teams, that means thinking beyond traditional phone screens. New aspect ratios, larger displays and different device states all need to be considered when designing and developing an app.

We’ve updated our blog to look at how foldables have evolved, why Apple’s move matters, and why responsive design needs to be considered from the start.

Read the updated blog 👇
https://thedistance.co.uk/insights/the-rise-of-foldable-phones

Before we start designing or building an app, we need to understand what we’re actually trying to achieve.

That’s where Discovery comes in.

It gives us the time to understand your business, your audience, your goals and what your app needs to do. We use those insights to create a clear foundation for everything that follows, helping us make better decisions throughout the project.

It’s one of the most important parts of the development journey, because getting the foundations right makes everything that comes after much clearer.

Want to know more? Explore our FAQs 👇
https://thedistance.co.uk/insights/faqs