setup-dev-client - SKILL.md Agent Skill

name: setup-dev-client description: Setup Dev Client environment and manage platforms (Android/iOS). Use for initial setup from Expo Go or to add/remove platforms. Run this BEFORE /dist-dev-client. user-invocable: true allowed-tools: - Bash - Write - Read - AskUserQuestion

/setup-dev-client - Dev Client Setup & Platform Management

Setup Dev Client environment for Expo projects and manage target platforms.

Usage

Initial Setup (Expo Go → Dev Client)

/setup-dev-client

Migrates from Expo Go to Dev Client by:

Installing expo-dev-client
Running expo prebuild
Creating eas.json

Add Platform

/setup-dev-client add android
/setup-dev-client add ios
/setup-dev-client add all

Remove Platform

/setup-dev-client remove android
/setup-dev-client remove ios

Execution Requirements

IMPORTANT: Execute commands from the app root directory (APPNAME directory, not the .git root).

Idempotency Guarantee

This skill is safe to run multiple times. All operations check current state before executing:

Won't reinstall already-installed packages
Won't regenerate existing native projects
Won't overwrite existing eas.json
Won't re-add already-configured platforms

Instructions for Claude

0. Parse Command Arguments (Run this FIRST)

Check if the skill was invoked with arguments:

No arguments: Execute Initial Setup Flow
add <platform>: Execute Platform Add Flow
remove <platform>: Execute Platform Remove Flow

Initial Setup Flow (No arguments)

Determine target platform

If eas.json exists: Read platform from existing configuration

if [ -f "eas.json" ]; then
  PLATFORMS=$(jq -r '.build.dev | keys[]' eas.json 2>/dev/null)
fi

If eas.json doesn't exist: Ask user using AskUserQuestion

AskUserQuestion({
  questions: [{
    question: "Which platforms do you want to target?",
    header: "Platforms",
    multiSelect: false,
    options: [
      {
        label: "Android only",
        description: "Build APK for Android devices. Free tier available."
      },
      {
        label: "iOS only",
        description: "Build IPA for iOS devices. Requires Apple Developer account ($99/year)."
      },
      {
        label: "Both",
        description: "Build for both Android and iOS platforms."
      }
    ]
  }]
})

Install expo-dev-client (idempotent)

if ! grep -q "expo-dev-client" package.json; then
  npx expo install expo-dev-client
fi

Generate native projects (idempotent)

# For Android
if [ ! -d "android" ] && [platform includes Android]; then
  npx expo prebuild --platform android
fi

# For iOS
if [ ! -d "ios" ] && [platform includes iOS]; then
  npx expo prebuild --platform ios
fi

Create eas.json (idempotent)

if [ ! -f "eas.json" ]; then
  # Create eas.json based on target platforms
  # Android only example:
  cat > eas.json << 'EOF'
{
  "cli": {
 "version": ">= 16.0.0"
  },
  "build": {
 "dev": {
   "developmentClient": true,
   "distribution": "internal",
   "channel": "dev",
   "android": {
     "buildType": "apk",
     "gradleCommand": ":app:assembleDebug"
   }
 }
  },
  "submit": {
 "production": {}
  }
}
EOF
  # iOS only: include ios config instead
  # Both: include both android and ios configs
fi

Display completion message

Setup complete! Next steps:
1. Run /ota to publish your first update
2. Run /dist-dev-client to build APK/IPA

Platform Add Flow

Parse platform name from arguments (android/ios/all)

Check eas.json exists

if [ ! -f "eas.json" ]; then
  echo "Error: eas.json not found. Run /setup-dev-client first."
  exit 1
fi

Check if platform already configured (idempotent)

# For Android
if jq -e '.build.dev.android' eas.json > /dev/null 2>&1; then
  echo "Android platform already configured, skipping."
else
  jq '.build.dev.android = {"buildType": "apk", "gradleCommand": ":app:assembleDebug"}' eas.json > eas.json.tmp && mv eas.json.tmp eas.json
fi

Check if native directory exists (idempotent)

if [ -d "android" ]; then
  echo "Android native project already exists, skipping."
else
  npx expo prebuild --platform android
fi

Display completion message

Android platform added!
Next: Run /dist-dev-client to build.

Platform Remove Flow

Parse platform name from arguments (android/ios)

Check if platform configured (idempotent)

if ! jq -e '.build.dev.android' eas.json > /dev/null 2>&1; then
  echo "Android platform not configured, nothing to remove."
  exit 0
fi

Remove from eas.json

jq 'del(.build.dev.android)' eas.json > eas.json.tmp && mv eas.json.tmp eas.json

Ask about directory deletion

AskUserQuestion({
  questions: [{
    question: "Delete android/ directory?",
    header: "Directory",
    multiSelect: false,
    options: [
      { label: "Delete", description: "Remove android/ directory completely" },
      { label: "Keep", description: "Keep directory, only remove from eas.json" }
    ]
  }]
})

Delete if user confirmed

if [user selected "Delete"]; then
  rm -rf android/
fi

Display completion message
```
Android platform removed.
```

Dependencies

jq: Required for JSON manipulation. If not available, install with:
- macOS: brew install jq
- Linux: sudo apt-get install jq
- Windows: Download from https://jqlang.github.io/jq/

Success Indicators

expo-dev-client installed in package.json
Native directories generated (android/ or ios/)
eas.json created with correct platform configurations
No errors during prebuild

Common Issues

jq not found: Install jq using package manager
Not in app directory: Command must run from APPNAME directory
EAS project not initialized: Run eas init first (should be automatic in initial setup)