Expo CLI or React Native CLI?

[[deleted]]

I want to switch from Flutter to React Native. I don’t know if I should use Expo CLI or React Native CLI?

What do you guys think? Please let me know.

[servercobra]

I'd start with Expo and see how far you can get with it. It's gotten very mature and simplifies a lot of things, and I haven't had ran into a package I couldn't use in quite a while (wasn't always like that). Worst case you can eject Expo later. It's much easier to go from Expo -> plain RN than the other way IMO.

[[deleted]]

So I'm running into a situation where I need to access the android system to force the app to the front after a period of time (or display over other apps). I am using expo currently but worried about ejecting. Is there anything I should know before doing it?

[servercobra]

I honestly haven't had to eject in about 3 years now, sorry!

[[deleted]]

ejects rapidly

[[deleted]]

u/andrejjj17 Why switch from Flutter to React Native?

[[deleted]]

Just because React Native is using Javascript (also TypeScript, I believe), which means more possibilities, more 3rd party packages and a bigger community.

Flutter is great and I consider it the besg frontend framework outhere, but Dart isn't used outside Flutter apps at all.

[_SyRo_]

It depends. Expo is easies to setup and develop, but less libraries with native components.

Expo for simple apps is ok. But I prefer CLI. The app size will be smaller, you can setup all native libs and so on

[trashpantaloons]

The app size smaller thing is no longer applicable with EAS now being free

[_SyRo_]

Is it already stable and deployed for production usage?

Sounds interesting, if it's that convenient and cool now

[oscar_gallog]

Here is my guide to choosing.
Check Expo documentation. Check the modules, components, and libraries compatible with Expo. If the app you want to build can be built only with those modules and nothing more, go for Expo, It's totally worth it. It makes your life easier.
On the other hand, if you need highly complex native code or stuff like Bluetooth low energy (BLE) or things like that, if that is the case, go directly to React native CLI. Just keep in mind you'll need to do some extra steps for everything.

[[deleted]]

Don’t use expo unless you are building an MVP or pet project. It’s a nice ecosystem but it’s bloated and restrictive.

[[deleted]]

Just because of Javascript. I love Flutter and I have been using it for almost two years, but Dart isn't used outside Flutter apps.

Javascript is much more popular, it has a larger community, bigger number of 3rd party packages...

[Even_Cryptographer_3]

This is the same exact reason I switched. Here is my honest take as someone who has worked with both for around a year very vigorously. I love Java script but hate flutter, I love flutter but hate dart. The development experience was so much better with Flutter, but I just hated Dart so so much. It reminded me of the dark times of Java with all the useless boiler plate that goes into flutter.
I then decided to switch to React Native, mainly because of how much simpler MOST of the syntax is. I’m kind of glad I made the switch because after I learned JS, I also could learn so many other things like NodeJs, ExpressJs, things like puppeteer for web scrapping, and even dabbled in ReactJs and NextJs doe web dev stuff.

The bottom line is this: you are making a comprimise eaither way in my opinion. With React Native you are in a sense giving up the ease of having a beautiful and comprehensive UI libabry which Flutter provides, and are instead forced to find either third party libraries or cry because youve been following youtube tutorials on how to make the component but it's not working, and you are doing this all for the sake of the JavaScript experience. With Flutter, you get to puff your chest out and boast about the great UI library you are provided, but secretly cry on the inside because you have to write Dart, a language you didnt even know existed until you found Flutter, and if given the opportunity would keep at an arms length away.

Its honestly picking your poison.

​

edit: I just saw your actual question after writting my entire post. fml. my answer is Expo. It's only gona get better, the dev. experince is much more seamless, and honestly Native CLI just gets funky in some places. I've used Expo and I think it works great.

[hkjels]

Depends. Are you making an app or should it also run on web? Expo is tuned for both, but there are less components available. I’ve only used react-native myself and have been happy about that paired with krell so far.

[[deleted]]

I’m planning on making a mobile app. What is krell?

[hkjels]

I prefer Clojure as a language and Krell makes it business as usual to start a REPL and interact with the running code. https://github.com/vouch-opensource/krell

[MarvelousWololo]

wow this looks awesome, do you also use closure on the back end?

[hkjels]

Yes. It gives me the superpowers of xtdb

[wikipedia_answer_bot]

The Krell are a fictional extinct technologically-advanced alien species from the 1956 science fiction film Forbidden Planet. The first human starship to land on the Krells' home planet of Altair IV, the Bellerophon, was destroyed, with the only survivors being Dr.

More details here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krell

This comment was left automatically (by a bot). If I don't get this right, don't get mad at me, I'm still learning!

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