How does Atlas handle renaming symbols in `expo-router` file routes?

Atlas uses the `lsp` tool to identify code references within `expo-router` routes and the `grep` tool to catch string-based references, ensuring comprehensive renaming across your file-based navigation in Expo.

Can Atlas rename a symbol that appears in my `app.json` or `app.config.ts`?

Yes, Atlas's `grep` tool is specifically designed to find and propose changes for symbols appearing in configuration files like `app.json` or `app.config.ts`, treating them as non-code occurrences that still require updating.

How does Atlas ensure my Expo project's tests still pass after a rename?

After applying renames, Atlas prompts you to run `bash` commands to compile your project and execute `jest-expo` tests, verifying the refactor's integrity and confirming all functionality remains intact before committing.

Does Atlas support local embeddings for Expo code indexing?

Yes, Atlas can build its code index with local Ollama embeddings, keeping your Expo project's code off third-party servers and ensuring privacy and security for your codebase.

How does Atlas integrate with Expo's package management (`npx expo install`)?

Atlas is designed to let you install packages with `npx expo install`, ensuring that package versions remain pinned to your Expo SDK release, maintaining consistency and reproducibility within your project.

Can I review the changes Atlas proposes before they are applied to my Expo project?

Absolutely. Atlas drafts a plan in a read-only plan agent and asks for your approval before switching to a build agent, and computes a unified diff for every file edit for your final review and approval.

Rename a symbol across the repo in Expo with Atlas in 2026

In 2026, rename a function, class, or constant across your Expo project with Atlas by leveraging its `lsp` tool for accurate references, `grep` for non-code occurrences, and `edit` for controlled, approved changes, ensuring your `jest-expo` tests and `prettier` formatting remain intact.

How Atlas renames symbols in Expo projects

In 2026, Atlas renames symbols across your Expo project by orchestrating a precise 3-step workflow: it first uses the `lsp` tool to query the language server for all code references, then `grep` to find non-code occurrences, and finally the `edit` tool to apply changes.

Atlas streamlines the complex task of renaming a function, class, or constant throughout your Expo application. It begins by invoking the `lsp` tool's `findReferences` operation, which queries the language server to obtain the authoritative set of all code-based usages of the symbol. This is crucial for Expo projects, where symbols might be used in `expo-router` file routes or within custom config plugins. Following this, Atlas employs the `grep` tool to scan for the old symbol name in contexts that the language server might not track, such as strings, comments, documentation, and configuration files like `app.json` or `eas.json`. Finally, the `edit` tool is used to mechanically apply the renames, utilizing its `replaceAll` capability for efficiency. This multi-faceted approach ensures that every instance of the symbol, whether in code or ancillary files, is accurately identified and updated.

Ensuring comprehensive accuracy with Expo's toolchain

To ensure 100% accuracy in 2026, Atlas combines the `lsp` tool's deep understanding of your Expo project's AST declarations with `grep`'s ability to catch every string, comment, and documentation reference, preventing missed or wrongly matched renames.

Achieving comprehensive accuracy in symbol renaming within an Expo project requires more than a simple text search. Atlas addresses this by fusing two powerful search mechanisms. The `lsp` tool leverages the language server's precise understanding of your codebase, built on AST declarations using tree-sitter, to identify true code references. This prevents the 'damage' naive find-and-replace operations often cause by incorrectly matching substrings. Concurrently, the `grep` tool acts as a safety net, catching occurrences of the old symbol name that exist outside the type system. This includes critical areas in Expo development such as string literals in `expo-router` paths, comments explaining functionality, documentation within source files, or even specific entries in `app.json`, `app.config.ts`, or `eas.json` build profiles. By combining these methods, Atlas ensures that every relevant instance of the symbol is identified, leaving no stone unturned in your Expo codebase.

Applying changes and managing safety in Expo with Atlas

Atlas applies renames in your Expo project with the `edit` tool, which in 2026 offers robust safety features like unified diffs for approval and strict ambiguity checks, preventing unintended modifications across your codebase.

for applying the actual renames in your Expo project, Atlas prioritizes safety and user control. The `edit` tool is central to this process, using its `replaceAll` function for the mechanical part of the refactoring. A key safety feature of `edit` is its strict handling of ambiguity: it will refuse to perform a single replacement if it finds multiple matches for the `oldString` within a file, throwing an error like 'Found multiple matches for oldString' unless you explicitly opt into `replaceAll` or provide additional context to narrow the scope. Before any changes are written to disk, Atlas computes a unified diff for every file edit and surfaces it for your approval. This allows you to review every proposed modification, including those in Expo-specific files like `app.json` or `app.config.ts`, ensuring that only intended changes are applied. Atlas also snapshots file changes as git patches, providing a robust rollback mechanism if needed.

