Skip to main content
Glama

open

Boot the selected device when needed, then launch an app, deep link, or URL as the foreground automation target for the session. Reuses debug/Metro hints on later reloads.

Instructions

Boot the selected device when needed, then open an app, deep link, or URL in a session. Use the app or URL inputs to choose what becomes the foreground automation target. Metro and debug runtime hints given here are recorded as the session's dev-server binding, so a later reload reuses them; a fresh open without them clears any binding left by a previous same-name session. Times out after 90s; a caller-supplied budget extends it.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
appNoApp name, bundle id, package, or URL.
urlNoOptional URL passed with an app shell.
udidNoApple device or simulator UDID; the selector that pins one device when several share a name.
debugNoEnable debug diagnostics.
forceNoOverwrite an existing --save-script target instead of refusing (alias: --overwrite).
runIdNoLease run identifier.
deviceNoDevice name selector (a UDID belongs in udid, a serial in serial).
serialNoAndroid, HarmonyOS, or Vega VVD serial selector.
targetNoAlias for deviceTarget on commands without a UI target field. Interaction commands reserve target for the UI element.
tenantNoRemote tenant identifier.
waitMsNoBlock this open for up to n milliseconds (100-120000) while another session holds the device, then fail with DEVICE_IN_USE naming that session. Only session contention is waited for: a device claim held by another workspace is refused at once with its recovery command. A device that never frees, or is taken again while this open waits, costs the full budget, which extends this command's timeout envelope rather than eating into it.
leaseIdNoExisting lease identifier.
sessionNoAgent-device session name.
surfaceNomacOS presentation surface to open: the app itself, the frontmost app, the desktop, or the menu bar.
testImeNoActivate the headless Android test IME for deterministic Unicode text entry (default on for emulators; opt-in on real devices).
activityNoAndroid activity name.
noRecordNoDo not record this action.
platformNoPlatform selector used to resolve a device.
relaunchNoForce relaunch.
bundleUrlNoSession-scoped bundle URL hint applied to the opened app.
launchUrlNoSession-scoped launch URL hint applied to the opened app.
metroHostNoSession-scoped Metro/debug host hint applied to the opened app.
metroPortNoSession-scoped Metro/debug port hint applied to the opened app. On an emulator/simulator the host defaults to the loopback alias (Android 10.0.2.2, iOS 127.0.0.1) when --metro-host is omitted; physical devices still require an explicit --metro-host.
timeoutMsNoStartup budget in milliseconds. Bounds the Simulator boot wait, so a never-booted Simulator can finish its first-boot migration; omit for the default startup behavior.
foregroundNoInclude an initial interactive snapshot in a fresh open response. With no app argument, discover the sole running app on the sole booted iOS simulator; ambiguous environments fail closed.
launchArgsNoLaunch arguments forwarded verbatim to the platform launch command.
saveScriptNo
includeCostNoInclude per-command agent-cost (cost.wallClockMs, …) in structuredContent. Defaults to off; the default response shape is unchanged.
deviceTargetNoDevice target form. Maps to the CLI --target flag.
launchConsoleNoLaunch console mode.
responseLevelNoResponse verbosity: token-cheap digest / default (today) / full. Defaults to default; the default response shape is unchanged.
mcpOutputFormatNoMCP text content format. Defaults to optimized agent-friendly text; use json for JSON text. Structured content is always returned separately.
androidDeviceAllowlistNoAndroid serial allowlist used for device resolution.

