React Native – What is Expo and is it worth using?

What is React Native?

React Native is a very popular framework that allows us to create cross-platform mobile applications. Using it, we are able to prepare solutions that work on both Android and iOS using almost exclusively JavaScript.

This, in turn, significantly speeds up the entire process of developing a mobile application and allows for reducing the costs associated with it. According to data presented by appinventiv in the article React Native vs Native: What to choose for App Development, using React Native instead of building native technologies allows for savings of 30-35%!

However, using React Native gives developers creating mobile applications and companies commissioning the preparation of such products even more benefits. It is worth knowing that React Native - like any technology - is not a solution without limitations.

One of them is the fact that although the vast majority of mobile app code is written in JavaScript, some parts of it still need to be written in the languages ​​in which native apps are written (Java for Android apps and Objective-C for iOS).

This, in turn, can sometimes slow down the entire software implementation process. Among other things, to avoid such complications, a solution such as Expo is used.

What is Expo?

What is the aforementioned Expo? It is a set of many tools whose primary goal is to facilitate the work of developers using React Native. It includes, among others, libraries (Expo SDK), thanks to which it is not necessary to write code from scratch for functions that are present in most mobile applications.

Expo is much more than just a set of libraries. It is an entire, extensive environment that allows you to conveniently create projects using the command line (Expo CLI), use tools to run applications on a virtual device (Expo Snack), or immediately test implemented changes on your own hardware (Expo Go). Expo therefore provides very wide possibilities in the context of building cross-platform applications in React Native.

Benefits of using Expo

It is not without reason that Expo is used by many developers who care about effectively creating IT solutions.

However, this environment provides significant benefits not only for the developers developing mobile applications, but also for the companies commissioning such work.

The most important advantages of Expo from the perspective of the person ordering include:

• Shorter waiting time for the application
  Creating software in React Native is much faster than building two separate native applications. Using Expo also allows, among other things, the use of many libraries, thanks to which we can quickly implement specific functionalities, which further shortens the time needed to prepare the solution.
   
• Easy testing capabilities
  Applications developed using Expo can be easily tested on a variety of devices, which positively impacts the level of sophistication and transparency of the project. The stability of the Expo software is a popular toolkit that continues to be updated, ensuring continued support for applications built using it.
   
• Ability to update faster
  EAS Update makes it even faster and easier to deploy patches and updates for each version of the mobile app, ensuring that our software always works efficiently and flawlessly on every platform.

The most important limitations of using Expo in React Native

Despite the numerous advantages of Expo, this solution also has some limitations. These include:

• Larger app size
  Although app size is not that important a factor in most cases, it is worth being aware that using Expo can increase it.
   
• The lack of possibility to use Expo in some projects
  is not a solution that will be applicable to every mobile application. The desire to implement some functionalities into the created software may make it necessary to use "pure" React Native, Flutter or even create a native application.
   
• Is it always worth using Expo in React Native?
  The question of whether using Expo in React Native is the optimal solution will depend on the specifics of the project itself. In some cases, making a decision about this will not be necessary at all – the desire to implement a specific solution or modification may exclude the option of using this toolkit.

In other situations, it will be necessary to determine the pros and cons of using Expo for a specific project. Our specialists start their work on creating aby conducting such an analysis.

Build an app with Ideo

Do you want to commission the development of a cross-platform mobile application and are wondering whether using Expo tools would be a good idea?

Contact our Ideo experts who have experience in building software using various technologies. They will advise you on what solution will work best for you and create an application that will be tailored to all your needs.