Dima Maleev, Engineering Leadership at Agoda and founder of So Nerdy! and mentor.sh, launched Tysh, an iOS app that helps with digital detox. The project is interesting not only for its functionality, but also for the way it was created: almost 100% with the help of artificial intelligence, but through a built-in iterative process, rather than chaotic vibe-coding.
Dima Maleev, Engineering Leadership at Agoda and founder of So Nerdy! and mentor.sh, launched Tysh, an iOS app that helps with digital detox. The project is interesting not only for its functionality, but also for the way it was created: almost 100% with the help of artificial intelligence, but through a built-in iterative process, rather than chaotic vibe-coding.
«I decided to go back to my roots and build something from scratch. Well, please welcome — Tysh (in Ukrainian, „tishha“). Tysh is an iOS app that can help you easily work on your digital detox,» he said on LinkedIn.
According to Maleev, he built a process that can be controlled from any device — it is almost completely automated: from code generation and testing to review, build, and publication in TestFlight. Functional requirements were formed separately — in collaboration with Opus and Ask Me Skills.
Maleev didn’t have much experience developing native iOS apps, and working on Tysh was a way for him to gain a deeper understanding of the iOS ecosystem and its limitations — in particular, he notes that the ScreenTime API has significant limitations, and system extensions are protected from deep integration.
Despite the fact that a significant part of the code was written by AI, the project was not fast: development took about two months, not «two days,» as hype stories about vibe-coding sometimes promise.
Tysh blocks distracting apps and protects time for focus — without the shame, public rankings, or intrusive gamification that competitors in the digital well-being category often rely on. The user chooses which apps or sites are the most distracting and builds a personalized block list. You can then set automatic blocks for specific times — like your morning routine or deep work time — or manually start a focus session with a chosen duration and audio accompaniment. When the user tries to open a blocked app, Tysh doesn’t shame, but reminds them of the commitment they’ve made.
A separate feature is opening budgeting: instead of a complete block, you can limit how many times a day a tempting application is allowed to be opened. The level of protection severity is also adjustable — from a flexible mode with a pause for reflection to a complete block with a single «emergency» exit.
Technically, the app is built on Apple’s native Screen Time API, which provides system-level blocking rather than a separate app. Tysh is free to download, with a subscription of $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year for full access to the functionality.
According to the founder, the most difficult stage is still ahead — marketing and working with users, which he calls a new set of skills that will have to be developed. He already considers the experiment with creating a product through an AI process a success and intends to see if Tysh can be turned into a business.
The application is not yet available to users in the EU due to bureaucratic difficulties with verification. You can learn more about Tysh on the website ty.sh.
The application is also available in the AppStore .
«One day Tysh could become a great company with an incredible product. But now is the first day — the day we launched. What will happen to Tysh in a year or two — no one knows,» Maleev noted .
