Kickstarting Your Mobile App with Expo & React Native
Mar 6, 2025

Expo is the fastest way to start building React Native apps without installing Xcode or Android Studio. It is ideal for rapid prototyping, testing, and even launching full-scale production apps. With Expo, developers can focus on creating features while the platform handles the native complexity under the hood. Its ecosystem includes built-in APIs such as Camera, push notifications, geolocation, and sensors, providing a robust starting point for any app
Why Expo?
Expo brings several advantages
- Instant setup: No need to install native build tools like Xcode or Android Studio.
- Cross-platform: Supports iOS, Android, and Web out of the box.
- Built-in APIs: Access to device hardware features without writing native code.
- Over-the-air updates: Push updates to your app without resubmitting to app stores.
- Rich community and documentation: Plenty of resources to help you get started quickly.
Prerequisites
Before starting, ensure Node.js and npm are installed. Familiarity with JavaScript or TypeScript is recommended
Setting Up
Install Expo CLI globally
npm install -g expo-cli
Create a new project:
expo init my-app
Choose a template: blank, tabs (with navigation), or others. Once created, navigate into the project and start the local server:
cd my-app
npm start
Scan the QR code with Expo Go on iOS or Android to instantly preview your app.
Folder Structure
A clean project structure helps maintainability and scalability
my-app/
āāā App.js
āāā assets/
āāā components/
āāā screens/
āāā navigation/
App.js: Main entry point
assets/: Images, fonts, and other media
components/: Reusable UI components
screens/: Page-level components
navigation/: Navigation setup (React Navigation or other)
Using Components
Create reusable UI components
import { Pressable, Text } from "react-native";
export default function Button({ label, onPress }) {
return (
<Pressable onPress={onPress}>
<Text>{label}</Text>
</Pressable>
);
}
Deployment
Build your app for production using Expo Application Services:
eas build --platform all
Submit apps to stores with
eas submit --platform ios
Wrap-Up
Expo accelerates mobile development by handling native complexities. Developers can focus on UX, features, and business logic while Expo manages builds, testing, and deployment, making it perfect for both beginners and seasoned developers