← ExpoCONTENT HISTORYWHAT CHANGED · RULE-BASED ANALYSIS
Update to Expo
Snapshot Sep 30, 2026 · 23:11 UTC · version 1.13.7
Collection source: not recorded for this historical snapshot.
First saved snapshot
No earlier snapshot is available to establish a change.
Compare saved observations
Download comparison JSONFull technical diff · 0 changed fields
Full snapshot data
{
"name": "expo-dev-client",
"description": "Framework (OSS). Build and distribute Expo development clients locally or via TestFlight for internal testing. For production TestFlight releases and store submission, use the eas-app-stores skill.",
"included_files": [
{
"relative_path": "agents/openai.yaml",
"size_in_bytes": 331
}
],
"skill_md_contents": "---\nname: expo-dev-client\ndescription: Framework (OSS). Build and distribute Expo development clients locally or via TestFlight for internal testing. For production TestFlight releases and store submission, use the eas-app-stores skill.\nversion: 1.1.0\nlicense: MIT\n---\n\nUse EAS Build to create development clients for testing native code changes on physical devices. Use this for creating custom Expo Go clients for testing branches of your app.\n\n> **Free locally; cloud builds are paid.** `expo-dev-client` itself is open source and building locally is free. Building or distributing via EAS Build/TestFlight uses your EAS plan's build minutes and needs a paid Apple Developer account for device/TestFlight distribution. See https://expo.dev/pricing.\n\n## Important: When Development Clients Are Needed\n\n**Development clients are the recommended setup for any real or production app.** Expo Go is a playground for learning and quick experiments with the native libraries it bundles; most apps outgrow it and move to a development client. See [Expo Go vs. development builds](https://docs.expo.dev/develop/development-builds/introduction/) for the full reasoning.\n\nYou need a dev client ONLY when using:\n\n- Local Expo modules (custom native code)\n- Apple targets (widgets, app clips, extensions)\n- Third-party native modules not in Expo Go\n- Config plugins, or testing remote push notifications and App/Universal Links\n\n## EAS Configuration\n\nEnsure `eas.json` has a development profile:\n\n```json\n{\n \"cli\": {\n \"version\": \">= 16.0.1\",\n \"appVersionSource\": \"remote\"\n },\n \"build\": {\n \"production\": {\n \"autoIncrement\": true\n },\n \"development\": {\n \"autoIncrement\": true,\n \"developmentClient\": true\n }\n },\n \"submit\": {\n \"production\": {},\n \"development\": {}\n }\n}\n```\n\nKey settings:\n\n- `developmentClient: true` - Bundles expo-dev-client for development builds\n- `autoIncrement: true` - Automatically increments build numbers\n- `appVersionSource: \"remote\"` - Uses EAS as the source of truth for version numbers\n\n## Building for TestFlight\n\nBuild iOS dev client and submit to TestFlight in one command:\n\n```bash\neas build -p ios --profile development --submit\n```\n\nThis will:\n\n1. Build the development client in the cloud\n2. Automatically submit to App Store Connect\n3. Send you an email when the build is ready in TestFlight\n\nAfter receiving the TestFlight email:\n\n1. Download the build from TestFlight on your device\n2. Launch the app to see the expo-dev-client UI\n3. Connect to your local Metro bundler or scan a QR code\n\n## Building Locally\n\nBuild a development client on your machine:\n\n```bash\n# iOS (requires Xcode)\neas build -p ios --profile development --local\n\n# Android\neas build -p android --profile development --local\n```\n\nLocal builds output:\n\n- iOS: `.ipa` file\n- Android: `.apk` or `.aab` file\n\n## Installing Local Builds\n\nInstall iOS build on simulator:\n\n```bash\n# Find the .app in the .tar.gz output\ntar -xzf build-*.tar.gz\nxcrun simctl install booted ./path/to/App.app\n```\n\nInstall iOS build on device (requires signing):\n\n```bash\n# Use Xcode Devices window or ideviceinstaller\nideviceinstaller -i build.ipa\n```\n\nInstall Android build:\n\n```bash\nadb install build.apk\n```\n\n## Building for Specific Platform\n\n```bash\n# iOS only\neas build -p ios --profile development\n\n# Android only\neas build -p android --profile development\n\n# Both platforms\neas build --profile development\n```\n\n## Checking Build Status\n\n```bash\n# List recent builds\neas build:list\n\n# View build details\neas build:view\n```\n\n## Using the Dev Client\n\nOnce installed, the dev client provides:\n\n- **Development server connection** - Enter your Metro bundler URL or scan QR\n- **Build information** - View native build details\n- **Launcher UI** - Switch between development servers\n\nConnect to local development:\n\n```bash\n# Start Metro bundler\nnpx expo start --dev-client\n\n# Scan QR code with dev client or enter URL manually\n```\n\n## Troubleshooting\n\n**Build fails with signing errors:**\n\n```bash\neas credentials\n```\n\n**Clear build cache:**\n\n```bash\neas build -p ios --profile development --clear-cache\n```\n\n**Check EAS CLI version:**\n\n```bash\neas --version\neas update\n```\n\n## Submitting Feedback\nIf you encounter errors, misleading or outdated information in this skill, report it so Expo can improve:\n```bash\nnpx --yes submit-expo-feedback@latest --category skills --subject \"expo-dev-client\" \"<actionable feedback>\"\n```\nOnly submit when you have something specific and actionable to report. Include as much relevant context as possible.\nIf an AI agent repeatedly failed or the user had to take over an Expo task, load the expo-skill-feedback skill and follow its eval-candidate flow instead of reusing the command above.\n"
}SHA-256: b7675e61aaaa4813ba2bc98d2f4c48e704ff1e6c5ae634c1a2cedbe07ad19bc7