Getting started

This takes an Expo or React Native app from a local folder to a first cloud build. Signing and store delivery come later, in Credentials and Submitting to TestFlight.

Prerequisites

Node.js 20 or later.
A GitHub repository for the app. Public repositories get macOS runner minutes for free; private ones bill macOS at 10× against your included minutes (cost).
A GitHub token with the repo and workflow scopes. If you use the GitHub CLI, gh auth token already has them.
asc, only for anything that talks to App Store Connect: submitting, devices, signing assets.

1. Install the CLI

npm install -g @react-native-feel/deploy
rnd --version

This puts rnd on your PATH. To run it without a global install, use npx @react-native-feel/deploy <command>.

rnd takes the same subcommands and flags as Expo's eas, so eas build --profile production becomes rnd build --profile production. The two can be installed side by side.

2. Log in

Logging in stores a GitHub token, because GitHub is what runs the builds.

EAS_GITHUB_TOKEN=$(gh auth token) rnd login
rnd whoami

The token is written to ~/.eas-gh/auth.json with mode 0600. Without EAS_GITHUB_TOKEN, rnd login prompts for it without echoing.

3. Configure the project

cd ~/code/my-app
rnd build:configure

This writes eas.json (if you don't have one) and .github/workflows/eas-build.yml. If you already use EAS, keep your eas.json: it is the input, and nothing rewrites it.

Then make sure app.json names the app on each platform. build:configure does not add these, and a managed project is prebuilt on the runner, which needs them:

json

{
  "expo": {
    "ios": { "bundleIdentifier": "com.example.myapp" },
    "android": { "package": "com.example.myapp" }
  }
}

4. Push the workflow

GitHub can only dispatch a workflow that exists on the branch you build.

git add eas.json app.json .github
git commit -m "Add React Native Deploy build workflow"
git push

Brand-new repository?

GitHub does not register a dispatch-only workflow that arrives in the push that creates the repository, and the first rnd build then fails with (404): Not Found. Change any line of .github/workflows/eas-build.yml and push again. See Troubleshooting.

5. Build

A simulator build needs no signing, so it is the quickest first build. Add a profile with ios.simulator:

json

{
  "build": {
    "development": {
      "developmentClient": true,
      "distribution": "internal",
      "ios": { "simulator": true }
    }
  }
}

Then:

npx expo install expo-dev-client   # the development profile builds a dev client
rnd build --platform all --profile development

rnd build prints the run URL and, by default, waits for the build to finish. With --no-wait it returns immediately; follow along with rnd build:list or the dashboard.

6. Download and run it

rnd build:download --platform ios
cd build && unzip *.zip && tar -xzf *-simulator.tar.gz
xcrun simctl install booted *.app
npx expo start --dev-client

Android development builds are a debug .apk you can drag onto an emulator or install with adb install.

Getting started ​

Prerequisites ​

1. Install the CLI ​

2. Log in ​

3. Configure the project ​

4. Push the workflow ​

5. Build ​

6. Download and run it ​

Next steps ​