Plugin for the Kobiton mobile testing platform. Works with Claude Code, GitHub Copilot CLI, Gemini CLI, Codex CLI, and Cursor (CLI and IDE). Manage devices, upload apps, run automation sessions, and view test results directly from your AI coding assistant.
- Before You Begin
- Installation
- Login
- Getting Started
- What You Can Do
- Tools
- Skills
- Commands
- Running Automation Tests
- Interactive Device Testing
- Examples
- Troubleshooting
- Privacy & Data
- Development
- License
Make sure you have:
- A Kobiton account - sign up at kobiton.com if you don't have one
- A supported AI assistant - install Claude Code, Copilot CLI, Gemini CLI, Codex CLI, or Cursor (CLI or IDE)
- A project directory - your AI assistant must launch from a workspace, not from your home folder
Open your project and start a Claude Code session:
cd my-project
claudeInside the session, add the Kobiton marketplace and install the plugin:
/plugin marketplace add kobiton/automate
/plugin install automate@kobiton
Open your project and start a Copilot CLI session:
cd my-project
copilotInside the session, add the Kobiton marketplace and install the plugin:
/plugin marketplace add kobiton/automate
/plugin install automate@kobiton
From your project directory, install the extension directly from GitHub:
cd my-project
gemini extensions install https://github.com/kobiton/automateThen launch Gemini CLI:
geminiThe kobiton MCP server and bundled skills are auto-discovered. Confirm the extension is active with /extensions list and the MCP server with /mcp.
Add the Kobiton marketplace and install the plugin from the in-session browser. Codex opens a browser for Kobiton OAuth login on the first tool call.
codex plugin marketplace add kobiton/automate
codexInside Codex:
- Type
/pluginsto open the plugin browser - Select the kobiton marketplace, then install the automate plugin
- The system browser should open for Kobiton OAuth login. After sign-in, tokens are cached in the OS keychain (macOS Keychain / Linux Secret Service / Windows Credential Manager) with automatic refresh.
- Run
/mcpto confirmkobitonis Connected.
Fallback: manual config.toml setup
If you prefer not to use the marketplace, register the MCP server directly in ~/.codex/config.toml:
[mcp_servers.kobiton]
url = "https://api.kobiton.com/mcp"Then copy AGENTS.md into your workspace so Codex picks up the tool list and skill reference:
curl -sLO https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kobiton/automate/main/AGENTS.mdLaunch codex and run /mcp to confirm. The OAuth flow still applies on the first tool call.
Open your project and start a Cursor CLI session:
cd my-project
agentInside the session, add the Kobiton marketplace:
/plugin marketplace add github.com/kobiton/automate
Cursor parses the repository for a few seconds; when the automate entry appears, press Enter to install (pick the installation scope that suits you). The installation brings in the bundled skills, the kobiton MCP server, and the slash commands.
Then exit and relaunch agent. Cursor CLI currently loads plugin skills only at session start, so the skills won't appear until a fresh session.
Run /mcp list, select Kobiton, and choose Login to complete Kobiton OAuth in the browser.
Run /setup once to install the ~/.kobiton/bin/kobiton CLI wrapper used by the run-interactive-cli-session skill. Cursor registers plugin commands without a namespace prefix, so the plugin's setup and doctor commands appear as /setup and /doctor — pick the one with the Kobiton description to tell them apart from Cursor's built-ins.
If you also use the Cursor IDE, install the plugin only once. Installs are shared between the CLI and the IDE (see the note in the next section).
The Cursor desktop editor installs the plugin from its built-in plugin browser:
- Open Cursor Settings > Plugins and paste
https://github.com/kobiton/automateinto the search box - Click the automate result, then Add to Cursor, then Install
To authenticate with the Kobiton MCP server: open Tool & MCPs, search for kobiton, click Connect, and complete the OAuth login in the browser.
Using both Cursor CLI and the Cursor IDE? They share plugin installs: a plugin installed from the
agentCLI shows up in the IDE, and vice versa. Install the plugin once in either one, installing it in both registers the skills, commands, and MCP server twice.
