PI-HOLE COMPANION: HOW WE DEVELOPED A FULL-FLEDGED APP USING AI

What is Pi-hole - and why do you need it?

Ads, trackers, and unwanted network requests are annoying not only in the browser but also on smart TVs, apps, and other connected devices — where a classic adblocker plugin is simply not an option.

This is where Pi-hole comes in. Pi-hole is an open-source DNS sinkhole that runs on a small server (classically a Raspberry Pi, hence the name) in the home network. It acts as a DNS server for all devices and blocks known advertising and tracking domains before a connection is even established — network-wide, for every device, without anything needing to be installed everywhere.

The result: less advertising, less tracking, faster loading times, and an overall cleaner network. Pi-hole offers a web interface for management — but only on the desktop. Mobile was previously a gap.

The idea: A mobile companion app

Our Lead Developer Fabian has been using Pi-hole privately for years. Managing it via the web interface is functional, but if you want to quickly whitelist a domain or check the status while on the go, it is cumbersome.

Pi-hole Companion was born from the desire to solve exactly that: a native mobile app for iOS and Android that maps the full range of Pi-hole functions.

Features at a Glance

• Compatibility - Full support for Pi-hole v6
• Dashboard - Real-time statistics, block rates, and 24-hour history
• Live Query Log - Search, filter, and track DNS queries in real time
• Management - Manage domains, lists, groups, and clients
• Security - Credentials stored in secure device storage
• Design - Native Dark Mode, optimized for iOS & Android
• Multilingual - German and English with automatic detection
• Demo Mode - Fully testable without your own Pi-hole server

The real experiment: Can an AI build a production-ready app?

However, the actual experiment was technological in nature: How far can you get today with an AI agent if you have it develop a real, production-ready application?

We chose Anthropic Claude as our tool — specifically its use as an autonomous coding agent via Claude Code. The task was clear: Develop a complete mobile app with everything that goes with it — and in such a way that the result can be submitted to the App Store.

• The result impressed us. Claude not only produced functional code but also:
• built a clean app architecture with a clear structure and navigation,
• implemented the complete connection to all functions of the Pi-hole interface,
• wrote automated tests for all critical areas of the app,
• established a thoughtful color system with automatic Dark Mode,
• integrated multilingualism with automatic language detection,
• set up secure storage for access data,
• configured automated quality assurance with linting, type checking, and formatting,
• and implemented a full-featured demo mode with realistic sample data — so that App Store reviewers can also test the app without their own server.

The entire development process took place without manual code implementation. We formulated requirements, gave feedback, and made decisions — Claude did the writing.

Under the hood

For those interested in the technical details: The app is built using React Native with Expo—a modern framework for cross-platform app development. The entire code is written in TypeScript and is validated by automated tests and quality checks with every change. Test coverage exceeds 90% - a figure that even manually developed projects often fail to achieve.

Particularly impressive: Claude has independently solved complex requirements—from real-time graphs in the dashboard to infinite scrolling in the query log, all the way to comprehensive group and client management. All without manual intervention.

From the Lab to the Store

After a final review phase, the code was submitted to both stores. The app runs natively on iOS and Android, supports Dark and Light Mode automatically, and is compatible with Pi-hole v6.

We paid special attention to validating the AI-generated logic. Through intensive manual reviews and our strict testing routines, we ensured that the app achieves a stability and code quality otherwise only known from months of manual development. Pi-hole Companion is thus far more than just an experiment – it is professional-level software. All features, screenshots and download links can be found on the Pi-hole Companion website.

Curious to learn more?

If you want to dive deeper into the world of Pi-hole Companion, you can find all the details, technical background, and latest updates on our project page at https://pihole-companion.devsuit.io.

Through the strategic use of AI, we realized the website in no time. A strong statement to how efficient modern web and app development can be when AI is utilized smartly.

Our conclusion

AI agents like Claude are no longer just typing aids. They are full-fledged development partners. Our role has shifted: away from writing individual lines of code, toward designing user experience and system logic. We set the direction, made decisions, and checked the quality - Claude handled the implementation.

Pi-hole Companion is our first published proof that you can build a market-ready app today if you give the right instructions.

P.S. As you read this, Claude is probably already planning the next update—while we sit back and enjoy a cup of coffee.

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Available on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Give it a try and experience what AI-native software feels like.