Mobile App

Run NodeTool Mini Apps and AI Chat on iOS and Android.

Use NodeTool on your mobile device. The mobile app lets you run Mini Apps and chat with AI assistants from anywhere.

New to NodeTool? Start with the Getting Started guide on desktop first.

Overview

The NodeTool mobile app brings AI workflows to your phone and tablet:

Feature Description
AI Chat Real-time chat with AI models, streaming responses
Mini Apps Run your workflows with a simple interface
Cross-platform Works on iOS, Android, and web browsers
Server Connection Connect to any NodeTool server

Getting the App

From App Stores (Coming Soon)

The app will be available on:

  • iOS: Apple App Store
  • Android: Google Play Store

For Developers

Build and run from source:

# Clone the NodeTool repository
git clone https://github.com/nodetool-ai/nodetool.git
cd nodetool/mobile

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Start the development server
npm start

Then:

  • Press i for iOS Simulator (macOS only)
  • Press a for Android Emulator
  • Press w for web browser
  • Scan the QR code with Expo Go on your phone

Connecting to Your Server

The mobile app requires a running NodeTool server.

Configure Server URL

  1. Open the app
  2. Go to Settings (gear icon)
  3. Enter your server URL
  4. Tap Test Connection
  5. Save when successful

Server URLs by Platform

Platform Server URL
iOS Simulator http://localhost:7777
Android Emulator http://10.0.2.2:7777
Physical Device http://<your-computer-ip>:7777

Physical devices must be on the same network as your NodeTool server.

AI Chat

Chat with AI models from your mobile device.

Features

  • Streaming responses – See text appear in real-time
  • Model selection – Choose from available AI models
  • Markdown rendering – Code blocks, formatting, syntax highlighting
  • Stop generation – Tap stop to cancel long responses
  • Multiple threads – Keep separate conversation topics

How to Chat

  1. Tap the Chat icon in the header
  2. Select a model (tap model name)
  3. Type your message
  4. Tap Send
  5. Watch the AI respond in real-time

Tips

  • Use the + button to start a new conversation
  • Tap Stop to halt long responses
  • Scroll up to review conversation history
  • Switch models mid-conversation if needed

Mini Apps

Run your NodeTool workflows with a simplified mobile interface.

What Are Mini Apps?

Mini Apps are workflows converted to simple interfaces. They hide the complexity of the workflow and show only:

  • Input fields
  • Run button
  • Results

Running a Mini App

  1. Open the Mini Apps screen
  2. Browse available apps
  3. Tap an app to open it
  4. Fill in the inputs:
    • Text fields – Type your input
    • Number fields – Enter values
    • Toggle switches – Enable/disable options
  5. Tap Run
  6. View results below

Supported Input Types

Type Description
Text Single or multi-line text input
Number Numeric values
Boolean On/off toggle switches

Server Requirements

Your NodeTool server must be:

  1. Running – Start with nodetool serve --port 7777
  2. Accessible – On same network as your device
  3. Configured – With the models you want to use

Starting the Server

# Activate environment
conda activate nodetool

# Start server
nodetool serve --port 7777

The server runs at http://localhost:7777 by default.

Firewall Settings

If connecting from a physical device, ensure:

  • Port 7777 is open on your computer’s firewall
  • Your router allows local network connections
  • Both devices are on the same WiFi network

Troubleshooting

Cannot Connect to Server

Symptoms: “Connection failed” or timeout errors

Solutions:

  1. Verify the server is running
  2. Check the server URL in Settings
  3. For physical devices:
    • Use your computer’s IP address (not localhost)
    • Ensure same WiFi network
    • Check firewall settings

Android Emulator Connection Issues

Problem: Cannot reach localhost

Solution: Use http://10.0.2.2:7777 instead of localhost:7777. This is Android’s special IP for the host machine.

App Crashes on Startup

Solutions:

  1. Clear app data and restart
  2. Check that all dependencies are installed: npm install
  3. Reset Metro bundler: npm start --reset-cache

Chat Not Streaming

Symptoms: Responses appear all at once

Solutions:

  1. Check WebSocket connection
  2. Verify server is running current version
  3. Try a different AI model

Platform Notes

iOS

  • Requires Xcode for development (macOS only)
  • Use iOS Simulator for testing
  • Production builds via EAS Build

Android

  • Requires Android Studio for development
  • Use Android Emulator for testing
  • Use 10.0.2.2 for localhost access

Web

  • Works in any modern browser
  • Good for testing without mobile device
  • Run with npm run web

Building for Production

Use Expo’s EAS Build for production apps:

# Install EAS CLI
npm install -g eas-cli

# Log in to Expo
eas login

# Build for Android
eas build --platform android --profile preview

# Build for iOS
eas build --platform ios --profile preview

For store submissions:

# Google Play Store (AAB format)
eas build --platform android --profile production

# Apple App Store
eas build --platform ios --profile production

See EAS Build Documentation for details.