monocle
Allows AI agents to test iOS mobile apps by interacting with iOS simulators through tools like tap, swipe, type, screenshot, element inspection, and session recording.
Click on "Deploy Server".
Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state.
In the chat, type
@followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@monocletake a screenshot of the current app state"
That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed.
Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.
Monocle
Playwright for Mobile — Give AI agents the ability to test any iOS mobile app.
Monocle is an open-source MCP server + visual dashboard that lets AI agents (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.) interact with iOS simulators through 21+ tools: tap, swipe, type, screenshot, inspect elements, wait for conditions, record sessions, and more.
Architecture
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Monocle Dashboard (Next.js) │
│ Live Simulator View + Agent Chat + Action Timeline │
└───────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────┘
│ HTTP + WebSocket (:7200)
┌───────────────────────▼─────────────────────────────┐
│ Monocle Server (Node.js) │
│ MCP Server (stdio+HTTP) + REST API + WS Streaming │
│ 21+ tools • Element refs (@e1) • Session recording │
└───────────┬────────────────────────┬────────────────┘
│ │
idb_companion xcrun simctl
(accessibility, (screenshots,
tap, swipe, type) recording, lifecycle)Related MCP server: iOS Device Control MCP Server
Quick Start
# Prerequisites: Xcode 15+, Node.js 20+, idb_companion
npm install
npm run dev
# Or use via MCP (stdio mode for Claude Code):
npx tsx packages/server/src/index.ts --stdioMCP Configuration
{
"mcpServers": {
"monocle": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["tsx", "/path/to/monocle/packages/server/src/index.ts", "--stdio"]
}
}
}Tools (21+)
Category | Tools |
Screen |
|
Interact |
|
Inspect |
|
Wait |
|
Device |
|
Record |
|
Element Refs
Monocle assigns short refs (@e1, @e2, ...) to every UI element. Use them anywhere:
Agent: "tap @e3" → taps the Login button
Agent: "type into @e5 'hello@example.com'" → types into email fieldRefs are stable within a session — same element keeps the same ref across calls.
Packages
packages/server— MCP server, iOS bridges, streaming, sessionspackages/dashboard— Next.js visual dashboardpackages/cli— CLI (monocle start,monocle devices,monocle screenshot)
Prerequisites
macOS with Xcode 15+
At least one iOS Simulator booted
idb_companioninstalled (brew install idb-companion)Python 3.11 venv with
fb-idb(for accessibility tree)
License
MIT — Pivot Studio AI
This server cannot be deployed
Maintenance
Related MCP Connectors
Build, run, and inspect iOS apps in disposable hosted Simulators from cloud coding agents.
Control real Android and iOS devices with LLM agents — tap, swipe, type, automate flows.
- LimrunOAuthcom.limrun
Cloud iOS simulators and Android emulators your agent can create, drive, and throw away.
- app-managerOAuthapp.lance
App Store Connect operator for AI agents: icons, TestFlight builds, listings, IAP, rejection fixes.
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