JetBrains is giving AI programming agents the ability to independently verify the results of their modifications to an application. A new MCP server in Compose Hot Reload allows an agent not only to modify code, but also to control and inspect the running application.
The experimental feature is included in Compose Multiplatform 1.12.0, according to InfoWorld. This is JetBrains’ framework that allows developers to share Kotlin code for user interfaces across desktop, mobile, and web applications, among others.
Agent receives feedback from the application
The interesting aspect lies in the connection between the coding agent and the software it is working on. Through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), the agent gains access to a running Compose application. It can trigger a reload, take screenshots, view the semantic structure of the interface, and read application logs. The agent can also click and enter text.
This creates a feedback loop. After modifying code, an agent can load the new version, interact with the interface, and then assess what its change has caused. For example, if an interface element appears incorrectly or an action triggers an error message in the logs, the agent receives information it can use to make the next adjustment.
This differs from coding agents, who primarily have access to source code, documentation, and development tools. By also making the running application available, an agent can perform part of the work that normally follows after code is generated.
MCP takes on a broader role in development
At the same time, the application demonstrates how MCP is taking on a broader role within development environments. The protocol is widely used to provide AI models with standardized access to external data sources and tools. JetBrains is now using the same approach to allow an agent to interact with the results of its programming work.
This makes the integration particularly interesting for agentic software development, in which AI systems independently perform increasingly longer sequences of development tasks. Simply being able to produce code is not enough for this. An agent must also be able to determine whether a change has the desired effect before proceeding.
The MCP server in Compose Hot Reload is still experimental. JetBrains is releasing it as part of Compose Multiplatform 1.12.0. The release also includes, among other things, improvements for fonts in web applications and new features for managing windows in desktop software. However, the MCP integration is the change that most clearly foreshadows a development process in which coding agents not only write code but also increasingly take over the testing and verification of their own work.