📦 Builds

Requirements

To test your app, your builds must:

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

Build Types

Select a build type based on your chosen testing command:

Preview Simulator Builds

Features

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

Compatible Testing Commands

🧪 Local Builds🧪 Expo Cloud Builds

How to build?

Choose your preferred build method:

EAS Build

Build Profile

Add the following build profile to your eas.json:

eas.json

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

EAS Build Profile

Pass this profile name to EAS build command with --profile option

Remote

Build Command

Run this command to build your app on EAS servers:

Terminal

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

note

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

Local

Build Commands

Run these commands to build your app locally:

Android

Terminal

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

Build output: builds/simulator/preview/android.apk

iOS

Terminal

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

Build output: builds/simulator/preview/ios.tar.gz

note

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

React Native CLI

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

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 Builds

Features

These builds exclude JavaScript bundle, allowing dynamic code loading at runtime

Compatible Testing Commands

🧪 Expo Update

How to build?

Choose your preferred build method:

EAS Build

Build Profile

Add the following build profile to your eas.json:

eas.json

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

EAS Build Profile

Pass this profile name to EAS build command with --profile option

Remote

Build Command

Run this command to build your app on EAS servers:

Terminal

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

note

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

Local

Build Commands

Run these commands to build your app locally:

Android

Terminal

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

Build output: builds/simulator/development/android.apk

iOS

Terminal

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

Build output: builds/simulator/development/ios.tar.gz

note

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

React Native CLI

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

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