Expo Patterns

Expo Mobile Patterns

Complete guide for building beautiful cross-platform mobile apps with Expo. Combines official Expo skills with foundational patterns.

Running the App

CRITICAL: Always try Expo Go first before creating custom builds.

Most Expo apps work in Expo Go without any custom native code.

npx expo start  # Scan QR with Expo Go

When Custom Builds Are Required

You need npx expo run:ios/android or eas build ONLY when using:

• Local Expo modules (custom native code in modules/)
• Apple targets (widgets, app clips via @bacons/apple-targets)
• Third-party native modules not in Expo Go
• Custom native configuration

Core Stack