Use React Native with Expo for phone apps

Review by

2027-04-30

How to do it

React Native is a recorded exception to the five-year test, dated 27 October 2026, because it is still on 0.x after ten years in use. React Native shipped its first release, 0.1.0, on 26 March 2015. Its versions still start with 0, so the script in Pick software proven in production for five years must read the first release date instead. Version 0.88.0 shipped on 15 October 2026, with about 9.0 million weekly npm downloads and an MIT licence. Expo reached 1.0.0 in February 2017, and SDK 58 shipped on 29 September 2026, with about 7.1 million weekly downloads, also MIT. The React Native docs recommend a framework such as Expo for new apps. Two store dates drive upgrades. Since 28 April 2026, App Store uploads must be built with Xcode 26 and an iOS 26 SDK. Since 31 August 2026, new Google Play apps and updates must target Android 16, API level 36. Each new Expo SDK moves to the targets the stores ask for, so stay on a current SDK. npx expo prebuild writes plain native projects, so you can leave Expo's services at any time. Sign over-the-air updates as Sign over-the-air updates and match them to the native build says. Choose something else when the app is mostly one platform feature, such as a camera or health tool. Swift and Kotlin then reach every new API first. Choose Flutter when your team already ships Dart.

Examples

Shell example

npx create-expo-app@latest shop-app --template default@sdk-58
cd shop-app && npx expo-doctor

How to check

package.json lists expo and react-native, and react-native is the version that the Expo SDK in use names. npx expo-doctor reports no problems in CI.

Sources

• React Native, Get started
• Expo, Create a project
• Expo, Prebuild

Related rules

• STK-1 Pick software proven in production for five years in Software choices
• MOB-18 Sign over-the-air updates and match them to the native build in Mobile apps