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Setup with Expo & Project Structure

🗓 May 31, 2026 • ⏱ 2 min read

Two ways to start: Expo vs bare React Native

There are two paths to a React Native project:

  • Expo — a toolkit and platform on top of React Native that handles the hard setup (build tools, native config) for you. Strongly recommended for beginners and most apps.
  • Bare React Native CLI — full control and direct native access, but you manage Xcode/Android Studio setup yourself. Choose this only when you need custom native code Expo doesn’t support.

Creating an Expo app

npx create-expo-app@latest my-app
cd my-app
npx expo start

This starts a development server and shows a QR code. Install the free Expo Go app on your phone, scan the code, and your app runs instantly on a real device — no Xcode or Android Studio needed to begin.

Why Expo is great for learning

  • No native toolchain setup to fight with on day one.
  • Test on a real phone in seconds via Expo Go.
  • Built-in APIs for camera, location, notifications and more.
  • Easy cloud builds (EAS) when you’re ready to ship.

The project structure

  • App.js (or the app/ folder with Expo Router) — your entry point / screens.
  • package.json — lists your dependencies and scripts.
  • node_modules/ — installed libraries (never edit; never commit).
  • assets/ — images, fonts, the app icon and splash screen.
  • app.json — Expo configuration (app name, icon, permissions).

Installing libraries

npm install axios            # any npm package
npx expo install expo-camera # Expo-aware install (picks compatible versions)

Use npx expo install for native modules so Expo picks versions compatible with your SDK; use plain npm install for pure-JavaScript libraries.

TypeScript from day one

create-expo-app supports TypeScript out of the box. Using it catches mistakes as you type and gives great autocomplete — highly recommended even for beginners.

Common mistakes

  • Editing files in node_modules (your changes get wiped on reinstall).
  • Using npm install for native modules instead of npx expo install.
  • Committing node_modules to git (it’s huge; it’s rebuilt from package.json).
Summary: Start with Expo (create-expo-app + Expo Go) for the smoothest beginning. Your code lives in App.js/app/, dependencies in package.json, and you install native modules with npx expo install.