Expo App Development Guide

Running Your App

Option 1: Expo Go (Quick Start)

The fastest way to get started is using the Expo Go app on your device:

npx expo start

For external network access (useful for testing on different devices):

npx expo start --tunnel

⚠️ Important Limitation: Expo Go has restrictions with native modules. Features requiring native code integration (like iOS/Android Health Kit connectivity) won't work in this environment.

Option 2: Development Builds (Full Feature Access)

For apps requiring native modules or full platform features:

# iOS (requires Xcode)
npx expo run:ios

# Android (requires Android Studio)
npx expo run:android

Prerequisites:

• iOS: Xcode installed for iOS Simulator
• Android: Android Studio installed for Android Emulator

Web Development

To run your app in a web browser:

npm install react-native-web
npx expo start --web

Choosing the Right Approach

• Use Expo Go for rapid prototyping and simple apps without native dependencies
• Use Development Builds when you need native modules, custom native code, or platform-specific health/sensor APIs
• Use Web for cross-platform web compatibility testing

Getting Started

1. Install dependencies: npm install
2. Choose your development method above
3. Start coding!