# build-nitro-modules

Walks through building a React Native Nitro Module: HybridObject TypeScript specs, nitrogen codegen, native Swift, Kotlin and C++ implementations.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 820 installs · ★ 178
- Author: margelo
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/margelo/react-native-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/build-nitro-modules/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-08-21
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/build-nitro-modules

## What it does

The skill covers the whole path from monorepo scaffolding to publish prep. You author `.nitro.ts` specs, run `nitrogen`, get generated C++/Swift/Kotlin boilerplate, then fill in the implementation yourself. That workflow differs from old-style turbo modules, and the skill keeps you inside it.

Most of the content is Nitro API design rules: HybridObjects for native state, factory methods for argument-dependent objects, async factories when native setup is needed. One JS-facing spec can have several native concrete classes, so backend strategies stay hidden behind a shared type. Files under `nitrogen/generated/` are outputs — change the spec and re-run nitrogen instead of editing them by hand.

This is not for JS-only libraries. If the task has no Nitro, HybridObjects, codegen or `react-native-nitro-modules`, the skill does not apply. Pair it with `api-design` for the general public API shape, `swift` for Swift-backed HybridObjects, `kotlin` for Kotlin, `cpp` for C++. Before picking versions or config fields, it advises checking current Nitro, React Native, Gradle, Xcode, Swift, Kotlin and NDK docs.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add margelo/react-native-skills --skill build-nitro-modules -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/build-nitro-modules/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/build-nitro-modules/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add margelo/react-native-skills --skill build-nitro-modules -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/build-nitro-modules/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add margelo/react-native-skills --skill build-nitro-modules -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/build-nitro-modules/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install margelo/react-native-skills build-nitro-modules
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/build-nitro-modules/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add margelo/react-native-skills --skill build-nitro-modules -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/margelo/react-native-skills --path skills/build-nitro-modules
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/build-nitro-modules/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add margelo/react-native-skills --skill build-nitro-modules -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/margelo/react-native-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/build-nitro-modules/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- scaffold a monorepo for a Nitro Module
- write a HybridObject `.nitro.ts` spec and run nitrogen
- implement the native side in Swift, Kotlin or C++
- hide different native backends behind one TypeScript type
- prepare the package for npm publishing

## Example prompts
- Create a Nitro Module: monorepo scaffold, HybridObject spec, then run nitrogen
- Design a factory `createCameraSession(...): Promise<CameraSession>` with async native setup
- Split the scanner into `createBarcodeScanner()` and `createTextScanner()` instead of one object with nullable fields

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 17a1586b49a27a1c.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 17a1586b49a27a1c
```text
---
name: build-nitro-modules
description: Builds and designs React Native Nitro Modules with Nitrogen, HybridObject TypeScript specs, Nitro View components, generated native implementations, zero-copy and native-state APIs, Swift/Kotlin/C++ bindings, example apps, and testing. Use when creating a Nitro Module, adding or reviewing HybridObjects, building a Nitro View (HybridView) component, designing Nitro-specific public APIs, implementing native functionality, or setting up the nitrogen codegen pipeline. Pair with api-design for general library API shape.
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: margelo
  tags: react-native, nitro-modules, nitrogen, hybrid-object, api-design, swift, kotlin, c++, monorepo, native-modules, codegen
---

# Build Nitro Modules

## Overview

End-to-end skill for building a React Native Nitro Module: monorepo scaffolding via Nitrogen, TypeScript HybridObject spec authoring, native code generation, platform implementation (C++/Swift/Kotlin), example app wiring, and publish preparation.

Nitro Modules use a codegen pipeline (`nitrogen`) that reads `.nitro.ts` spec files and generates native C++/Swift/Kotlin boilerplate. You then fill in the implementation. This is fundamentally different from old-style turbo modules.

Generated files under `nitrogen/generated/` are outputs. Change the `.nitro.ts` spec or native implementation source, then re-run nitrogen instead of manually editing generated files. These files can be committed to git, and many Nitro libraries do commit them, but the repo policy can choose otherwise. They must be included in the npm package so consumers can build the native library.

## Pair With API Design

Use `api-design` first when shaping the public TypeScript, JavaScript, React, or React Native API. This skill adds the Nitro-specific constraints: HybridObject state, generated specs, native resource ownership, zero-copy data, threading, platform implementation, codegen, and real-device validation.

Let `api-design` own general public API rules and API freshness checks. In this skill, only add Nitro-specific freshness checks for mobile toolchain and generated-template decisions: verify current Nitro, React Native, Gradle, Xcode, Swift, Kotlin, NDK, and package-tooling docs/source before choosing versions, config fields, or native implementation details.
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 17a1586b49a27a1c

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 17a1586b49a27a1c tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

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