Alternative: project-only MCP config (MCP server only, no skills or commands)
For a lightweight per-project setup that registers just the kobiton MCP server, drop .cursor/mcp.json from this repo into your project's .cursor/ directory:
cd my-project
mkdir -p .cursor
curl -sLO --output-dir .cursor https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kobiton/automate/main/.cursor/mcp.jsonWorks for both the Cursor IDE and the agent CLI. You won't get the bundled skills, the setup and doctor commands, or the CLI wrapper.
Kobiton's MCP server is built on the open Model Context Protocol, so any MCP-compatible client can connect to it. Same endpoint (https://api.kobiton.com/mcp), same browser-based OAuth login as the clients above.
Good to know: End-to-end tested only on Claude Code, Copilot CLI, Gemini CLI, Codex CLI, Cursor CLI, and the Cursor IDE; entries below are configs we expect to work but have not yet validated. Please open an issue if any do not work for your setup. We're happy to help.
ChatGPT consumes MCP servers via an HTTPS endpoint registered in ChatGPT developer mode. Point ChatGPT at:
https://api.kobiton.com/mcp
The Apps SDK does not require a separate manifest file; tool descriptors, OAuth flow, and _meta.ui widget hints flow through the MCP protocol itself. Reference: developers.openai.com/apps-sdk/build/mcp-server.
Register the kobiton server in your client's MCP config. Most clients read a JSON block like:
{
"mcpServers": {
"kobiton": {
"url": "https://api.kobiton.com/mcp"
}
}
}Adjust to your client's specific format. The server URL and OAuth handshake are the same; if your client doesn't support OAuth, fall back to the API-key auth path (see API Key Authentication below) - most clients accept custom headers blocks.
Every Claude surface that supports MCP can call the Kobiton tools. The guided skills install automatically only in Claude Code today; other surfaces need a manual skill upload.
| Claude surface | Atomic MCP tools | Orchestrated skills ¹ | How to connect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Code (CLI / IDE) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Install the plugin |
| Claude Cowork (macOS / Windows) | ✅ Yes | Add https://api.kobiton.com/mcp as a connector under Connectors |
|
| claude.ai web · Claude Desktop · Claude mobile | ✅ Yes | Add https://api.kobiton.com/mcp as a Custom Connector at claude.ai; for mobile, configure it on the web first and it syncs to the app |
¹ run-interactive-cli-session also requires the bundled kobiton CLI binary (macOS Apple Silicon only) - see the platform support note.
² This plugin is not listed in the Claude directory yet, so these surfaces can't install it as a plugin. As a workaround, zip a skill folder from this repo (e.g. skills/run-automation-suite/) and upload it as a custom skill.
The first time your AI assistant calls a Kobiton tool, a browser window opens for OAuth login. Sign in with your Kobiton credentials, tokens are then managed automatically by the assistant.
You can also trigger or inspect authentication explicitly:
- Claude Code: type
/mcpand select kobiton to start the OAuth flow - GitHub Copilot CLI: type
/mcp auth kobitonto start the OAuth flow; use/mcp(or/mcp show) to inspect server status - Gemini CLI: type
/mcp auth kobitonto start the OAuth flow; use/mcpto inspect server status - Codex CLI: browser opens automatically on the first MCP tool call (e.g. "List my Kobiton devices") after plugin install. Tokens are cached in the OS keychain with automatic refresh. Use
/mcp(or/mcp verbose) to inspect server status - Cursor CLI: run
/mcp list, select kobiton, and choose Login to start the OAuth flow; tokens are stored by Cursor in the OS keychain - Cursor IDE: open Cursor Settings > Tool & MCPs, search for kobiton, and click Connect to start the OAuth flow
Behind the scenes, .mcp.json points to the Kobiton MCP server and authentication uses OAuth 2.1:
{
"mcpServers": {
"kobiton": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://api.kobiton.com/mcp"
}
}
}After login, verify the plugin loaded by asking your assistant: "List my Kobiton devices". If tools aren't recognized, see Troubleshooting.
API Key Authentication (Alternative)
For CI/CD pipelines or headless environments that cannot open a browser, use API key auth instead:
-
Copy
.mcp.apikey-example.jsonto.mcp.json -
Generate an API key at Kobiton Portal > Settings > API Keys
-
Set the environment variable:
# Add to ~/.zshrc, ~/.bashrc, or ~/.bash_profile export KOBITON_AUTH="Basic $(echo -n 'username:apikey' | base64)"
-
Reload your shell and restart your AI CLI.
