Create a MOBILE app in 5 minutes with Replit and Expo - iOS / Android Supported

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through creating a mobile app in just five minutes using Replit and Expo. This process is suitable for both iOS and Android and is perfect for beginners. By the end of this guide, you'll understand how to set up your development environment, utilize React Native for cross-platform development, and create a simple demo app.

Step 1: Set Up Your Environment

To start developing your mobile app, you'll need to install the necessary tools.

Install Expo Go

1. Download Expo Go:
   • Visit Expo Go Download and install the app on your mobile device.

Set Up Replit

1. Access Replit:

   • Go to Replit and create an account if you don't already have one.

2. Use the Template:

   • Navigate to the Expo template by visiting Expo Template and create a new Replit project using this template.

Step 2: Understand React Native and Cross-Platform Development

React Native is a framework that allows you to build mobile applications using JavaScript and React. This enables you to create apps that work on both iOS and Android platforms with a single codebase.

Key Concepts

• Components: The building blocks of a React Native app.
• Styling: Using stylesheets to design the app’s interface.
• Navigation: Implementing navigation between different screens within the app.

Step 3: Build Your Demo App

In this step, you will create a simple cat image generator app.

Create the App Structure

1. Open your Replit project.
2. Update the App Component: Replace the existing code in App.js with the following code snippet:

import React from 'react';
import { View, Text, Button, Image } from 'react-native';

const App = () => {
  const [image, setImage] = React.useState('');

  const fetchCatImage = () => {
    fetch('https://api.thecatapi.com/v1/images/search')
      .then(response => response.json())
      .then(data => setImage(data[0].url));
  };

  return (
    <View style={{ flex: 1, justifyContent: 'center', alignItems: 'center' }}>
      <Text>Random Cat Image Generator</Text>
      <Button title="Get Cat Image" onPress={fetchCatImage} />
      {image ? <Image source={{ uri: image }} style={{ width: 200, height: 200 }} /> : null}
    </View>
  );
};

export default App;

3. Explanation of the Code:
   • The app fetches a random cat image from an API when the button is pressed.
   • The image is displayed in the app once fetched.

Step 4: Test Your App

1. Run the App:

   • Click the "Run" button in Replit to start the app.

2. View on Mobile:

   • Open the Expo Go app on your mobile device.
   • Scan the QR code provided in Replit to view your app on your device.

Conclusion

You've successfully created a mobile app using Replit and Expo in just five minutes! You learned how to set up your development environment, understand React Native, and build a simple demo app that generates random cat images.

Next Steps

• Explore adding more features to your app, such as user input or additional APIs.
• Experiment with design and layout using React Native components.
• Share your app with friends and gather feedback on potential improvements.