Every AI app builder ships a feature list. One feature matters more than all the others combined: can you take your code and leave?
The ownership test
Export the project. Close your browser. Open the directory in VS Code. Run npm install && npm run dev. Does it work? If yes, you own your code. If no — if it requires a special CLI, a proprietary runtime, or a hosted service to function — you're renting, not owning.
Why this matters more than any other feature
- Tools change. The AI builder that's best today may not be best next year. Clean export means you can switch without rebuilding.
- Teams grow. When you hire engineers, they need a real codebase. A proprietary format means a rewrite on day one of the hire.
- Investors ask. "Can you run this without the tool?" is a due-diligence question. The right answer is "yes, it's standard Next.js."
- Pricing changes. If you're locked in, price increases are mandatory. If you can leave, they're optional.
The export spectrum
- Full ownership: InBuild, v0, Bolt — export a standard project, host anywhere.
- Partial export: Lovable, Webflow — export exists but is gated, incomplete, or requires their hosting.
- No export: Bubble, Framer — the output runs on their platform. Leave = rebuild.
The principle
Build with tools that make it easy to leave. The tools confident enough to let you go are the ones most likely to deserve you staying.