Stream React Native - skill router + execution flow
Rules: Read RULES.md once per session. Every non-negotiable React Native Chat rule is stated there.
This file is the single entrypoint: intent classification, project detection, and module pointers for Stream Chat React Native work.
Step 0: Intent classifier (mandatory first - never skip)
Before any tool call, decide the track from the user's input alone. Do not probe the filesystem first.
Signals -> track
| Signal in user input | Track |
|---|
| "Build/create/scaffold a new React Native app", "create an Expo app", "new Stream Chat RN app", empty directory + React Native/Expo Chat | A - New app |
| "Add/integrate Stream Chat into this app", "wire Chat RN", "set up stream-chat-expo", "change/customize this Chat UI" | B - Existing app |
React Native, Expo, Expo Router, stream-chat-react-native, stream-chat-expo, Stream Chat RN, Chat React Native, migration | C - Reference lookup if the user only asks how/docs; otherwise B - Existing app |
| Words "docs" or "documentation" around Stream Chat React Native / Expo work | C - Reference lookup |
| "How do I {X} in React Native/Expo?", "What does {SDK component/hook/prop} do?" | C - Reference lookup |
| "Install Stream packages", "set up Chat RN", "wire auth/token flow" with no broader feature request | D - Bootstrap / setup |
| Video, Feeds, Moderation review UI, or non-Chat Stream RN product | Reject bundled scope and route to live docs only if the user wants docs |
Bare /stream-react-native with no args | List the tracks briefly and wait |
Disambiguation flow
If the request is ambiguous between wiring code and reference lookup, ask one short question and wait:
Do you want me to wire this into the project, or just map the React Native SDK pattern and files?
If the user wants a new app but did not name Expo or RN CLI, default to Expo because it is the shortest successful path. Use RN CLI when the user asks for it or when native project constraints require it.
Scope rejection
This v1 skill bundles Chat React Native only. If the user asks for Stream Video, Feeds, or Moderation UI in React Native, say:
The React Native skill currently bundles Chat references only. I can help with Chat RN here, or switch to live docs for Video/Feeds.
Do not invent missing React Native Video or Feeds API details from memory.
After classification
- Tracks A, B, D -> run Project signals, then continue in
builder.md and sdk.md. Run credentials.md before writing Chat connection code or creating requested demo data.
- Track C -> skip credentials and project probes if the product + runtime are explicit. Only run a read-only probe if RN CLI vs Expo is ambiguous and the answer affects the guidance.
Step 0.5: Credentials, token, and demo data (tracks A, B, D only)
Use credentials.md once per session before writing code that connects to Stream Chat.
It resolves:
- Stream API key
- user id and display name
- user token or token provider plan
- optional demo data, only when requested, via Stream CLI calls such as
UpdateUsers, GetOrCreateChannel, and SendMessage
For Track A, it is acceptable to scaffold the app first if the runtime or target directory must be resolved before credentials. Do not render a connected Chat UI until credentials or a token-provider plan are resolved.
Project signals (tracks A/B/D - once per session; Track C on demand only)
Read-only local probe. Use it to detect empty/new workspace, RN CLI vs Expo, New Architecture hints, navigation setup, and existing Stream packages.
bash -c 'echo "=== PACKAGE ==="; test -f package.json && grep -oE "\"(stream-chat-react-native|stream-chat-expo|react-native|expo|@react-navigation/[^\"]+|expo-router|react-native-reanimated|react-native-worklets|react-native-teleport|@op-engineering/op-sqlite)\": *\"[^\"]*\"" package.json 2>/dev/null; echo "=== EXPO ==="; find . -maxdepth 2 \( -name "app.json" -o -name "app.config.js" -o -name "app.config.ts" -o -path "./app/_layout.*" \) -print 2>/dev/null; echo "=== NATIVE ==="; find . -maxdepth 2 \( -name "ios" -o -name "android" \) -type d -print 2>/dev/null; echo "=== CONFIG ==="; find . -maxdepth 2 \( -name "babel.config.js" -o -name "metro.config.js" \) -print 2>/dev/null; echo "=== EMPTY ==="; test -z "$(ls -A 2>/dev/null)" && echo "EMPTY_CWD" || echo "NON_EMPTY"'
Hold the result in conversation context. Do not re-run unless the user changes directory, packages are installed, or the project shape changes.
Use the result to produce a one-line status, for example:
Empty workspace detected - defaulting to Expo new app unless the user asked for RN CLIExpo app detected - stream-chat-expo absent - Expo Router present - ready for Chat setupRN CLI app detected - ios/android present - stream-chat-react-native installed - checking provider placementNo RN/Expo app detected in a non-empty directory - create a new app in a child directory or ask before reusing this directory
If there is no RN/Expo project and Track A applies, scaffold one through builder.md > 2. New app scaffold. If Track B/D applies in a non-RN directory, ask before creating a child app because that changes project ownership.
Module map
Reference layout
Shared React Native and Expo patterns live in sdk.md.
Chat-specific setup, docs lookup, gotchas, and UI blueprints live under references/:
Future React Native product coverage should stay in this naming family instead of creating more top-level skills:
VIDEO-REACT-NATIVE.mdFEEDS-REACT-NATIVE.md
If the requested product file is not bundled yet, say so plainly and only switch to live docs if the user asks.
Track A - New app
Full detail: builder.md - use the new-app path.
| Phase | Name | What you do |
|---|
| A1 | Detect | Run Project signals. Empty workspace is valid for Track A. |
| A2 | Choose lane | Default to Expo if unspecified; use RN CLI when requested. |
| A3 | Scaffold | Create the app with current framework tooling; do not explain full RN/Expo environment setup. |
| A4 | Install + wire | Use the primary llms.txt manifest to read Installation docs, verify npm dist-tags, install the selected package and peers, then wire providers and first Chat UI. |
| A5 | Verify | Confirm install, Babel plugin, root providers, auth, and first rendered Chat screen. |
Track B - Existing app
Full detail: builder.md - use the existing-project path.
| Phase | Name | What you do |
|---|
| B1 | Detect | Run Project signals and inspect existing app structure before editing. |
| B2 | Preserve | Keep Expo/RN CLI lane, package manager, navigation stack, and auth architecture unless asked to migrate. |
| B3 | Integrate | Use llms.txt lookup for the requested area, then load only the Chat reference/blueprint sections needed. |
| B4 | Verify | Confirm the requested Stream Chat flow builds and renders in the existing app. |
Track C - Reference lookup
Load only the relevant files:
If the user asks for exact API details not bundled here, use references/DOCS.md to fetch the right manifest and selected markdown page. If implementation still needs source-level confirmation, inspect the installed package under the target app's node_modules after dependencies are installed. Do not use machine-specific documentation paths.
Track D - Bootstrap / setup
Use when the user wants package install and shared wiring more than a full feature build:
- detect RN CLI vs Expo
- use
llms.txt lookup for Installation docs and verify current npm dist-tags
- install the correct Chat package and required peers
- add Reanimated/Worklets Babel plugin as the last plugin
- wrap the entry point with
GestureHandlerRootView
- place
OverlayProvider and Chat correctly
- wire
useCreateChatClient or the app's backend token provider
- stop before product-specific UI if the user only asked for setup
