SampleAppExpo

React Native Sample App Expo by CometChat

This is a reference application showcasing the integration of CometChat's React Native UI Kit in a React Native Expo project. It demonstrates how to implement real-time messaging and voice/video calling features with ease in your React Native Expo App.

Prerequisites

Sign up for a CometChat account to obtain your app credentials: App ID, Region, and Auth Key

• Node.js 18 or higher
• React Native Version 0.77 or later (up to the latest version)

iOS

• XCode
• Pod (CocoaPods) for iOS
• An iOS device or emulator with iOS 12.0 or above.
• Ensure that you have configured the provisioning profile in Xcode to run the app on a physical device.

Android

• Android Studio
• Android device or emulator with Android version 5.0 or above.

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/cometchat/cometchat-uikit-react-native.git

2. Change into the specific app's directory (e.g., SampleApp).

     cd examples/SampleAppExpo

3. Run npm install to install the dependencies in the root folder.

4. [Optional] Configure CometChat credentials:

   • Open the AppConstants.tsx file located at examples/SampleAppExpo/src/utils/AppConstants.tsx and enter your CometChat appId, region, and authKey:

     export const AppConstants = {
         appId: 'YOUR_APP_ID',
         authKey: 'YOUR_AUTH_KEY',
         region: 'REGION',
         //other properties
     }

5. Generate the native Android and iOS project folders for the Expo app. This step is required for the "custom dev client" and "bare workflow" pipeline:

    npx expo prebuild

6. Run the app on a connected device or emulator:

    npx expo run:android
    npx expo run:ios

⚠️ Compatibility:
The React Native UI Kit is not compatible with Expo Go because it requires custom native modules. Expo Go is not recommended for production-grade apps.
Development Builds: To use the UI Kit in an Expo app, you must use development builds. Refer to the official Expo guide for more details.

Help and Support

For issues running the project or integrating with our UI Kits, consult our documentation or create a support ticket. You can also access real-time support via the CometChat Dashboard.