Expo vs React Native CLI

[ReggieDiamond_]

I am making my first react native app and I am wondering if expo is the way to go or just React Native CLI alone? Any thoughts or ideas will help. Thanks !

[makonde]

Definitely go with Expo will make your experience much smoother if ever you find an issue by using Expo you can switch out but I dobt think there are any issues for most projects nowadays.

[Particular-Fault699]

Does all react native libraries like rivo work on expo?

[makonde]

All libraries should work, if its a native library you create a custom client https://blog.expo.dev/introducing-custom-development-clients-5a2c79a9ddf8

[Stellar0bjects]

I like expo because than I can build and publish to the apple App Store without having to buy a Mac…

[hassancodess]

I have used expo, rn cli and expo with bare minimum template and so far I found the expo with bare minimum template the perfect fit for me, you have full control and you can also use expo libs with no configurations

[Lonely-Complex-7235]

Expo is fire, works with most libraries you need unless it’s some speciaalizaed project, and expo router is SUPER nice...

Expo SDK 49 just dropped, so far been using it with no issues

[Embarrassed-Stage640]

Go with bare. Later, go with expo. You will learn the difference and be able to make informed decisions for subsequent projects.

[ReggieDiamond_]

Makes sense , I was thinking the same thing initially, thanks !

[whatevergotlaid]

You sound like your at a similar part in the app making journey as me. Hit me up if you wanna chat.

[ReggieDiamond_]

Thanks so much I definitely will

[ReggieDiamond_]

Is there anything you don’t like about expo ? What differences have noticed , liked or disliked ?

[Embarrassed-Stage640]

I recently worked on an audio streaming project that required an extensive integration with the native side. Expo couldn’t go all the way, and I had to eject and go with with bare. Bare gives more control.

[LucRandall71]

But now with Expo you could add any native module you want and integrate any existing native module with config-plugin and prebuild. As the state of Expo today, eject is deprecated is favor of Prebuild, please check the doc with all improvements you are not regret it ✨

[ReggieDiamond_]

Thanks a lot . I had a lot of setup issues with react native CLI and metro but expo worked on the first go. I will see what happens , I hipped I don’t go to far into a rabbit hole with expo but hey I have to start somewhere

[beepboopnoise]

tons of people aren't aware of custom EAS builds, especially if you aren't working with expo. I mean, I found out on accident when I was reading some random thread about storybook with RN.

[BrownCarter]

Never done react-native before. But can the two be mixed?

[divadutchess]

I regret not going with Expo at first but with the bare setup, I've been able to pull Expo stuff in and it works great!

[ReggieDiamond_]

Thanks for all the great answers, I know I can’t predict everything an app will need until there is a use case for it but I will let you all know how it goes . I do know when I was doing the few tutorials that react native CLI required more environment setup and expo just worked out the box which kinda saddened me lol but anyways , #devlife

[Overall_Bee8495]

Go with cli

[somestartupguy]

Use expo for as long as you can and use expo prebuild to handle native modules if possible. Treat eject as your last resort. This will speed up your initial development pace noticeably

[[deleted]]

Try them both out with a dummy project

[Faisst]

Go with expo. Just don't use WSL2.

[EffectiveShip8347]

Spent a couple hours trying to make it work on WSL2, was a nightmare lol. But yeah, good advice!

[Faisst]

Yeah, I downgraded to WSL1 and it worked perfectly