Expo DevClient

GitHub

npm

A library that allows creating a development build and includes useful development tools.

expo-dev-client adds various useful development tools to your debug builds:

a configurable launcher UI, so you can launch updates (such as from PR previews) and switch between development servers without needing to recompile the native app
improved debugging tools (such as support for inspecting network requests)
a powerful and extensible developer menu UI

Expo documentation refers to debug builds that include expo-dev-client as development builds.

Platform Compatibility

Android Device	Android Emulator	iOS Device	iOS Simulator	Web

Installation

Terminal

- npx expo install expo-dev-client

If you are installing this in an existing React Native app (bare workflow), start by installing expo in your project. Then, follow the additional instructions as mentioned by library's README under "Installation in bare React Native projects" section.

Configuration in app.json/app.config.js

You can configure development client launcher using its built-in config plugin if you use config plugins in your project (EAS Build or npx expo run:[android|ios]). The plugin allows you to configure various properties that cannot be set at runtime and require building a new app binary to take effect.

Example app.json with config plugin

app.json

{
  "expo": {
    "plugins": [
      [
        "expo-dev-launcher",
        {
          "launchModeExperimental": "most-recent"
        }
      ]
    ]
  }
}

Configurable properties

Name Default Description

Name	Default	Description
`launchModeExperimental`	`"most-recent"`	Experimental Determines whether to launch the most recently opened project or navigate to the launcher screen. `most-recent` - Attempt to launch directly into a previously opened project and if unable to connect, fall back to the launcher screen. `launcher` - Opens the launcher screen.

launchModeExperimental

"most-recent"

Experimental

Determines whether to launch the most recently opened project or navigate to the launcher screen.

most-recent - Attempt to launch directly into a previously opened project and if unable to connect, fall back to the launcher screen.
launcher - Opens the launcher screen.

API

import * as DevClient from 'expo-dev-client';

Methods

`DevClient.closeMenu()`

A method that closes development client menu when called.

Returns:

void

`DevClient.hideMenu()`

A method that hides development client menu when called.

Returns:

void

`DevClient.isDevelopmentBuild()`

A method that returns a boolean to indicate if the current application is a development build.

Returns:

boolean

`DevClient.openMenu()`

A method that opens development client menu when called.

Returns:

void

`DevClient.registerDevMenuItems(items)`

Name	Type
items	`ExpoDevMenuItem[]`

A method that allows to specify custom entries in the development client menu.

Returns:

Promise<void>

Types

`ExpoDevMenuItem`

An object representing the custom development client menu entry.

Name	Type	Description
callback	`() => void`	Callback to fire, when user selects an item.
name	`string`	Name of the entry, will be used as label.
shouldCollapse (optional)	`boolean`	A boolean specifying if the menu should close after the user interaction. Default: `false`