Install

Run setup from the app folder containing its package.json. You need a development build of React 18 or newer and Node.js 22.12.0 or newer. The verification examples use Bash and jq.

Add the packages

pnpm add -D genie-react @genie-react/cli

Use your project's package manager. If the project already has Genie installed, check the CLI release and output note before using the JSON examples.

Review and apply setup

npx @genie-react/cli init --dry-run
npx @genie-react/cli init

init detects Vite and Next.js, updates supported configuration, and installs the agent skill. It runs without prompts. --yes is accepted for existing automation and makes the same changes.

Read data.artifacts, data.manualSteps, and userActionRequired in the receipt. A successful exit can still require manual wiring. Plain Vite apps, for example, need <Genie /> near the app root for the additional collectors. Follow the matching platform setup until each manual step is complete. If setup fails partway through, inspect the files before retrying; changes may already have been applied.

Start the app and name its session

Keep the development server running in its own terminal:

pnpm dev

Open the app's local URL with ?_genie=setup-check. If the URL already has a query string, append &_genie=setup-check. In a second terminal, pin that session and check the running stack:

export GENIE_SESSION=setup-check
npx @genie-react/cli doctor --live
npx @genie-react/cli status --sessions-only

Continue when doctor reports ok:true and the selected status session has ready:true and staleMs:null. On failure, follow remediation, keep the server running, and open or reload the app before retrying. Troubleshooting covers connection and collector failures.

Make the first read

npx @genie-react/cli tools react_get_tree
npx @genie-react/cli call react_get_tree '{"depth":2}'

A tree response confirms that calls reached the mounted app. Next, use First live check for a reproducible demo with a visible assertion, or follow the agent workflow in your own app.