Note: OAuth and API key auth cannot coexist in a single
.mcp.json(the API key config sets anAuthorizationheader that OAuth must not have). To switch, replace.mcp.jsonwith the appropriate format from.mcp.apikey-example.json.Gemini CLI: API key auth requires editing
gemini-extension.jsoninstead of.mcp.json. Add aheadersblock undermcpServers.kobitonwith"Authorization": "${KOBITON_AUTH}".Codex CLI: OAuth is the default. For CI/headless environments where a browser cannot open, switch to API key auth by adding an
env_http_headersblock to the plugin's.mcp.json, then exportKOBITON_AUTHin the shell that launchescodex:"env_http_headers": { "Authorization": "KOBITON_AUTH" }Recommended: maintain a fork of
kobiton/automatewith this change committed, then install from your fork - survives plugin reinstalls and Codex upgrades. Last resort: edit the installed copy under~/.codex/.tmp/marketplaces/kobiton/.codex/.mcp.jsondirectly (this is Codex cache; the edit is overwritten on every reinstall).
After installation, run setup to fetch your credentials and write them to ~/.kobiton/.credentials:
/automate:setup
The plugin uses your already-authenticated MCP session (OAuth) to fetch your username and API key - no manual file editing required.
To verify everything is wired correctly, run the diagnostic:
/automate:doctor
/automate:doctor is read-only. It checks the CLI installation (symlink + target), the credentials file, the active profile, and required fields, and prints actionable remediation hints for any failures.
On Cursor (CLI and IDE) the plugin's commands carry no
automate:prefix. Run/setupand/doctorinstead, picking the entry with the Kobiton description next to it to tell it apart from Cursor's built-in command of the same name.
CLI symlink install behavior across CLIs: The run-interactive-cli-session skill depends on a ~/.kobiton/bin/kobiton symlink.
- Claude Code, Codex CLI: recreated automatically by a bundled SessionStart hook on every session start. On Codex CLI, the first session prompts you to trust the hook once via
/hooks; subsequent sessions run it silently. Running/automate:setupalso recreates the symlink on demand. - GitHub Copilot CLI, Gemini CLI, Cursor CLI: no SessionStart hook runs, so create the symlink manually by running the setup command once after install:
/automate:setupon Copilot and Gemini,/setup(the one with the Kobiton description) on Cursor (Copilot reads Claude-format Markdown commands; Gemini reads bundled TOML atcommands/automate/setup.toml). Re-run it if the symlink goes missing.
Manual fallback - if the SessionStart hook was denied on Codex, or you need to install without an active session:
bash "$(find ~/.codex -name install-cli.sh -path '*automate*' 2>/dev/null | head -1)"The script is idempotent - safe to re-run.
Ask your assistant naturally:
- "List my available Android devices"
- "Upload my-app.apk and run tests on the Pixel 6"
- "Show me the results for session 502"
- "Run my Appium test script on the Pixel 6"
