Expo

What it is

Expo is an open-source framework and platform that sits on top of React Native to make building, running, and shipping mobile apps far easier. It bundles a curated set of native modules, a command-line tool, and cloud services (EAS) for building and submitting apps without managing Xcode and Android Studio yourself. The Expo Go app lets you preview a project on a real device instantly by scanning a QR code.

Strengths

Removes most native build friction — no need to touch Xcode/Gradle for common cases.
A large library of ready-made native APIs (camera, notifications, location, etc.).
EAS Build and EAS Submit handle cloud builds and store submission.
Over-the-air updates let you push JavaScript fixes without a full store review.
File-based routing (Expo Router) and great TypeScript support.

Trade-offs

You're tied to Expo's release cadence and supported native module set.
Deeply custom native code may require "prebuild" and more configuration.
App size can be larger, and some advanced native integrations need extra work.
Cloud build services have usage limits on free tiers.

Best for

Expo is the right default for most React Native projects — especially small teams and solo developers who want to ship to both stores quickly without becoming native build experts.

Vibe coding fit

Expo is excellent for AI-assisted building: the CLI scaffolds a working app in one command, Expo Go gives instant on-device preview, and the bundled APIs mean the assistant rarely has to wire up fragile native code. Ask the model to use Expo Router for navigation, TypeScript for safety, and Expo's own modules (e.g. expo-camera) before third-party native packages. State your target stores so it configures EAS correctly.

npx create-expo-app@latest my-app
cd my-app
npx expo start          # scan the QR with Expo Go
npx eas build --platform all   # cloud-build for both stores