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. Changed1 schema field changedv0.21.13
    • removedInput schema / properties / deviceHub
      Removed value: -{
      -  "description": "Use Xcode Device Hub when surfacing Apple simulators.",
      -  "type": "boolean"
      -}
  2. Changed1 schema field changedv0.21.12
    • addedInput schema / properties / waitMs
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Block this open for up to n milliseconds (100-120000) while another session holds the device, then fail with DEVICE_IN_USE naming that session. Only session contention is waited for: a device claim held by another workspace is refused at once with its recovery command. A device that never frees, or is taken again while this open waits, costs the full budget, which extends this command's timeout envelope rather than eating into it.",
      +  "maximum": 120000,
      +  "minimum": 100,
      +  "type": "integer"
      +}
  3. Changed4 schema fields changedv0.21.0
    • changedInput schema / properties / device / description
      Previous value: -"Device name selector."New value: +"Device name selector (a UDID belongs in udid, a serial in serial)."
    • changedInput schema / properties / serial / description
      Previous value: -"Android device or Vega VVD serial selector."New value: +"Android, HarmonyOS, or Vega VVD serial selector."
    • addedInput schema / properties / timeoutMs
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Startup budget in milliseconds. Bounds the Simulator boot wait, so a never-booted Simulator can finish its first-boot migration; omit for the default startup behavior.",
      +  "minimum": 1,
      +  "type": "integer"
      +}
    • changedInput schema / properties / udid / description
      Previous value: -"iOS device UDID selector."New value: +"Apple device or simulator UDID; the selector that pins one device when several share a name."
  4. Changed8 schema fields changedv0.20.10
    • removedInput schema / properties / cwd
      Removed value: -{
      -  "description": "Working directory for command execution.",
      -  "type": "string"
      -}
    • removedInput schema / properties / daemonAuthToken
      Removed value: -{
      -  "description": "Remote daemon auth token.",
      -  "type": "string"
      -}
    • removedInput schema / properties / daemonBaseUrl
      Removed value: -{
      -  "description": "Remote daemon base URL.",
      -  "type": "string"
      -}
    • removedInput schema / properties / iosSimulatorDeviceSet
      Removed value: -{
      -  "description": "iOS simulator device-set path used for device resolution.",
      -  "type": "string"
      -}
    • removedInput schema / properties / iosXctestDerivedDataPath
      Removed value: -{
      -  "description": "Derived data path for external iOS XCTest runner execution.",
      -  "type": "string"
      -}
    • removedInput schema / properties / iosXctestEnvDir
      Removed value: -{
      -  "description": "Writable directory for iOS XCTest runner env overlays.",
      -  "type": "string"
      -}
    • removedInput schema / properties / iosXctestrunFile
      Removed value: -{
      -  "description": "Externally built iOS XCTest runner .xctestrun artifact path.",
      -  "type": "string"
      -}
    • removedInput schema / properties / stateDir
      Removed value: -{
      -  "description": "Agent-device state directory.",
      -  "type": "string"
      -}
  5. Changed2 schema fields changedv0.20.9
    • changedInput schema / properties / foreground / description
      Previous value: -"[RFC prototype] On a fresh session with no app argument, resolve the target from the sole booted iOS simulator's sole running app and include an initial interactive snapshot in the response. Fails with AMBIGUOUS_MATCH when the environment is not unambiguous (0 or 2+ booted simulators, or no confidently-detectable running app) — never guesses."New value: +"Include an initial interactive snapshot in a fresh open response. With no app argument, discover the sole running app on the sole booted iOS simulator; ambiguous environments fail closed."
    • changedInput schema / properties / platform / enum
      Previous value: -[
      -  "apple",
      -  "android",
      -  "vega",
      -  "linux",
      -  "web",
      -  "ios",
      -  "macos"
      -]New value: +[
      +  "apple",
      +  "android",
      +  "harmonyos",
      +  "vega",
      +  "linux",
      +  "web",
      +  "ios",
      +  "macos"
      +]
  6. Changed2 schema fields changedv0.20.6
    • addedInput schema / properties / foreground
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "[RFC prototype] On a fresh session with no app argument, resolve the target from the sole booted iOS simulator's sole running app and include an initial interactive snapshot in the response. Fails with AMBIGUOUS_MATCH when the environment is not unambiguous (0 or 2+ booted simulators, or no confidently-detectable running app) — never guesses.",
      +  "type": "boolean"
      +}
    • addedInput schema / properties / surface / description
      Added value: +"macOS presentation surface to open: the app itself, the frontmost app, the desktop, or the menu bar."
  7. Changed8 schema fields changedv0.20.2
    • addedInput schema / properties / bundleUrl
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Session-scoped bundle URL hint applied to the opened app.",
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • addedInput schema / properties / force
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Overwrite an existing --save-script target instead of refusing (alias: --overwrite).",
      +  "type": "boolean"
      +}
    • addedInput schema / properties / launchUrl
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Session-scoped launch URL hint applied to the opened app.",
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • addedInput schema / properties / metroHost
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Session-scoped Metro/debug host hint applied to the opened app.",
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • addedInput schema / properties / metroPort
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Session-scoped Metro/debug port hint applied to the opened app. On an emulator/simulator the host defaults to the loopback alias (Android 10.0.2.2, iOS 127.0.0.1) when --metro-host is omitted; physical devices still require an explicit --metro-host.",
      +  "maximum": 65535,
      +  "minimum": 1,
      +  "type": "integer"
      +}
    • changedInput schema / properties / platform / enum
      Previous value: -[
      -  "apple",
      -  "android",
      -  "linux",
      -  "web",
      -  "ios",
      -  "macos"
      -]New value: +[
      +  "apple",
      +  "android",
      +  "vega",
      +  "linux",
      +  "web",
      +  "ios",
      +  "macos"
      +]
    • changedInput schema / properties / serial / description
      Previous value: -"Android serial selector."New value: +"Android device or Vega VVD serial selector."
    • addedInput schema / properties / testIme
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Activate the headless Android test IME for deterministic Unicode text entry (default on for emulators; opt-in on real devices).",
      +  "type": "boolean"
      +}
  8. Changed3 schema fields changedv0.17.11
    • addedInput schema / properties / includeCost
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Include per-command agent-cost (cost.wallClockMs, …) in structuredContent. Defaults to off; the default response shape is unchanged.",
      +  "type": "boolean"
      +}
    • changedInput schema / properties / platform / enum
      Previous value: -[
      -  "ios",
      -  "macos",
      -  "android",
      -  "linux",
      -  "web",
      -  "apple"
      -]New value: +[
      +  "apple",
      +  "android",
      +  "linux",
      +  "web",
      +  "ios",
      +  "macos"
      +]
    • addedInput schema / properties / responseLevel
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Response verbosity: token-cheap digest / default (today) / full. Defaults to default; the default response shape is unchanged.",
      +  "enum": [
      +    "digest",
      +    "default",
      +    "full"
      +  ],
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
  9. Changed1 schema field changedv0.17.7
    • changedInput schema / properties / platform / enum
      Previous value: -[
      -  "ios",
      -  "macos",
      -  "android",
      -  "linux",
      -  "apple"
      -]New value: +[
      +  "ios",
      +  "macos",
      +  "android",
      +  "linux",
      +  "web",
      +  "apple"
      +]
  10. Changed6 schema fields changedv0.17.6
    • addedInput schema / properties / deviceHub
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Use Xcode Device Hub when surfacing Apple simulators.",
      +  "type": "boolean"
      +}
    • addedInput schema / properties / iosXctestDerivedDataPath
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Derived data path for external iOS XCTest runner execution.",
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • addedInput schema / properties / iosXctestEnvDir
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Writable directory for iOS XCTest runner env overlays.",
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • addedInput schema / properties / iosXctestrunFile
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Externally built iOS XCTest runner .xctestrun artifact path.",
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • addedInput schema / properties / mcpOutputFormat
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "MCP text content format. Defaults to optimized agent-friendly text; use json for JSON text. Structured content is always returned separately.",
      +  "enum": [
      +    "optimized",
      +    "json"
      +  ],
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • changedInput schema / properties / platform / enum
      Previous value: -[
      -  "ios",
      -  "android",
      -  "macos",
      -  "linux",
      -  "apple"
      -]New value: +[
      +  "ios",
      +  "macos",
      +  "android",
      +  "linux",
      +  "apple"
      +]
  11. First observedv0.16.9