29 MCP tools across 5 domains.
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
listDevices |
List available devices filtered by platform, availability, or group |
getDeviceStatus |
Get real-time status of a specific device |
reserveDevice |
Reserve a device for exclusive testing |
terminateReservation |
Release a reserved device by terminating its reservation |
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
listSessions |
List test sessions with filters for status, device, platform |
getSession |
Get session details including commands, capabilities, metadata |
getSessionArtifacts |
Get download URLs for video, logs, screenshots, reports |
getUserInputEvents |
Get the touch/swipe gestures a human made on the device-only live view during a session |
terminateSession |
Stop a running test session |
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
listApps |
List uploaded app builds in your organization |
uploadAppToStore |
Upload an app to Kobiton Store (permanent, visible in portal) |
confirmAppUpload |
Confirm an uploaded file so Kobiton creates the app record (parsing runs asynchronously) |
getAppParsingStatus |
Check the async parse status of an uploaded app version until it reaches a terminal state |
getApp |
Get app details and version history |
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
saveTestCase |
Convert a finished manual session into a reusable test case |
listTestCases |
List test cases with team and keyword filters |
getTestCase |
Get test case details including its steps |
updateTestCase |
Update a test case's metadata and steps |
deleteTestCase |
Delete a test case |
createTestRun |
Create a test run from a test suite or selected test cases |
listTestRuns |
List test runs with team, keyword, and platform filters |
getTestRun |
Get test run details including its sessions |
terminateTestRun |
Stop a running test run |
listTestSuites |
List test suites with team and keyword filters |
getTestSuite |
Get test suite details including member test cases |
createTestSuite |
Create a test suite from existing test cases |
updateTestSuite |
Update a test suite's metadata and membership |
deleteTestSuite |
Delete a test suite (member test cases are kept) |
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
getCredential |
Return the authenticated user's username, API key, and portal URL — backs /automate:setup |
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
| run-automation-suite | Guided workflow for app upload, device selection, local Appium script execution (Node.js, Python, .NET, Java), and result collection. |
| run-interactive-cli-session | Guided workflow for interactive testing using natural language. WebDriver actions, device operations (adb shell, logs, screen), file management (push/pull), and more. |
| drive-automation-session | Drives an already-reserved device from a natural-language intent via a direct Appium HTTP session (observe-decide-act loop). Returns a session id consumable by saveTestCase. Complements run-interactive-cli-session — it uses the automation session type rather than the CLI. |
Platform support note: all MCP tools and the
run-automation-suiteskill work on every platform the host CLI supports. Therun-interactive-cli-sessionskill ships a CLI binary for macOS Apple Silicon only. On other platforms, userun-automation-suiteor the MCP tools directly.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/automate:setup |
Fetch credentials from the authenticated MCP server and write them to ~/.kobiton/.credentials |
/automate:doctor |
Read-only diagnostic for CLI installation, credentials file, active profile, and required fields |
On Cursor (CLI and IDE) these register without the automate: prefix — as /setup and /doctor, distinguishable from Cursor's built-ins by the Kobiton description.
Use the run-automation-suite skill to run local Appium test scripts. Your AI assistant reads your script, extracts capabilities, confirms the target device, and executes the script locally. Supports Node.js (.js), Python (.py), .NET (.cs), and Java (.java) scripts.
Use the run-interactive-cli-session skill to interact with devices using natural language. Describe what you want — "tap the login button", "type hello in the search field", "swipe down" — and your assistant translates your intent into CLI commands.
Beyond WebDriver, the skill also supports device operations (adb shell, logs, screen capture), file management (push/pull files to device), and app management.
See docs/examples.md for prompt examples covering every tool and skill - device management, session management, app management, automation, and interactive testing.
After the plugin is updated upstream, pull the latest version:
- Claude Code / Copilot CLI: run
/plugin install automate@kobitonagain - Gemini CLI: run
gemini extensions update kobiton-automatefrom your shell - Codex CLI: run
codex plugin marketplace upgradeto refresh the marketplace catalog, then reinstall the plugin from the browser to pull the latest manifest - Cursor CLI: re-run
/plugin marketplace add github.com/kobiton/automateand reinstall the automate plugin - Cursor CLI has no dedicated update command yet (/plugin marketplace listonly lists what's installed). Restartagentso the new manifest is picked up.
To make sure the assistant picks up the changes with no stale cache, reload per CLI:
- Claude Code: run
/reload-pluginsin-session. If tools still behave unexpectedly,/clearresets the session context. - GitHub Copilot CLI: exit and relaunch the session (
exit, thencopilot). No in-session reload command. - Gemini CLI: exit and relaunch (
exit, thengemini). Confirm withgemini extensions list. - Codex CLI: exit and relaunch. Confirm with
codex plugin list.
If the issue persists after relaunch, quit the terminal entirely and start a fresh session.
MCP server doesn't appear in /mcp after install
All four CLIs cache plugin state when the session starts. After installing or updating the plugin, the kobiton MCP server may not show up in the server list immediately. Force a reload:
Claude Code — reload plugins in the current session:
/reload-plugins
GitHub Copilot CLI — exit and relaunch the session:
exit
copilotGemini CLI — exit and relaunch; if still missing, verify the extension is enabled:
exit
gemini extensions list
geminiCodex CLI — exit and relaunch; if still missing, verify the marketplace was added and the plugin was installed:
exit
codex plugin marketplace list
codex plugin list
codexIf using the manual fallback config, also check grep -A 4 "mcp_servers.kobiton" ~/.codex/config.toml.
