Build fast, no matter what: how Expo is optimizing for speed (and how you can, too)

Expo is focused on optimizing build speeds to accommodate the diverse needs of developers, from students to enterprise teams, who require rapid feedback and swift deployment of apps. To address increasing demand and hardware constraints, Expo has expanded its fleet of Mac Minis and implemented several measures to enhance build performance, including compiler-level caching and prebuilt binaries for common packages. The introduction of EAS Update allows developers to update only JavaScript changes without full rebuilds, leveraging fingerprint-based workflows to determine when native code changes require a rebuild. Local builds are supported via the Expo CLI, which integrates with Android Studio and Xcode, enabling developers to perform native code debugging and testing even without a cloud connection. By allowing developers to focus on creating rather than managing infrastructure, Expo aims to facilitate seamless app development and iteration.