cat README.md
Argent
Agentic toolkit that gives AI assistants direct access to iOS Simulators and Android Emulators.
npx @swmansion/argent initnpm install -g @swmansion/argent && argent initWaiting for input...What makes Argent different
Direct simulator control without XCUITest overhead
Argent talks to the simulator directly instead of routing through XCUITest, making interactions faster and more context-efficient for agents.
XCUITest requires switching between test runner and app for every action, which is slow and wasteful for agent loops. Direct control means the agent can tap, swipe, and type without waiting.Deep diagnostic suite beyond UI interaction
Argent can attach the debugger, explore view hierarchy, read console logs, evaluate expressions, inspect React component tree, read network requests, and run Xcode Instruments profiling.
Most simulator tools only handle UI interaction. Argent lets agents go from reproduction → diagnosis → fix in one session without leaving the CLI.React Native and Expo native support
Argent works with React Native apps out of the box — agents can build, launch, and iterate on RN projects the same way they would native apps.
React Native developers are often caught between native tooling and JS workflows. Argent bridges that gap with zero extra setup.MCP-native architecture
Argent runs as an MCP server over stdio, natively supported by Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot, Codex, Gemini, OpenCode, Windsurf, and Zed.
MCP is the emerging standard for agent-tool communication. Argent requires no custom agent harness — just `argent init` and the agent discovers all capabilities.Your first command
npx @swmansion/argent initnpm install -g @swmansion/argent && argent initargent updateReady. Run --help to explore.How developers use Argent
Autonomous bug reproduction on simulators
Ask your agent to reproduce a bug report — Argent launches the app, navigates the UI, reads console logs, and captures crash reports automatically.
Performance profiling and optimization
Agents can record React and native iOS profiles simultaneously, trace slow commits to native stack frames, detect UI hangs and render cascades.
Manual QA automation
Let agents step through test flows, swipe, type, and tap through screens while logging every interaction and screenshot.
CI-adjacent diagnostics
Use in development workflows to let agents diagnose simulator failures, inspect network requests, and read native logs without leaving the terminal.
How Argent compares
browser-use and OpenClaw focus on web browser control. Argent is purpose-built for iOS Simulator and Android Emulator control, including deep diagnostics and profiling.
React Native Agent Skills provides instructions for agents working on RN projects. Argent is a runtime toolkit that actually controls the simulator — they complement each other.
Argent uses accessibility trees and direct simulator protocols instead of screen coordinates from screenshots, making interactions more reliable and context-efficient.
Questions
Q: What should I check before using Argent?
You need macOS with Xcode for iOS simulator control, or Android SDK Platform Tools (adb) for Android. Argent runs on Node.js 18+. Review the mixed-license model before production use.
Q: Is Argent open source?
Argent uses a mixed licensing model. Source code is Apache 2.0. Proprietary binaries (simulator-server, ax-service, and native .dylib files) are licensed solely for use within this project.
Q: Which coding assistants does Argent support?
Argent works with Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, OpenAI Codex, Google Gemini, OpenCode, Windsurf, and Zed — any agent that can run shell commands and supports MCP.