17 December 2024 Leave a comment Tech-Help
When starting a React Native project, especially with Expo, you might notice the absence of the android and ios folders in your project directory. This can be confusing, particularly when tutorials and documentation frequently reference these directories. This guide will help you understand why these folders are missing and how you can generate them if needed.
Why the Folders Are Missing
Expo, a powerful tool on top of React Native, abstracts the native iOS and Android code from the developer, allowing for a more streamlined development process. This abstraction is why you do not initially see the android and ios folders. Instead, Expo manages these aspects for you, which is beneficial if you do not need to add custom native code to your application.
Generating the iOS and Android Folders
If your project requires custom native functionality, you will need to “eject” from Expo. This process will create the necessary android and ios directories, allowing you to modify the native code directly. Here’s how you can do it:
- For iOS:
npx expo run:ios - For Android:
npx expo run:android
These commands generate the respective folders and allow you to work with native modules as needed. You can refer to the Expo documentation for more details on this process.
Considerations Before Ejecting
Before deciding to eject your project, consider whether you genuinely need to add custom native modules. Ejecting from Expo removes the ease and benefits provided by the Expo framework, such as over-the-air updates and simplified configuration. Ensure that the requirement for native code outweighs these conveniences.
Additional Resources
For more information on managing React Native projects and their structure, you can explore our related articles:
Enhancing Your Development Process with Repeato
As you embark on your React Native development journey, consider using tools like Repeato to streamline your testing process. Repeato is a no-code test automation tool for iOS and Android apps, including React Native applications. It leverages computer vision and AI to create, run, and maintain automated tests efficiently. Its quick editing and execution features make it an ideal choice for developers looking to enhance their testing workflows. For more information, visit our Getting Started page.
