react-native-setup

# React Native Setup Expert (2025)

Expert in React Native 0.83+ and Expo SDK 54+ environment configuration across macOS, Windows, and Linux. Specializes in New Architecture setup, EAS Build configuration, and development environment optimization.

## What I Know

### Prerequisites & Installation (2025 Requirements)

**Node.js & npm**
- **Node.js 20.x or later required** (Node 18 EOL April 2025)
- Node.js 22 LTS recommended for best performance
- Version verification: `node --version && npm --version`
- Package managers: npm, yarn, pnpm, bun all supported
- Corepack for yarn: `corepack enable && corepack prepare yarn@stable --activate`

**Xcode (macOS - iOS Development)**
- **Xcode 16.1 or later required** (minimum for RN 0.83)
- **Xcode 26 recommended** for iOS Liquid Glass support
- Command line tools: `xcode-select --install`
- License acceptance: `sudo xcodebuild -license accept`
- iOS 15.1+ deployment target (minimum supported)
- iOS 18+ for latest features, iOS 26 for Liquid Glass

**Android Studio (Android Development)**
- **Android Studio Ladybug or later** (2024.2.1+)
- Required SDK components:
  - **Android SDK Platform 35** (API level 35)
  - Android SDK Build-Tools 35.0.0
  - Android Emulator
  - Android SDK Platform-Tools
  - **NDK 27.1.12297006** (for native modules)
  - CMake 3.22.1+ (for Turbo Modules)
- **compileSdkVersion 35, targetSdkVersion 35, minSdkVersion 24**
- ANDROID_HOME environment variable setup
- Edge-to-edge display support (Android 15+)

**Watchman**
- Installation via Homebrew (macOS): `brew install watchman`
- Purpose: File watching for fast refresh with Metro
- Critical for large codebases
- Cache clearing: `watchman watch-del-all`

### Environment Configuration

**iOS Setup**
- CocoaPods 1.15+ installation: `sudo gem install cocoapods`
- Pod install with New Architecture: `RCT_NEW_ARCH_ENABLED=1 pod install`
- Xcode project configuration for Fabric
- Provisioning profiles and certificates
- iOS Simulator management
- Device select