React Native Expo (0.76-0.82+ / SDK 52+)

Status: Production Ready ✅ Last Updated: 2025-11-22 Production Tested: Knowledge based on official React Native and Expo release notes

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Auto-Trigger Keywords

Claude Code automatically discovers this skill when you mention:

Primary Keywords

• react-native
• react native
• expo
• expo sdk
• expo go
• new architecture
• fabric
• turbomodules
• hermes engine

Secondary Keywords

• react-native-cli
• expo-cli
• react native devtools
• metro bundler
• ios simulator
• android emulator
• expo dev client
• react navigation
• swift appdelegate
• objective-c appdelegate

Version-Specific Keywords

• react-native 0.76
• react-native 0.77
• react-native 0.78
• react-native 0.79
• react-native 0.80
• react-native 0.81
• react-native 0.82
• expo sdk 52
• expo sdk 53
• react 19

Error-Based Keywords

• "Fabric component descriptor not found"
• "TurboModule not registered"
• "propTypes is not a function"
• "forwardRef is deprecated"
• "RCTAppDependencyProvider not found"
• "console.log() not showing"
• "Metro logs not appearing"
• "Chrome debugger not working"
• "newArchEnabled=false not working"
• "cannot disable new architecture"
• "deep imports deprecated"
• "react-native/Libraries"
• "JSC not supported"
• "Redux store crashes"
• "i18n-js not working"
• "CodePush crashes"
• "C++11 too old"
• "targeting C++11"
• "glog module import error"

CSS Feature Keywords

• display: contents
• boxSizing
• mixBlendMode
• outline properties
• isolation css
• android xml drawables
• react native css

React 19 Keywords

• useActionState
• useOptimistic
• use hook
• react 19 migration
• propTypes removal
• forwardRef removal

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What This Skill Does

This skill provides knowledge-gap-focused guidance for React Native 0.76-0.82+ and Expo SDK 52+, covering critical updates from December 2024 onward that aren't in LLM training data.

Core Capabilities

✅ New Architecture Migration - Mandatory in 0.82+, interop layer in 0.76-0.81 ✅ React 19 Breaking Changes - propTypes removal, forwardRef deprecation, new hooks ✅ New CSS Properties - display: contents, mixBlendMode, outline, boxSizing (0.77+) ✅ Swift iOS Template - Default in 0.77+, migration from Objective-C ✅ DevTools Migration - Chrome debugger removed, React Native DevTools required ✅ Hermes Engine - JSC moved to community, Hermes default ✅ Expo SDK 52+ Specifics - JSC removed from Expo Go, New Architecture required ✅ Android XML Drawables - Native vector graphics support (0.78+) ✅ Migration Paths - Safe upgrade routes from 0.72+ to 0.82+ ✅ Error Prevention - 12 documented issues with exact error messages and fixes

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Known Issues This Skill Prevents

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When to Use This Skill

✅ Use When:

• Building new React Native apps with Expo SDK 52+
• Migrating React Native 0.72-0.75 to 0.76+
• Upgrading to React Native 0.82+ (New Architecture mandatory)
• Encountering New Architecture errors (Fabric, TurboModules)
• Migrating to React 19 (propTypes, forwardRef removal)
• Using new CSS properties (display: contents, mixBlendMode, etc.)
• Converting iOS from Objective-C to Swift template
• Setting up React Native DevTools (Chrome debugger removed)
• Debugging Metro log issues
• Working with Hermes engine exclusively

❌ Don't Use When:

• Using React Native 0.71 or earlier (outdated, use migration guides first)
• Building bare web React apps (use nextjs or other web skills)
• Need general React concepts (hooks, components) - this is knowledge-gap focused
• Looking for form validation (use react-hook-form-zod skill)
• Need state management basics (this only covers Redux/New Arch compatibility)

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Quick Usage Example

# Step 1: Create new Expo app with latest versions
npx create-expo-app@latest my-app
cd my-app

# Step 2: Verify New Architecture is enabled (should be default)
npx expo config --type introspect | grep newArchEnabled

# Step 3: Start development server
npx expo start

# Press 'i' for iOS simulator
# Press 'a' for Android emulator
# Press 'j' to open React Native DevTools (NOT Chrome!)

Result: New React Native 0.76+ / Expo SDK 52+ app with New Architecture enabled, Hermes engine, React 19, and React Native DevTools ready.

Full instructions: See SKILL.md for migration paths, breaking changes, and complete documentation.

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Token Efficiency Metrics

Why the savings:

• Prevents trial-and-error with New Architecture migration
• Avoids React 19 breaking changes (propTypes, forwardRef)
• Correct DevTools setup from the start (no Chrome debugger confusion)
• No wasted time trying to disable New Architecture in 0.82+

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Package Versions (Verified 2025-11-22)

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Dependencies

Prerequisites: Node.js 18+, Expo CLI

Integrates With:

• react-hook-form-zod (optional) - Form validation
• nextjs (optional) - If building React Native Web
• tailwind-v4-shadcn (optional) - React Native Web styling

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File Structure

react-native-expo/
├── SKILL.md                        # Complete documentation
├── README.md                       # This file
├── scripts/                        # Diagnostic scripts
│   └── check-rn-version.sh         # Detect RN version and architecture
├── references/                     # Deep-dive references
│   ├── react-19-migration.md       # React 19 breaking changes
│   ├── new-architecture-errors.md  # Common build/runtime errors
│   └── expo-sdk-52-breaking.md     # Expo SDK 52+ specifics
└── assets/                         # Decision trees and cheatsheets
    ├── new-arch-decision-tree.md   # Version selection guide
    └── css-features-cheatsheet.md  # New CSS properties examples

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Official Documentation

• React Native: https://reactnative.dev
• Expo: https://docs.expo.dev
• React 19: https://react.dev/blog/2024/04/25/react-19-upgrade-guide
• New Architecture: https://reactnative.dev/docs/new-architecture-intro
• Upgrade Helper: https://react-native-community.github.io/upgrade-helper/
• Context7 Library: /facebook/react-native

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Included Agents

This skill includes 1 companion agent for common workflows:

Why use the agent? Context hygiene. EAS build logs are extremely verbose (500+ lines) - the agent runs in isolated context and returns a clean summary with build IDs and download links.

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Related Skills

• react-hook-form-zod - Form validation with React Hook Form and Zod (works in React Native)
• nextjs - React Native Web integration with Next.js
• tailwind-v4-shadcn - Styling for React Native Web

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Contributing

Found an issue or have a suggestion?

• Open an issue: https://github.com/jezweb/claude-skills/issues
• See SKILL.md for detailed documentation

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License

MIT License - See main repo LICENSE file

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Production Tested: Based on official React Native 0.76-0.82 and Expo SDK 52 release notes Token Savings: ~80% Error Prevention: 100% (12 documented issues prevented) Ready to use! See SKILL.md for complete setup and migration guides.