argent-react-native-app-workflow: a skill for running and debugging React Native apps

argent-react-native-app-workflow gives your agent a playbook to start, run, debug and test a React Native app on an iOS simulator or Android emulator.

Installs: 28K; on skills.sh
Stars: 3.1K; on GitHub
Updated: Oct 2026; last repo commit

The skill covers five jobs: starting the app, checking or debugging Metro, fixing builds, finding runtime problems, and running tests. Its main rule is to read the project's own scripts first (package.json, metro.config.js) and use custom start and run scripts before the defaults. After 2 to 3 failed build attempts it tells the agent to stop and ask you.

It triggers when you start the app, debug Metro, fix builds, diagnose runtime errors or run tests. It calls Argent tools such as debugger-status, list-devices and debugger-log-registry, and runs shell commands like npx react-native start and pod install. A physical iPhone is rejected by the Metro and profiling tools, so use a simulator. Before running commands it reads the result of the argent-environment-inspector subagent, which the Argent repo ships in packages/skills/agents.

Good for

React Native developers who want an agent to start Metro and run the app
Developers stuck on a failing iOS or Android build
Teams who want runtime errors read from logs and the component tree

Install argent-react-native-app-workflow

Claude Code

Copy this prompt.

Install the argent-react-native-app-workflow skill in Claude Code. Run this command:

npx @swmansion/argent@latest init

Then check that it loaded and tell me how to use it.

2
Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.

Requires Node.js.

This runs the Argent installer. It sets up the Argent tools (an MCP server) that these skills call, plus the Argent skills, in the editors you pick. Skills copied on their own with the skills CLI have no tools to call. The installer offers to add Argent tools to your editor's auto-approve list. The default Automatic skills option installs all Argent skills, not only this one. Telemetry is on by default and argent telemetry disable turns it off.

From the project README. Source.

What's in the skill

When it loads

Step-by-step workflows for developing or debugging React Native apps on iOS simulator or Android emulator. Use when starting the app, debugging Metro, fixing builds, diagnosing runtime errors, or running tests.

Sections in SKILL.md

1. Starting the React Native App
1.1 Explore Configuration (MANDATORY: Do This First)
1.2 Start Metro
1.3 Run the App
2. Ensuring / Debugging Metro
2.1 Check for Existing Metro
2.2 Confirm Correct Server Connection
2.3 Reload the App (Ensure New Bundle)
3. Build / Install / Retry (React Native & iOS Native)
3.1 When Build Fails (e.g. xcodebuild exit code 65)
3.2 When to Ask the User
3.3 Saving Build Workflow for Later
3.4 When to Reinstall vs Refresh
3.5 Device Control
4. Runtime Problems in the App
4.1 Where to Look

Key facts

Author: Software Mansion (Argent)
Repo: software-mansion/argent, path packages/skills/skills/argent-react-native-app-workflow
Installs on skills.sh: 27,990 (as of Nov 2, 2026)
GitHub stars: 3,138 (shared repo, Nov 2, 2026)
License: Apache-2.0 for source code; some bundled binaries are proprietary
Last repo commit: Oct 31, 2026
Files: 1 file: SKILL.md (no bundled scripts)
Needs: The Argent tools (MCP server), set up by the installer in the box above

What it includes

Reads project scripts first, then starts Metro and runs the app
Checks package.json scripts and metro.config.js, saves the discovered workflow to project memory, runs `npx react-native run-ios` or `run-android` with an explicit device.
Runs code · 1. Starting the app
Checks the port, status and reloads the bundle
Uses `lsof -i :PORT`, debugger-status, debugger-reload-metro and restart-app. Stopping Metro uses the stop-metro tool and needs your confirmation.
Runs code · 2. Debugging Metro
Clean build, cache reset, pod install, reinstall
Order is simplest first. Later steps remove node_modules, the lockfile, build folders and Pods, then reinstall.
Delete · 3. Build, install, retry
Boot, launch, restart, open URL, rotate, stop servers
Tools: boot-device, launch-app, restart-app, open-url, rotate, stop-simulator-server, stop-all-simulator-servers.
3.5 Device control
Logs, component tree, screenshots, JS evaluation
debugger-log-registry writes logs to a file under ~/.argent/tmp/ that the agent searches. debugger-evaluate runs JavaScript in the app.
Write · 4. Runtime problems
Finds Jest or Detox and asks before running
Asks which suite to run, then runs `npm test`, `npx jest` or Detox commands. Points to argent-test-ui-flow for interactive UI checks.
Runs code · 5. Testing
Hands off to six other Argent skills
argent-ios-simulator-setup, argent-android-emulator-setup, argent-device-interact, argent-metro-debugger, argent-react-native-profiler, argent-test-ui-flow.
Related skills

From the official docs

Permissions

Medium risk

It runs shell commands in your project and can delete build folders, node_modules and Pods during build recovery. Use a clean git branch and approve each destructive command.

What it can do

Read your data
Create and change things
Delete things
Read-only mode

Watch out for

Build recovery deletes folders
Section 3.1 tells the agent to remove node_modules and the lockfile, then `rm -rf build Pods Podfile.lock` in ios/ and reinstall. Check you can restore from git first. github.com
Installer can auto-approve Argent tools
`argent init` asks whether to add Argent tools to your editor's auto-approve list and its prompt defaults to yes. Say no if you want a confirmation on every tool call. github.com
It runs project scripts and installs dependencies
It runs npm or yarn install, pod install and your package.json scripts, so it executes whatever those scripts do. github.com
It can stop processes and devices
Killing Metro goes through the stop-metro tool, which needs your confirmation. stop-all-simulator-servers without a device list also tears down other agents' devices, so SKILL.md says to scope it. github.com
Argent telemetry is on by default
The README says telemetry is opt-out. Run `argent telemetry disable` to turn it off; the privacy notice says it collects no source code, file paths or tool inputs, and records a hashed installation identifier derived from a device identifier, never the raw one. github.com

Technical details

Talks to	Argent telemetry (on by default)
Sign-in and keys	The skill text does not use an account or API key.

Questions

What does argent-react-native-app-workflow do?

It gives your agent a checklist-style playbook for the React Native dev loop: start Metro, run the app on a device you choose, reload, read logs, fix builds and run tests.

How do I install it in Claude Code?

Use the install box above. It runs the Argent installer, which sets up the Argent tools and skills together. The workflow calls tools such as debugger-status and list-devices, so the skill alone is not enough.

Does it work with Expo or custom scripts?

It tells the agent to use your project's custom start and run scripts before defaults, and to check metro.config.js for a non-default port. SKILL.md does not name Expo.

Is it safe to run?

It runs shell commands, installs dependencies and in build recovery deletes node_modules and ios build folders, so use a clean git branch. It bundles no scripts. The installer can also add Argent tools to your editor's auto-approve list, which you can decline.

Can I use a real iPhone?

SKILL.md says Metro debugging and profiling tools reject a physical iPhone (kind device). Use a simulator.

Will it run my tests without asking?

No. SKILL.md says to confirm which suite to run, whether to use existing CI commands, and whether to run, write or explore tests.

What happens when the build keeps failing?

After 2 to 3 failed attempts the agent should stop and ask you, because you may know about env vars, Xcode versions or monorepo setup.

Information

updated Nov 2, 2026

Repository: software-mansion/argent
Folder: packages/skills/skills/argent-react-native-app-workflow

software-mansion/argent skills.sh

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 6

SKILL.md · github.com
Argent README · github.com
Argent installer: editor adapters · github.com
Argent installer: auto-approve step · github.com
init-skills.ts · github.com
argent-environment-inspector.md · github.com