whatisgithub

What is expo-cli?

expo/expo-cli — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-08-07 · repo last pushed 2023-12-30

2,667TypeScriptAudience · developerComplexity · 2/5DormantSetup · moderate

In one sentence

A collection of older helper tools for Expo, a platform that lets you build iOS and Android apps using JavaScript and React. The main command-line tool has moved to the main Expo repo, so this now mostly holds individual utility packages.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((expo-cli))
    What it does
      Builds cross-platform mobile apps
      Creates runs and deploys apps
      Handles app-building plumbing
    Tech stack
      TypeScript
      JavaScript
      React
    Use cases
      Process app images
      Configure app files
      Build progressive web apps
    Audience
      Expo developers
      Cross-platform app builders
    Status
      Legacy tools repo
      Modern tools moved to main Expo

Code map

Detail Auto

An interactive map of this repo's files and how they connect — its source is parsed live in your browser. Click Visualize to build it.

filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Optimize app icons and other images for iOS and Android apps.

USE CASE 2

Manage configuration files for cross-platform mobile apps.

USE CASE 3

Set up an app to work as a progressive web app or with Next.js.

USE CASE 4

Configure deep links that send users to specific screens inside an app.

What is it built with?

TypeScriptJavaScriptReactNode.js

How does it compare?

expo/expo-clisynthetic-sciences/opensciencegoogle-gemini/live-api-web-console
Stars2,6672,6802,558
LanguageTypeScriptTypeScriptTypeScript
Last pushed2023-12-302026-06-21
MaintenanceDormantMaintained
Setup difficultymoderatemoderateeasy
Complexity2/54/52/5
Audiencedeveloperresearcherdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · moderate Time to first run · 30min

This is a legacy repo with individual packages, the modern CLI has moved to the main Expo project, so users need to understand which tools are still relevant here.

No license information is mentioned in the explanation.

So what is it?

This repo is a collection of developer tools tied to Expo, a popular platform for building mobile apps using JavaScript and React. If you have ever wanted to build an app that runs on both iOS and Android without needing to learn separate native languages, Expo gives you that capability. The tools here help with creating, running, and deploying those apps. However, it is important to know upfront that this particular repo is mostly here for the older, legacy version of the command-line tools. The current, modern tools have since moved directly into the main Expo project. At a high level, the repo is a toolbox containing several individual packages that each handle a specific task in the app-building process. For example, some packages handle image processing, manage configuration files, or deal with specific Apple and Android system requirements like security certificates and app settings. There are also tools for making apps work as progressive web apps, connecting with Next.js, or managing deep links that send users to specific screens inside an app. Together, these behind-the-scenes utilities make it easier for developers to get their apps built and out the door. The people who would use this are developers working within the Expo ecosystem. For instance, if a startup founder is working with a developer to launch a cross-platform app, the developer might rely on these tools to handle the behind-the-scenes plumbing, like optimizing app icons or configuring how the app runs on the web. It ultimately saves time by handling repetitive setup tasks that would otherwise require manual coding. One notable thing about this project is that it is in a transitional state. The team has moved the main command-line tool into their primary Expo repository, so this repo now mostly holds older tools and individual utility packages. The README does not go into deep detail about how each tool works under the hood, but it points developers to the official Expo documentation for learning how to build and deploy apps.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
I have an Expo app project. How do I use the individual utility packages from the expo-cli legacy repo for image processing and configuration management?
Prompt 2
Help me configure deep links in my Expo app using the tools described in the expo-cli repository.
Prompt 3
I want to make my Expo app work as a progressive web app. How do I set that up using the expo-cli utility packages?
Prompt 4
The main Expo CLI tool has moved to the main Expo repo. Which legacy utility packages still live in expo-cli and how do I install and use them?

Frequently asked questions

What is expo-cli?

A collection of older helper tools for Expo, a platform that lets you build iOS and Android apps using JavaScript and React. The main command-line tool has moved to the main Expo repo, so this now mostly holds individual utility packages.

What language is expo-cli written in?

Mainly TypeScript. The stack also includes TypeScript, JavaScript, React.

Is expo-cli actively maintained?

Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2023-12-30).

What license does expo-cli use?

No license information is mentioned in the explanation.

How hard is expo-cli to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated moderate, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is expo-cli for?

Mainly developer.

Open on GitHub → Ask about another repo

This repo across BitVibe Labs

Verify against the repo before relying on details.