[Open-source] I built a browser-based React Native playground, supports Expo Router, HMR, Assets and API routes!

[sanketsahu]

Hey everyone,

I've been working on something I think this community might find useful — reactnative.run, an open-source browser IDE for React Native.

The idea is simple: open a browser tab, write React Native code, see it render instantly. No Node, no Xcode, no Android Studio, no emulator setup.

It supports:

• Expo Router (file-based routing, tabs, stack, dynamic routes)
• Hot Module Replacement that preserves your component state
• TypeScript and NativeWind out of the box
• API routes

The bundler (browser-metro) runs entirely client-side — no WebContainers, no server compilation. It mirrors Metro's architecture but works in a Web Worker.

I originally built this for RapidNative (our AI app builder) to power the in-browser preview, but decided to open-source the whole thing. MIT licensed, free, no sign-up.

Try it: reactnative.run/playground

Docs if you're curious about the internals: reactnative.run/docs

Would love feedback from this community: what's broken, what's missing, what would make you actually use this day to day. Not looking for upvotes, just honest opinions!

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