For AI agents

This site ships llms.txt indexes — point an agent at:

• /react-native-mcp/llms.txt — index of all pages
• /react-native-mcp/llms-full.txt — full documentation in one file
• /react-native-mcp/llms-small.txt — abridged version for small contexts

Tool-selection guidance

Rules of thumb that make agents effective with this server:

1. Run doctor first when anything fails or before the first device/build operation. It is read-only, fast, and its problems[] contain exact fixes.
2. JS change → reload_app. Native change → run_build. Rebuilding for a JS-only edit wastes minutes; reloading after a native edit silently runs stale native code.
3. Never poll get_build_status in a tight loop — pass waitSeconds: 60 and let the server long-poll for you (~1 call/minute).
4. Use cursors on read_console. Store nextCursor and pass it on the next read to get only new entries. Filter with level: "error" when hunting crashes.
5. Prefer read-only evaluate_js expressions when verifying (it can mutate app state). Multi-statement code must be wrapped in an IIFE.
6. On isError results, read remediation — it states the next action (often another tool of this server, e.g. run_pod_install).

Prompt patterns that work

"Boot an iPhone simulator, build and install the app, then watch the console
 for errors while you verify the login flow via deep link myapp://login."

"The Android build is failing. Run it through run_build, read the diagnostics,
 apply the suggested fix, and rebuild until green."

"Use evaluate_js to dump the Redux state slice 'cart' before and after
 triggering checkout, and tell me what changed."

For agents working on an app repo

Add a note like this to the app’s AGENTS.md/CLAUDE.md so agents discover the loop:

## Device & build tooling
This project uses the rn-dev MCP server (react-native-dev-mcp).
- Verify changes on-device: boot_device → install_app → read_console → take_screenshot.
- For build failures, trust get_build_status diagnostics before reading raw logs.
- Metro must be running (`npx expo start`) for read_console / evaluate_js / reload_app.