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Learn React Native with a Board Game (Part 1 of 4)

In this tutorial, you’ll be learning about basic concepts, developing an application from scratch, state, props, and components. This tutorial is for both beginners and professionals.

Introduction to React Native

React Native is a JavaScript framework created by Facebook, Inc. It is used to develop mobile applications for Android and iOS. The mobile applications are developed only using JavaScript, and it is supported by both iOS and Android. It uses native components instead of web components as building blocks. We just put those building blocks together using React and JavaScript.

“React Native is not used for developing web applications or an HTML application; it is only used to develop real, native mobile applications that are indistinguishable from mobile applications built using Java or C++. The apps developed using React Native does not load on any browsers, they run on a mobile device only.”

Prerequisite

For better understanding, you must have the basic knowledge of HTML and CSS, OOPs concepts, and JavaScript.

Advantages of React Native

• Cross-Platform: It works for both Android and iOS devices.
• JavaScript: The knowledge of JavaScript can be used to build native mobile apps.
• Reloading: Changes made in the code of the app will be visible during development.

Limitations of React Native

• Updates: Few components of Android and iOS are not supported.
• Native Components: If the developer wants to create native functionality that is yet to be created, then the developer has to write platform-specific code.

React Native Environment Setup

The instructions and environment setup are quite different for each operating system. Here, we have chosen Windows as our development OS and Android as our target OS.

To set up the React Native environment, you have to download and install NodeJS, React Native CLI, Android Studio, Python, and JDK software.

Steps to Setup React Native CLI Environment

Step 1: Install NodeJS and NPM (Node Package Manager)

Click here to download NodeJS. NPM comes with NodeJS.

To verify whether NodeJS and NPM are installed or not, open the command prompt and type “node -v” and hit enter. This command will give the version of NodeJS installed.

Next, type “npm -v” and hit enter, this command will give you the version of NPM installed.

Note: Before going to the next step, make sure that you have installed Python, JDK, NPM, and NodeJS software on your system.

Step 2: Install React Native CLI

Open the command prompt and run the below code:

npm install -g react-native-cli

This command will install React Native.

To install Expo CLI use the below command.

npm install -g expo-cli

Note: We’ll discuss Expo CLI later in this post.

Download and setup Android studio

Step 1: Download the latest version of Android Studio from “https://developer.android.com/studio.”
Step 2: Go to the download folder, double click on the downloaded android studio set (.exe) file. In the Welcome to Andriod Studio Setup Window click Next.

Step 3: Make sure the Android virtual device is checked. Click Next.

Step 4: Choose the destination folder and click Next.

Step 5: Follow the prompts and click install.

Step 6: Let the installation complete and click Next.

Step 7: Click Finish.

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Step 8: Click Next, select an installation type and click Next.

Step 9: Select the UI theme and click Next.

Step 10: In the Verify Settings Window, click Finish.

Step 11: In the Downloading components Window, click Finish.

Configuring AVD Manager

Once Android Studio is installed, we’re going to configure the AVD Manager.
Step 1: At the bottom left of the Android Studio Window, you’ll find a configure option, click on it, and select AVD Manager.

Step 2: Click “Create Virtual Device.”

Step 3: Choose a device, click Next.

Step 4: Download any Android version for your Virtual Device. Click download, accept the license agreement. Click Next.

Step 5: Once the Android version is downloaded on a virtual device, click Next.

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Step 6: Give a name to the AVD and click Finish.

Step 7: Click on the Play icon under the Actions column to start your AVD.

Hurray! You have completed the React Native Environment Setup. Create a new project and start working.

Expo

In this guide, we’ll teach you how you can create your first app, installing tools, and give you an overview of how to work with Expo tools, limitations, and environment setup.

The easiest way to get started with mobile development is with Expo CLI. Expo is a set of tools built around React Native. Expo allows you to build universal real native apps using JavaScript. To build apps using Expo CLI, all you need is a recent version of NodeJS, Android Studio, and an emulator or phone.

Expo allows you to run an app on a physical device without setting up a development environment. To run the React Native app on your physical device, all you have to do is to install the Expo application from the play store and scan the QR code displayed on Command Line Interface.

Limitations of Expo

• If your app wants a specific thing, Expo may not support it.
• Many features of iOS and Android APIs are still not available, for example, Bluetooth is not available.
• Does not support the background execution of the code.
• Only minimum versions of iOS and Android are supported.
• The managed workflow may not be the best option, to keep the size of the app too less.

Advantages

• Better development experience.
• Easy to upgrade to newer versions.
• Easy to deploy the application in Apple or Google store.
• Setup takes less time.

Difference between Expo CLI and React Native CLI

Expo CLI Installation and Setup

Step 1:

npm install -g expo-cli

The above command will install the Expo CLI.

To check the installed version of the Expo CLI, enter the below command in the command prompt and hit enter.

expo -- version

Step 2: Create a new project. Use the below command to create a new project.

expo init my-project

Note: In place of my-project you can give any name.

Step 3: Navigate to the project directory and type the below command to open iOS or Android.

Hit enter after each command.

cd my-project
npm start 

Step 4: Now, the Expo dev tool will automatically get started.

Now, if you wish to connect your physical device, then download the Expo app (Android) or the camera app (iOS) on your physical device and scan the QR code displayed in your CLI.

If you wish to use Android emulator, press a, or w to run on web.

If you press a, then it will start downloading and installing Expo on your AVD.

Hurray! You have completed the Expo Installation, Setup, Creating a new project. You can start working on it now.