If you’ve been building React Native apps using Expo Go, you’ve probably noticed the limitations — especially when you start needing custom native modules or deeper integration.
With Bun, a super-fast JavaScript runtime and package manager, you can spin up a new React Native project with a full development build (not Expo Go) in minutes.
Let’s walk through it step by step 👇
💡 Why Use Bun?
Bun replaces npm, yarn, and npx — it’s faster, leaner, and comes with everything you need:
- Ultra-fast dependency installs
- Built-in TypeScript & JSX support
- Native support for
bunx(a drop-in replacement fornpx)
- Perfect for modern Expo + React Native workflows
🧰 Prerequisites
Before you start, make sure you have:
macOS with Xcode installed (for iOS builds)
Node.js 18+ (Bun works alongside Node)
Watchman (brew install watchman)
Optional but recommended:
brew install cocoapods
⚡ Step 1: Install Bun
Run this in your terminal:
curl -fsSL https://bun.sh/install | bash
Restart your terminal, then verify:
bun -v
🌱 Step 2: Create a New Expo Project with Bun
Let’s use bunx (like npx but faster) to create a new Expo project:
bunx create-expo-app@latest dom-app
cd dom-app
This scaffolds a fresh React Native project with Expo.
🧩 Step 3: Add the Dev Client
The Expo Dev Client lets you run your app on a physical device or simulator without Expo Go — perfect for custom native modules.
bunx expo install expo-dev-client
🏗 Step 4: Prebuild Native Projects
This step generates the native iOS and Android projects (just like running npx expo prebuild).
bunx expo prebuild
Now you’ll see new /ios and /android folders created.
🧑💻 Step 5: Run the iOS Development Build
Finally, run your app in development mode:
bunx expo run:ios
This will compile the native iOS app and open it in the simulator. You can now debug using Metro (the local React Native bundler) — no Expo Go required.
🎉 You’re Done!
You’ve just:
- Created a new React Native project using Bun
- Set up a custom development client
- Generated native builds with Expo prebuild
- Run your project on iOS directly 🎯
🔍 Bonus: Run on Android
If you’re on macOS and have Android Studio set up:
bunx expo run:android
⚙️ Common Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
bunx expo start | Start the Metro bundler |
bunx expo run:ios | Build & run iOS app |
bunx expo run:android | Build & run Android app |
bunx expo prebuild | Rebuild native projects after config changes |
🧠 Final Thoughts
Using Bun with Expo Dev Client gives you the best of both worlds:
- Expo’s developer experience
- Real native project control
- Lightning-fast installs & commands
It’s a great setup for indie developers or teams who want speed without sacrificing native flexibility.
✨ TL;DR
curl -fsSL https://bun.sh/install | bash
bunx create-expo-app@latest dom-app
cd dom-app
bunx expo install expo-dev-client
bunx expo prebuild
bunx expo run:ios
Fast. Native. Bun-powered. 🧈