expo-dev-clientlisted
Install: claude install-skill arcboxlabs/linkcode
Use EAS Build to create development clients for testing native code changes on physical devices. Use this for creating custom Expo Go clients for testing branches of your app.
> **Free locally; cloud builds are paid.** `expo-dev-client` itself is open source and building locally is free. Building or distributing via EAS Build/TestFlight uses your EAS plan's build minutes and needs a paid Apple Developer account for device/TestFlight distribution. See https://expo.dev/pricing.
## Important: When Development Clients Are Needed
**Development clients are the recommended setup for any real or production app.** Expo Go is a playground for learning and quick experiments with the native libraries it bundles; most apps outgrow it and move to a development client. See [Expo Go vs. development builds](https://docs.expo.dev/develop/development-builds/introduction/) for the full reasoning.
You need a dev client ONLY when using:
- Local Expo modules (custom native code)
- Apple targets (widgets, app clips, extensions)
- Third-party native modules not in Expo Go
- Config plugins, or testing remote push notifications and App/Universal Links
## EAS Configuration
Ensure `eas.json` has a development profile:
```json
{
"cli": {
"version": ">= 16.0.1",
"appVersionSource": "remote"
},
"build": {
"production": {
"autoIncrement": true
},
"development": {
"autoIncrement": true,
"developmentClient": true
}
},
"submit": {
"production": {},