# 🤖 Claude Desktop Integration Guide
Complete guide for integrating MCP Mobile Server with Claude Desktop for AI-assisted mobile development.
---
## ⚡ Quick Setup
### **1. Install MCP Mobile Server**
```bash
# Install globally (recommended)
npm install -g @cristianoaredes/mcp-mobile-server
# Or use directly with npx
npx @cristianoaredes/mcp-mobile-server
```
### **2. Configure Claude Desktop**
**Find your configuration file:**
```bash
# macOS
~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
# Windows
%APPDATA%/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
# Linux
~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
```
**Add MCP server configuration:**
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"mobile-dev": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["@cristianoaredes/mcp-mobile-server"]
}
}
}
```
### **3. Restart Claude Desktop**
Close and reopen Claude Desktop completely to load the new server configuration.
---
## 🛠️ Claude Desktop Usage Patterns
### **Environment Verification**
**Ask Claude:**
```
Use the health_check tool with verbose details to verify my mobile development environment is properly set up
```
**Claude will:**
- Check server status and tool availability
- Analyze system tools (Flutter, Android SDK, etc.)
- Provide recommendations for missing components
- Report expected vs actual working tools
### **Device Discovery**
**Ask Claude:**
```
Show me all connected mobile devices and emulators available for development
```
**Claude will:**
- Use `flutter_list_devices` to show all platforms
- Use `android_list_devices` for Android-specific devices
- Use `ios_list_simulators` for iOS simulators (macOS)
- Present organized device information with recommendations
### **Flutter Development Assistance**
**Ask Claude:**
```
Help me start a Flutter development session on my Android emulator
```
**Claude will:**
1. List available devices
2. Help you select appropriate device
3. Use `flutter_run` to start development server
4. Provide guidance on hot reload usage
---
## 💬 Effective Claude Prompts
### **Project Health Check**
```
"Run a comprehensive health check of my mobile development environment. Check Flutter setup, Android tools, iOS tools (if on macOS), and tell me what needs to be fixed."
```
**Expected Response:**
- Health check results with detailed analysis
- Platform-specific setup status
- Actionable recommendations for fixes
- Tool availability summary
### **Device Management**
```
"I need to test my Flutter app on multiple devices. Show me what's available and help me boot an iOS simulator if I'm on macOS."
```
**Claude Actions:**
1. Lists all available devices across platforms
2. Identifies best devices for testing
3. Boots iOS simulator if requested and available
4. Provides device selection guidance
### **Build and Release**
```
"Build my Flutter app for Android release, install it on my connected phone, and take a screenshot to verify it's working."
```
**Claude Workflow:**
1. Uses `flutter_build` with release configuration
2. Uses `android_install_apk` or `native_run_install_app`
3. Uses `android_screenshot` to capture result
4. Analyzes the build process and provides feedback
### **Debugging Assistance**
```
"My Android app is crashing. Help me monitor the logs and take screenshots to debug the issue."
```
**Claude Process:**
1. Uses `android_logcat` to capture real-time logs
2. Filters logs for error messages
3. Uses `android_screenshot` to capture current state
4. Analyzes logs for common issues and solutions
---
## 🎯 Advanced Integration Patterns
### **Multi-Platform Development**
**Prompt:**
```
"I'm building a cross-platform Flutter app. Help me test it on both Android emulator and iOS simulator, and compare the results with screenshots."
```
**Claude Workflow:**
1. Verifies both Android and iOS environments
2. Builds app for both platforms
3. Runs on both emulator and simulator
4. Captures comparative screenshots
5. Analyzes differences and provides insights
### **Automated Testing Pipeline**
**Prompt:**
```
"Set up an automated testing workflow: run Flutter tests, build release APK, install on device, and capture screenshots for documentation."
```
**Claude Actions:**
1. Runs `flutter_test` with coverage
2. Executes `flutter_build` for release
3. Installs APK using appropriate tool
4. Captures screenshots at key app screens
5. Provides test results summary and build artifacts info
### **Performance Analysis**
**Prompt:**
```
"Help me analyze the performance of my Flutter app. Build a release version, install it, monitor logs for 60 seconds, and tell me about any performance issues."