Verifying renames and maintaining Expo project integrity

After renaming symbols in your Expo project, Atlas ensures integrity by prompting you to run `jest-expo` tests and `prettier` formatting, a critical 2-step verification process in 2026 to confirm the refactor's success and maintain code quality.

The final, crucial step in any refactoring process is verification, and Atlas integrates this direct into your Expo workflow. Once all renames have been applied and approved, Atlas prompts you to use the `bash` tool to compile your Expo project and execute your test suite. This means running `jest-expo` to confirm that the refactoring has not introduced any regressions and that all functionality remains intact. Following the tests, Atlas recommends running `grep` one final time for the old symbol name across the entire repository. This serves as a definitive check to prove zero remaining hits, ensuring a complete and thorough rename. Additionally, Atlas can then have `prettier` format the diff, maintaining consistent code style across your newly refactored files. Atlas's permission-gated tool calls ensure that these verification steps are run with your explicit consent, providing full control over your project's integrity.

Step by step

01Start Atlas in your Expo project, ensuring it has an `app.json` or `app.config.ts` and an `app/` directory.
02Ask Atlas to rename your chosen symbol, clearly specifying both the old and new names (e.g., 'rename function oldName to newName').
03Atlas will use the `lsp` tool to run `findReferences` on the old symbol, gathering all authoritative code references from your Expo language server.
04Atlas will then use the `grep` tool to search for the old name in strings, comments, documentation, and config files like `eas.json` or `app.json`.
05Atlas will draft a plan in a read-only agent, detailing the proposed changes, and present it for your review and approval.
06Upon your approval, Atlas will use the `edit` tool with `replaceAll` to apply the mechanical renames, presenting a unified diff for each file edit.
07Review and approve each file edit. If `edit` encounters ambiguity for a single replacement, it will prompt for clarification or context.
08After edits, Atlas will prompt you to run `bash` commands to compile your Expo project and execute tests with `jest-expo`.
09Atlas will then run `grep` one final time for the old name to confirm no occurrences remain in your Expo codebase.
10Finally, Atlas will offer to format the changed files using `prettier` and stage the changes for a git commit on your behalf.

Frequently asked questions

How does Atlas handle renaming symbols in `expo-router` file routes?: Atlas uses the `lsp` tool to identify code references within `expo-router` routes and the `grep` tool to catch string-based references, ensuring comprehensive renaming across your file-based navigation in Expo.
Can Atlas rename a symbol that appears in my `app.json` or `app.config.ts`?: Yes, Atlas's `grep` tool is specifically designed to find and propose changes for symbols appearing in configuration files like `app.json` or `app.config.ts`, treating them as non-code occurrences that still require updating.
What if Atlas finds multiple matches for a symbol I want to rename in my Expo project?: The `edit` tool in Atlas will refuse ambiguous single replacements, throwing 'Found multiple matches for oldString' unless you explicitly use `replaceAll` or provide additional context to narrow the scope of the change.
How does Atlas ensure my Expo project's tests still pass after a rename?: After applying renames, Atlas prompts you to run `bash` commands to compile your project and execute `jest-expo` tests, verifying the refactor's integrity and confirming all functionality remains intact before committing.
Does Atlas support local embeddings for Expo code indexing?: Yes, Atlas can build its code index with local Ollama embeddings, keeping your Expo project's code off third-party servers and ensuring privacy and security for your codebase.
How does Atlas integrate with Expo's package management (`npx expo install`)?: Atlas is designed to let you install packages with `npx expo install`, ensuring that package versions remain pinned to your Expo SDK release, maintaining consistency and reproducibility within your project.
Can I review the changes Atlas proposes before they are applied to my Expo project?: Absolutely. Atlas drafts a plan in a read-only plan agent and asks for your approval before switching to a build agent, and computes a unified diff for every file edit for your final review and approval.

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