TDQS

A4.4/5.0
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries the behavioral disclosure burden. It discloses that open may boot the device, that Metro/debug hints are persisted as the session dev-server binding, that a fresh open without them clears a prior binding, and that the command times out after 90s unless a caller-supplied budget extends it.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is four sentences with no filler: purpose, target input guidance, binding behavior, and timeout. It front-loads the core action and each subsequent sentence adds distinct, useful information.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a 33-parameter tool with no annotations and no output schema, the description gives a solid high-level map: booting, target selection, session binding lifecycle, and timeout behavior. Platform-specific selectors and individual parameter semantics are covered by the unusually rich input schema, though a sentence about the response shape would make it fully complete.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 97%, so the baseline is 3, but the description adds cross-parameter meaning: app/url are grouped as foreground target selectors, Metro/debug runtime hints are tied to session binding lifecycle, and caller-supplied budget is linked to the timeout behavior. These groupings are not obvious from the individual parameter descriptions alone.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description opens with a specific verb and resource: boot when needed, then open an app, deep link, or URL in a session, and it clarifies that the result becomes the foreground automation target. This clearly distinguishes it from siblings like boot and apps rather than merely restating the tool name.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

It gives clear context by explaining that open is the path to making an app or URL the foreground automation target, and it notes that the tool will boot the selected device when needed. It does not explicitly name alternatives or provide when-not conditions, but the intended use is unambiguous.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.