```
**Claude Process:**
1. Builds optimized release version
2. Installs on physical device (if available)
3. Monitors logs with performance-focused filtering
4. Analyzes log output for performance warnings
5. Provides optimization recommendations
---
## 🔧 Configuration Best Practices
### **Enhanced Configuration**
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"mobile-dev": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["@cristianoaredes/mcp-mobile-server"],
"env": {
"LOG_LEVEL": "info",
"NODE_OPTIONS": "--max-old-space-size=4096"
}
}
}
}
```
**Environment Variables:**
- `LOG_LEVEL`: Control server logging (error, warn, info, debug)
- `NODE_OPTIONS`: Increase memory limit if needed
### **Multiple Configurations**
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"mobile-dev": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["@cristianoaredes/mcp-mobile-server"]
},
"mobile-dev-local": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/path/to/mcp-mobile-server/dist/server.js"]
}
}
}
```
**Use Cases:**
- `mobile-dev`: Stable NPM version
- `mobile-dev-local`: Development/custom version
---
## 🎪 Interactive Workflows
### **Guided Setup Assistant**
**Ask Claude:**
```
"I'm new to mobile development. Guide me through setting up my environment step by step, checking each component as we go."
```
**Claude Will:**
1. Run health check to assess current state
2. Guide through missing component installation
3. Verify each step with appropriate tools
4. Provide platform-specific setup instructions
5. Test final configuration with sample workflows
### **Project Onboarding**
**Ask Claude:**
```
"I just cloned a Flutter project. Help me get it running on my Android phone."
```
**Claude Process:**
1. Verifies development environment
2. Checks project dependencies with `flutter_pub_get`
3. Lists available Android devices
4. Runs project with `flutter_run`
5. Assists with any setup issues encountered
### **Release Preparation**
**Ask Claude:**
```
"I'm ready to release my app. Help me build release versions for Android and iOS, test them, and prepare deployment assets."
```
**Claude Workflow:**
1. Runs final tests with `flutter_test`
2. Builds release versions for target platforms
3. Installs and tests on real devices
4. Captures screenshots for store listings
5. Provides checklist for app store submission
---
## 🚨 Troubleshooting with Claude
### **Common Issues Resolution**
**"Flutter not working" - Ask Claude:**
```
"Flutter commands are failing. Help me diagnose and fix my Flutter installation."
```
**Claude Response:**
1. Runs `flutter_doctor` to identify issues
2. Checks environment variables and PATH
3. Provides specific fix instructions
4. Verifies fixes with follow-up health checks
**"No devices found" - Ask Claude:**
```
"Claude can't find any devices for testing. Help me set up an Android emulator."
```
**Claude Actions:**
1. Lists available emulators with `android_list_emulators`
2. Provides guidance on creating new AVD
3. Helps boot emulator with appropriate tools
4. Verifies device detection with `flutter_list_devices`
### **Build Failures**
**Ask Claude:**
```
"My Flutter build is failing. Help me clean the project and retry with detailed logging."
```
**Claude Process:**
1. Uses `flutter_clean` to clear build cache
2. Refreshes dependencies with `flutter_pub_get`
3. Attempts build with detailed error capture
4. Analyzes error messages and provides solutions
5. Suggests alternative build approaches if needed
---
## 📊 Monitoring and Analytics
### **Development Session Tracking**
**Ask Claude:**
```
"Track my development session: monitor device logs while I test my app and summarize any issues found."
```
**Claude Monitoring:**
1. Starts log monitoring with `android_logcat`
2. Filters for app-specific messages
3. Captures screenshots at intervals
4. Summarizes findings and performance metrics
### **Cross-Platform Comparison**
**Ask Claude:**
```
"Compare how my app looks and performs on Android vs iOS. Take screenshots and analyze any differences."
```
**Claude Analysis:**
1. Builds and installs on both platforms
2. Captures identical screenshots from both
3. Monitors performance logs from both platforms
4. Provides comparative analysis and recommendations
---
## 🎯 Power User Tips
### **Batch Operations**
```
"Run my complete CI/CD pipeline: test, build for Android and iOS, install on all connected devices, and generate screenshots for documentation."
```
### **Custom Workflows**
```
"Create a custom development workflow: start my app on 3 different Android devices simultaneously, monitor logs from all of them, and alert me to any crashes."
```
### **Performance Optimization**
```
"Analyze my app's performance: build release version, install on fastest device, run for 5 minutes while monitoring logs, and provide optimization recommendations."
```
---
## ✅ Verification Checklist
**Initial Setup:**
- [ ] MCP Mobile Server installed globally or accessible via npx
- [ ] Claude Desktop configuration file updated correctly
- [ ] Claude Desktop restarted and recognizes mobile-dev server
- [ ] Health check passes with expected tool count
**Development Ready:**
- [ ] Flutter environment verified via `flutter_doctor` tool
- [ ] At least one mobile device/emulator available
- [ ] Sample Flutter project can be built and run
- [ ] Screenshots and logs can be captured
**Advanced Features:**
- [ ] Cross-platform development working (if applicable)
- [ ] Release builds completing successfully
- [ ] App installation on physical devices working
- [ ] Automated workflows responding correctly to Claude prompts
---
**🎉 You're ready!** Claude Desktop can now assist you with comprehensive mobile development workflows using all 36 powerful tools in the MCP Mobile Server.
