📦 Builds

Requirements

To test your app, your builds must:

• include Storybook with completed 🛠️ Setup
• be runnable on simulators (Android: .apk, iOS: .app)

Build Types

Select a build type based on your chosen testing method:

Preview Simulator

Description

These builds include JavaScript bundle, containing all the code needed to run the app

Compatible Testing Methods

🧪 Standard🧪 EAS Cloud Build

How to build?

EAS Build

Build Profile

Add the following build profile to your eas.json:

eas.json

{
  "build": {
    "preview-simulator": {
      "android": { "buildType": "apk", "withoutCredentials": true },
      "ios": { "simulator": true }
    }
  }
}

Local

Build Commands

Run these commands to build your app locally:

Android

Terminal

npx eas-cli build \
  --local \
  --profile preview-simulator \
  --platform android \
  --output builds/android.apk

Build output: builds/android.apk

iOS

Terminal

npx eas-cli build \
  --local \
  --profile preview-simulator \
  --platform ios \
  --output builds/ios.tar.gz

Build output: builds/ios.tar.gz

note

EAS Build compresses iOS builds (.app) into .tar.gz files

Cloud

Build Command

Run this command to build your app on Expo servers:

Terminal

npx eas-cli build --profile preview-simulator --platform all

note

Use --platform option to select only the platforms you plan to test

React Native CLI

Native Directories

Requires exposed android/ and ios/ directories with native code

Build Commands

Run these commands to build your app:

Android

Terminal

npx react-native run-android --mode Release

Build output: android/app/build/outputs/apk/release/app-release.apk

iOS

Terminal

npx react-native run-ios --mode Release --buildFolder app

Build output: ios/app/Build/Products/Release-iphonesimulator/YourApp.app

Native Build Tools

Native Directories

Requires exposed android/ and ios/ directories with native code

Build Commands

Run these commands to build your app:

Android

Terminal

cd android && ./gradlew assembleRelease

Build output: android/app/build/outputs/apk/release/app-release.apk

iOS

Terminal

cd ios && xcodebuild \
  -workspace YourWorkspace.xcworkspace \
  -scheme YourScheme \
  -configuration Release \
  -sdk iphonesimulator \
  -destination 'generic/platform=iOS Simulator' \
  -derivedDataPath app

Build output: ios/app/Build/Products/Release-iphonesimulator/YourApp.app

Development Simulator

Description

These builds exclude JavaScript bundle, allowing dynamic Over-The-Air (OTA) code loading at runtime

Compatible Testing Methods

🧪 EAS Update

How to build?

EAS Build

Build Profile

Add the following build profile to your eas.json:

eas.json

{
  "build": {
    "development-simulator": {
      "android": { "buildType": "apk", "withoutCredentials": true },
      "ios": { "simulator": true },
      "developmentClient": true
    }
  }
}

Local

Build Commands

Run these commands to build your app locally:

Android

Terminal

npx eas-cli build \
  --local \
  --profile development-simulator \
  --platform android \
  --output builds/android.apk

Build output: builds/android.apk

iOS

Terminal

npx eas-cli build \
  --local \
  --profile development-simulator \
  --platform ios \
  --output builds/ios.tar.gz

Build output: builds/ios.tar.gz

note

EAS Build compresses iOS builds (.app) into .tar.gz files

Cloud

Build Command

Run this command to build your app on Expo servers:

Terminal

npx eas-cli build --profile development-simulator --platform all

note

Use --platform option to select only the platforms you plan to test

React Native CLI

Native Directories

Requires exposed android/ and ios/ directories with native code

Build Commands

Run these commands to build your app:

Android

Terminal

npx react-native run-android --mode Debug

Build output: android/app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk

iOS

Terminal

npx react-native run-ios --mode Debug --buildFolder app

Build output: ios/app/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/YourApp.app

Native Build Tools

Native Directories

Requires exposed android/ and ios/ directories with native code

Build Commands

Run these commands to build your app:

Android

Terminal

cd android && ./gradlew assembleDebug

Build output: android/app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk

iOS

Terminal

cd ios && xcodebuild \
  -workspace YourWorkspace.xcworkspace \
  -scheme YourScheme \
  -configuration Debug \
  -sdk iphonesimulator \
  -destination 'generic/platform=iOS Simulator' \
  -derivedDataPath app

Build output: ios/app/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/YourApp.app