Expo
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What is Expo?
Expo is an open-source platform built around React Native that takes care of native iOS and Android configuration, so you can build, preview and ship a mobile app from one JavaScript codebase.
An open-source platform and framework built around React Native that heavily simplifies the process of developing, testing, and deploying mobile apps.
Expo abstracts away the agonizing complexity of native mobile development. It manages the underlying iOS and Android configuration files, provides a massive library of native APIs (camera, notifications), and allows developers to preview their app live on physical devices simply by scanning a QR code without opening Xcode or Android Studio.
How it relates to Orbit
An Expo app is a project like any other in Orbit; its Mobile Builds tab tracks TestFlight and Play Console status, and iOS builds need a Mac on your account. See Project Window for details.
When you would use it
You use Expo as the default toolkit whenever starting a new React Native project to avoid the severe headaches of manual native device configuration.
Common operations
- Rapidly prototyping and testing a mobile app on physical hardware over Wi-Fi.
- Utilizing Expo Application Services (EAS) to build and submit apps to the app stores via the cloud.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Xcode or Android Studio to use Expo?
Not to get started. Expo lets you preview the app on a real phone by scanning a QR code. Native toolchains come back into play when you build store binaries yourself.
Is Expo the same as React Native?
No. React Native is the framework; Expo is a toolkit and set of native APIs on top of it, and it is the usual starting point for a new React Native app.
Can Orbit build an Expo app for iOS?
iOS builds in Orbit’s Mobile Builds tab need a Mac on your account that passes Orbit’s build-capability check, and Android builds run locally. The same tab shows TestFlight and Play Console status. See Project Window.