Run an iOS app on your MacBook in 1 hour

Goal: See your first React Native app running in the iPhone Simulator.


Time: ~45–60 minutes

🧰 Step 1: Install the Core Tools

You’ll need a few essentials — think of these as your developer kitchen setup.

1. 
   Homebrew – the package manager for macOS
   

   /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

1. 
   Node.js (v20 or newer)
   

   brew install node

1. 
   Git – check with:
   

   git --version

If missing: brew install git

1. 
   Watchman – speeds up rebuilds
   

   brew install watchman

📱 Step 2: Set Up Xcode (for the iPhone Simulator)

1. Install Xcode from the App Store (~10 GB).
   


2. In Xcode → Settings → Locations → Command Line Tools → select latest version.
   


3. Launch Simulator once: press ⌘ + Space → type “Simulator”.

⚙️ Step 3: Install Expo CLI

Expo makes React Native setup painless.

npm install -g expo-cli

Then create and enter your first app:

npx create-expo-app my-first-app

cd my-first-app

🏃 Step 4: Run It!

npx expo start -p ios

Expo opens a browser tab with logs.


Your iPhone Simulator should show:

👋 “Welcome to React Native!”

That’s your first working build 🎉

🌈 Step 5: Celebrate Small Wins

You’ve got a full local dev setup!


Edit App.js, save, and watch the simulator hot-reload instantly.

🧭 Optional Next Step

Try a native build:

npx expo run:ios

This prepares the app for later testing and submission.

☕ Wrap-Up

You just installed Node, Git, Watchman, and Expo, set up Xcode, and ran your first app.