expo-brownfield
Integrate Expo and React Native into an existing native iOS or Android app. Use when the user mentions brownfield, embedding React Native in a native app, AAR/XCFramework, or adding Expo to an existing Kotlin/Swift project. Covers both the isolated approach and the integrated approach.
Expo Brownfield
When to Use
Use this skill when you need integrate Expo and React Native into an existing native iOS or Android app. Use when the user mentions brownfield, embedding React Native in a native app, AAR/XCFramework, or adding Expo to an existing Kotlin/Swift project. Covers both the isolated approach and the integrated approach.
A brownfield app is an existing native iOS or Android app that adopts React Native incrementally, as opposed to a greenfield app that is React Native from day one.
Expo supports two distinct ways to add React Native to a brownfield project:
| Approach | What ships to the native app | When to choose |
|---|---|---|
| Isolated | Prebuilt AAR / XCFramework | Native team doesn't need Node or RN tooling; RN code can live in a separate repo |
| Integrated | React Native sources added to the existing Gradle / CocoaPods build | One team owns everything; comfortable with RN tooling; wants a single build |
For the full decision matrix, see [./references/comparison.md](./references/comparison.md).
Pick an app
Subscribers only
The full skill, its 6 bundled files and every download is included with every paid Complete AI plan.
Details
| Source | expo/skills |
|---|---|
| License | MIT |
| Risk label | critical ("critical" means the skill may run commands or touch files — read before use) |
| Files | SKILL.md, agents/openai.yaml, references/brownfield-integrated.md, references/brownfield-isolated.md, references/comparison.md, references/troubleshooting.md |
| Added | 2026-07-01 |
Related skills
add-app-clip
Add an iOS App Clip target to an Expo app. Use when the user mentions App Clip, AASA, apple-app-site-association, appclips, smart app banner, or wants to ship a lightweight iOS Clip invoked from a URL alongside their parent app.
android-dev
Production-grade Android app development guide covering native (Kotlin/Java), cross-platform (Flutter, RN, KMM), and hybrid architectures.
android-jetpack-compose-expert
Expert guidance for building modern Android UIs with Jetpack Compose, covering state management, navigation, performance, and Material Design 3.
appium-skill
Generates production-grade Appium mobile automation scripts for Android and iOS in Java, Python, or JavaScript. Supports real device and emulator testing locally and on TestMu AI cloud with 100+ real devices.
building-native-ui
Complete guide for building beautiful apps with Expo Router. Covers fundamentals, styling, components, navigation, animations, patterns, and native tabs.
expo-api-routes
Guidelines for creating API routes in Expo Router with EAS Hosting
