Build a local offline manga translation Android app with Claude Code
A developer built Yomu, an app that recognizes Japanese manga speech bubbles on a phone and translates them into multiple languages using a local large language model (llama.cpp). The entire process runs locally without internet access to protect user privacy.
Added 2026-11-01 · originally published 2026-10-25
Steps
- 1Set rules in AGENTS.md requiring developers to open a GitHub Issue first, create a dedicated branch and git worktree for each issue, and write failing tests before passing them.
- 2Record technical decisions and measurement data using ADRs to prevent new sessions from re-debating past decisions.
- 3Have Claude check its own work on an emulator using the Android MCP server and adb (installing, opening manga, clicking buttons, and reading results).
- 4Conduct a spike (throwaway experiment) before developing new features to test model capabilities and record data, such as implementing full-page translation using GBNF grammar.
- 5Log lessons learned in AGENTS.md or Claude's memory (such as the correct syntax for linking GitHub PRs to issues).
Ideas for Chinese platforms
This approach can be applied to developing automation scripts for content operations on platforms like Xiaohongshu or WeChat Official Accounts: by setting up AGENTS.md rule files, using Git Worktree for parallel multi-session development, and combining MCP tools to let AI automatically verify execution results locally or on an emulator, you can efficiently produce utility scripts or automation assistants.
Following the development methodology of the Yomu project, please help me build an Android app. First, read the development guidelines in [AGENTS.md rule file path], and when implementing [specific feature requirements, e.g., floating window service and C++ JNI bridging], follow the workflow of "writing a failing test first, then writing code to pass the test." Please create a separate branch for each task, and perform automated checks via the emulator and adb after development is complete.
Related use cases
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