Expo brownfield: How to add Expo to your existing native app without a rewrite

Expo's brownfield integration offers developers the ability to incorporate React Native features into existing native iOS and Android apps without a full rewrite, using either the integrated or isolated approach. The isolated approach, newly introduced in Expo SDK 55, allows Expo apps to be embedded as native dependencies, similar to adding a library, making it less disruptive to existing codebases. This method involves building Expo components in isolation and integrating them as compiled frameworks, which simplifies the process for teams familiar with React but less so with native development. Despite some limitations, such as supporting only a single embedded app per native project, this approach maintains the architectural integrity of the native app while enabling gradual adoption of React Native. The use of Expo's APIs and tooling facilitates communication between the native and embedded apps, and although there are trade-offs in build times and library compatibility, the approach aims to minimize friction and accommodate business needs without overhauling existing app structures.

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