Then check the server list (/mcp in Claude Code, Gemini CLI, and Codex CLI, /mcp show in Copilot CLI). kobiton should now appear.
"Device not found"
The device may be offline, reserved by another user, or no longer in your device list. Use listDevices with available: true to find currently online devices.
"Upload timeout"
Large app files or slow connections can cause uploads to time out. Retry the upload — pre-signed URLs expire after 30 minutes, so a new URL will be generated automatically.
Plugin features not working or behaving unexpectedly
Some older versions of Claude Code don't support the plugin features this plugin relies on. Make sure you're on the latest version:
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code@latestThen restart Claude Code and try again.
"It keeps asking me to open a folder"
Claude Code requires a working directory. Launch it from inside a project folder:
cd my-project
claudeIf you see this prompt repeatedly, make sure you are not running claude from your home directory or root (/).
"Plugin not found in marketplace"
The Kobiton marketplace must be added before installing:
/plugin marketplace add kobiton/automate
/plugin install automate@kobitonIf it still isn't found, check your internet connection and ensure you're running the latest version of Claude Code (claude update).
"claude: command not found"
Claude Code is not installed or not in your PATH.
-
Install: follow the official install guide
-
PATH issue: if you installed via npm, make sure your npm global bin directory is in your PATH:
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
Then open a new terminal window and try
claudeagain.
"Nothing happens after install"
The plugin installed but tools don't appear or Claude doesn't recognize Kobiton commands.
- Run
/reload-pluginsto force Claude to pick up the new plugin - Try asking: "List my Kobiton devices"
- If still not working, quit Claude Code entirely and start a fresh session
- Verify
.mcp.jsonexists in the plugin directory — it tells Claude where the Kobiton MCP server lives
MCP tools not available after plugin install
Verify the plugin is installed and the MCP server is configured:
# Check installed plugins
copilot plugin list
# Check MCP server status
/mcp showIf the kobiton MCP server doesn't appear, add it manually by running /mcp add and entering the following when prompted:
- Server name:
kobiton - Type:
http - URL:
https://api.kobiton.com/mcp
Alternatively, edit ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json directly:
{
"mcpServers": {
"kobiton": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://api.kobiton.com/mcp"
}
}
}Tool calls are blocked
Copilot CLI requires explicit tool permissions. Allow Kobiton tools:
# Allow all Kobiton MCP tools
copilot --allow-tool='kobiton'
# Or allow specific tools
copilot --allow-tool='kobiton(listDevices)' --allow-tool='kobiton(getSession)'Extension installed but tools or skills don't appear
Verify the extension is registered and enabled:
gemini extensions listIf kobiton-automate is missing, reinstall:
gemini extensions install https://github.com/kobiton/automateIf listed but disabled, enable it:
gemini extensions enable kobiton-automateThen relaunch gemini and check /mcp for the kobiton server. The run-automation-suite skill is auto-discovered from skills/ at the extension root, no separate registration needed.
/mcp shows kobiton as Disconnected (OAuth not authenticated)
The extension is installed but you haven't completed OAuth yet. Trigger the flow manually:
/mcp auth kobiton
A browser window opens for Kobiton login. After signing in, run /mcp again — the status should change to 🟢 Connected.
Note: kobiton here is the MCP server name (declared inside the extension), not the extension name kobiton-automate. /mcp commands always take the server name.
OAuth doesn't open a browser on first tool call
Gemini CLI's extension uses dynamic OAuth discovery by default. The Kobiton MCP server advertises OAuth metadata at a standard well-known endpoint, so the browser flow should kick in automatically the first time a tool needs auth.
If nothing happens, try /mcp auth kobiton to trigger it explicitly. Check that your terminal can launch a browser. For headless environments, switch to API key auth by editing gemini-extension.json directly (see the API Key Authentication section above).
