Expo Application Services (EAS) Achieves Up to 12x Faster iOS Build Times with SDK 54

A recent social media post from prominent React Native educator Simon Grimm has highlighted the continuous advancements in developer experience offered by Expo Application Services (EAS). Grimm, founder of Galaxies.dev, stated on social media, "Still surprised @expo could make the process even easier than it already was with EAS!" The sentiment underscores the ongoing efforts by Expo to streamline mobile application development and deployment.

Expo Application Services (EAS) provides a suite of deeply integrated cloud services designed to simplify the complexities of building, deploying, and managing React Native applications. Key components include EAS Build for cloud-based compilation and signing of iOS and Android apps, EAS Submit for automated app store submissions, and EAS Update for over-the-air (OTA) updates, allowing developers to push code changes without requiring full app store reviews. These services aim to automate traditionally cumbersome native development tasks.

Recent improvements, particularly with the release of Expo SDK 54, contribute significantly to this enhanced ease of use. A notable advancement is the adoption of precompiled XCFrameworks for iOS, which has demonstrated a dramatic reduction in clean build times. Internal testing showed build times for the RNTester application decreasing from approximately 120 seconds to just 10 seconds on an M4 Max, representing up to a 12-fold increase in speed. This optimization directly addresses a critical pain point for developers by accelerating the iteration cycle.

Further enhancements in SDK 54 include improved autolinking for React Native modules, ensuring more predictable behavior with isolated dependency installations and resolving hoisting conflicts. The update also brings new APIs for managing updates, such as the useUpdates() hook for tracking download progress and Updates.reloadAsync() with reloadScreenOptions for a smoother user experience during app reloads. These features collectively contribute to a more efficient and less burdensome development workflow.

Simon Grimm, recognized for his comprehensive React Native tutorials and courses, often emphasizes practical, real-world application development. His endorsement reflects the tangible benefits that EAS brings to the developer community, enabling faster development cycles and more agile deployment strategies. The continuous evolution of EAS positions it as a critical tool for developers seeking to build and maintain high-quality cross-platform applications with greater ease and speed.