Expo Development Patterns

Quick Guide: Build production-ready React Native apps with Expo. Use managed workflow with Continuous Native Generation for most projects, Expo Router for file-based navigation, and EAS for builds/updates. Development builds replace Expo Go for production testing.

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<critical_requirements>

CRITICAL: Before Using This Skill

All code must follow project conventions in CLAUDE.md (kebab-case, named exports, import ordering, import type, named constants)

(You MUST use development builds for production testing - Expo Go is for prototyping only)

(You MUST update runtimeVersion when making native dependency changes to prevent OTA update crashes)

(You MUST use config plugins for native customization - NEVER manually edit android/ios directories in managed workflow)

(You MUST use EXPO_PUBLIC_ prefix for client-side environment variables - NEVER store secrets in these variables)

</critical_requirements>

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Auto-detection: Expo, expo-router, EAS Build, EAS Update, expo-dev-client, app.config.js, app.json, expo prebuild, npx expo, eas.json, expo-constants, expo-notifications, Continuous Native Generation, CNG

When to use:

• Starting new React Native projects with rapid development needs
• Building apps that need OTA (over-the-air) updates
• Using file-based routing with convention-over-configuration
• Managing native code without maintaining android/ios directories
• Deploying to app stores with cloud builds

Key patterns covered:

• Managed workflow with Continuous Native Generation (CNG)
• Expo Router file-based navigation
• EAS Build, Submit, and Update workflows
• Development builds vs Expo Go
• Config plugins for native customization
• Environment configuration and secrets
• Push notifications setup

When NOT to use:

• Apps requiring complex custom native code beyond Expo Modules API
• When app size must be under 15MB (Expo adds overhead)
• Legacy React Native projects not ready for migration

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Philosophy

Expo transforms React Native development from "write once, debug everywhere" to "write once, deploy confidently." The key insight is that most apps don't need direct native access - they need well-maintained native modules with consistent APIs.

Core principles:

1. Managed by default - Let Expo handle native complexity; prebuild only when necessary
2. Continuous Native Generation - Treat android/ios as build artifacts, not source code
3. Development builds for truth - Expo Go is for learning; development builds show production reality
4. OTA for velocity - Ship JavaScript updates without app store delays
5. Config plugins over ejection - Customize native code declaratively when needed

Mental model:

Expo is NOT a limitation on React Native - it's a professional-grade abstraction. You can always drop down to native code via Expo Modules API or prebuild, but most apps never need to.

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Core Patterns

Pattern 1: Dynamic Configuration with app.config.ts

Use app.config.ts for environment-specific builds. Use named constants for SDK versions and build numbers.

// app.config.ts - Environment-aware config
const IS_PRODUCTION = process.env.APP_ENV === "production";
const BUILD_NUMBER = 1;

export default ({ config }: ConfigContext): ExpoConfig => ({
  ...config,
  name: IS_PRODUCTION ? "MyApp" : "MyApp (Dev)",
  ios: {
    bundleIdentifier: IS_PRODUCTION ? "com.app" : "com.app.dev",
    buildNumber: String(BUILD_NUMBER),
  },
  android: {
    package: IS_PRODUCTION ? "com.app" : "com.app.dev",
    versionCode: BUILD_NUMBER,
  },
});

Full examples: examples/core.md - App Configuration section

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Pattern 2: Config Plugins for Native Customization

Modify native code declaratively -- changes survive expo prebuild --clean. Use config plugins for permissions, SDK versions, and native settings.

// app.config.ts plugins array
plugins: [
  [
    "expo-camera",
    { cameraPermission: "Allow $(PRODUCT_NAME) to access your camera." },
  ],
  [
    "expo-build-properties",
    { android: { minSdkVersion: 24 }, ios: { deploymentTarget: "15.1" } },
  ],
];

Full examples: examples/core.md - Config Plugins section

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Pattern 3: Environment Variables

Use EXPO_PUBLIC_ prefix for client-side variables. Metro requires direct property access -- destructuring and bracket notation don't work.

// MUST use direct access - Metro static analysis requirement
const API_URL = process.env.EXPO_PUBLIC_API_URL; // Works
// const { EXPO_PUBLIC_API_URL } = process.env;  // BROKEN - undefined at runtime

Full examples: examples/core.md - Environment Variables section

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Pattern 4: Development Builds

Use expo-dev-client for production-accurate testing. Expo Go is for prototyping only -- it lacks your native dependencies, push notifications, and accurate splash screens.

# Cloud build
eas build --profile development --platform ios
# Local build
npx expo run:ios

Full configuration: examples/eas.md - Development Builds section

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Pattern 5: Asset Management

Block splash screen while loading fonts, use expo-image for remote images with blur hash placeholders and disk caching.

SplashScreen.preventAutoHideAsync();
// Load fonts, then call SplashScreen.hideAsync() when ready

Full examples: examples/core.md - Font Loading and Image Handling sections

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<red_flags>

RED FLAGS

• Expo Go for production testing -- missing native modules, push notifications, accurate splash screens. Always use development builds.
• Not updating runtimeVersion after native changes -- OTA updates crash on apps with incompatible native code. Use "fingerprint" policy for automatic detection.
• Storing secrets in EXPO_PUBLIC_ variables -- embedded in JS bundle, visible to anyone who decompiles. Use EAS Secrets and backend proxies.
• Manually editing android/ios directories -- changes lost on expo prebuild --clean. Use config plugins.
• Destructuring process.env -- Metro requires direct property access (process.env.EXPO_PUBLIC_*). Destructuring and bracket notation produce undefined.
• Using expo-av -- removed in SDK 55. Migrate to expo-video and expo-audio.
• Legacy Architecture -- removed after SDK 54. React Native 0.82+ requires New Architecture.

Full anti-patterns and gotchas: reference.md

</red_flags>

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Detailed Resources:

• examples/core.md - Project config, environment variables, fonts, images
• examples/router.md - File-based routing, tabs, auth flows, modals
• examples/eas.md - Cloud builds, app store submission, OTA updates
• reference.md - Decision frameworks, SDK compatibility, anti-patterns

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<critical_reminders>

CRITICAL REMINDERS

All code must follow project conventions in CLAUDE.md

(You MUST use development builds for production testing - Expo Go is for prototyping only)

(You MUST update runtimeVersion when making native dependency changes to prevent OTA update crashes)

(You MUST use config plugins for native customization - NEVER manually edit android/ios directories in managed workflow)

(You MUST use EXPO_PUBLIC_ prefix for client-side environment variables - NEVER store secrets in these variables)

Failure to follow these rules will cause OTA update crashes, broken builds, and security vulnerabilities.

</critical_reminders>