Tools not appearing or "MCP server kobiton not initialized"
Verify each step:
- Plugin installed — open
/pluginsinside Codex and confirmautomateis listed under thekobitonmarketplace as Installed. If missing, runcodex plugin marketplace add kobiton/automateand reinstall from the plugin browser. - Codex version recent enough — update with
npm install -g @openai/codex@latest.
After fixing, exit Codex and relaunch; the server should show in /mcp (or /mcp verbose).
Browser does not open for OAuth login
Codex tries to launch your system browser when Kobiton requires sign-in. If nothing opens, check:
- Default browser is set — your OS needs a default browser. SSH sessions without X forwarding cannot open one.
- Localhost ports not blocked — Codex listens on a local port to receive the login callback. Firewall rules that block all localhost ports will break the flow.
- Headless environment — switch to API key auth (see the API Key Authentication section above). Easiest: fork this repo, commit the
env_http_headerschange to.codex/.mcp.json, install from your fork.
OAuth login completes but /mcp still shows Disconnected
This usually means the cached token is stale and refresh failed. Force a re-login by clearing the OS keychain entry and reconnecting:
- macOS: open Keychain Access, search for
codex-mcporkobiton, delete the entry, then trigger a tool call to re-run OAuth. - Linux:
secret-tool clear service codex-mcp(or use Seahorse to remove the entry). - Windows: open Credential Manager, find the Codex entry under Generic Credentials, remove it.
After clearing, run any Kobiton tool prompt; the browser should reopen for fresh login.
Skills or slash commands don't appear (or show stale names) after install
Cursor CLI caches plugin state per session, and older builds didn't load plugin-bundled skills at all:
- Fully restart the session — exit and re-run
agent. Right after an install or update, the command list can render stale entries from the previous install; a fresh launch fixes it. - Update the CLI — plugin skills only register in CLI builds from
2026.05.05onward. Runagent update, then relaunch. - Reinstall if still missing —
/plugin marketplace add github.com/kobiton/automate, wait for the automate entry to appear, then press Enter to install.
kobiton shows Disconnected or MCP tool calls silently fail
- Not logged in yet — run
/mcp list, select kobiton, and choose Login to start the browser OAuth flow. Tokens are stored in the OS keychain. - Known CLI regressions — a few CLI builds listed MCP tools but never executed the calls. Run
agent updateto get the latest build, then relaunchagent.
~/.kobiton/bin/kobiton CLI wrapper missing (interactive testing fails)
Cursor CLI does not run the plugin's SessionStart hook, so the CLI wrapper isn't created automatically like on Claude Code or Codex. Run /setup (the plugin's command with the Kobiton description, not Cursor's built-in) once after install; re-run it if the symlink goes missing.
For additional help, open an issue at github.com/kobiton/automate/issues or ask in #general-discussion on Discord. Feel free to share feature requests. We welcome product feedback and will consider it as we continue to improve the platform.
This plugin connects to the Kobiton cloud API (api.kobiton.com) over HTTPS (TLS 1.2+).
Authentication:
- OAuth 2.1 (default): Your AI assistant opens a browser for Kobiton login. Short-lived access tokens are stored securely in the system keychain. No credentials are stored in the project.
- API Key (alternative): The
KOBITON_AUTHenvironment variable is sent via theAuthorizationheader on each request. The value is stored only in your shell profile, never committed to the repo.
Data handling:
- The plugin does not store any data locally beyond what your AI assistant retains in its conversation context.
- Tool responses (device lists, session details, test results) pass through your assistant's context window and are subject to Anthropic's Privacy Policy, GitHub Copilot's Privacy Statement, Google's Gemini Privacy Notice, or OpenAI's Privacy Policy, depending on which assistant you use.
- App binaries uploaded via
uploadAppToStoreare sent directly to Kobiton's pre-signed S3 URLs, not through your AI assistant.
For details on how Kobiton handles your data, see the Kobiton Privacy Policy and Trust Center.
The tools/ directory contains reference YAML schemas that mirror the MCP server's tool definitions. They are published to S3 for the backend but are not consumed by the plugin at runtime.
# Install dependencies
pnpm install
# Validate manifests and schemas
pnpm run validate
# Run tests
pnpm test
# Refresh the .codex/ mirror after editing skills/ or assets/
pnpm run build:codex
# Build combined tool definitions (for S3 publishing)
pnpm run build