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React Native cli v/s Expo

#reactnative #expo #comparereactnativecliandexp

hi techies,
All new techies who want to start with react native mostly get stuck to which platform they should choose to get head start on developing react native apps.

Image source: techilaservices.com

From my work experience I found that

  • Expo is the easiest way to get started with react native development.
  • It provides an encapsulated environment which set the developer free from the Windows / macOS i.e. no worry about platform the output will be a QR which can be used by Android + iOS devices to track the project performance and progress
  • But Expo give up when it comes to interact with native part of the device, lets say we want to execute some Java or iOS code or we need to access the native part of the device at that point Expo is of no use.

  • Another issue is Expo Go App which is used to check / test the application work progress when the Expo Go is upgraded it make you sweat to execute the code on Expo Go or upgrade the old expo version code in new expo version

  • So in short for small application where you do not have to deal with native support of device and only simple data movement from here to there then Expo is Good.

Usual Case which might happen
But lets say you started some project which later on or in next phases requires native support then in that case:

  • You have to eject the project from expo
  • This will return the bare react native cli project

Now lets talk about React Native CLI
I do not find anything wrong in react native cli.
Only part which I had read as cons of react native is that:

  • it requires separate environment for windows and macOS to test and execute
  • some of the packages when need to have pod install

Other than that I did not find anything which stops you to use React Native CLI

Now What to choose
I also started with Expo when I was new to React Native and it was good, but later when project started growing and more features were requested at that point of time I realized that native was better and then I started my code with React Native CLI which only make you work harder at the beginning but later you enjoy the project

So I would like to put my thought to start with React Native CLI always this will keep you happy

Thanks guys for the reading🫡

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