What is a Development Build? 🚀 Customizing your React Native app! 📱
A React Native app consists of two parts: the native app bundle, which is installed on a physical device, and the JavaScript bundle that runs inside it. In the case of Expo Go, the Expo Go app itself serves as the native app bundle. However, with development builds, you're creating this native app bundle yourself instead of relying on an already published app like Expo Go. Think of development builds as your own customized version of Expo Go, tailored with just the native code required to run the React Native app you're developing. This gives you full control over the native runtime, allowing you to install native libraries, modify project configurations, or even write your own native code.
With development builds, you enjoy the benefits of any native library while still retaining the excellent developer experience that comes with an Expo project.