Bolt + Expo - This MIGHT BE THE BEST AI Coder that can Generate & Deploy Native Android / iOS Apps!

---

---

AI Summary

Video Summary

• Topic: Building mobile apps with Bolt using Expo and Expo Application Services (EAS).
• Key Points:
  • Bolt now supports building native mobile apps for both iOS and Android.
  • It utilizes Expo, a React Native framework, and EAS for cloud builds and submissions to app stores.
  • Bolt has partnered with Expo to manage the complexities of app building and deployment.
  • The process is demonstrated by creating a chat app using the OpenAI SDK.
  • The app features a light theme with user messages in blue and AI responses in gray.
  • Bolt enhances the app-building prompt to generate better results.
  • The app is customizable, allowing API keys to be set within the interface.
  • Deployment from Bolt is in progress and not yet available for all users.
  • The video walks through downloading the app code, installing dependencies, and starting the app with Expo.
  • Deployment is recommended using EAS, with steps provided for updating app details and initiating the build.
  • The app can be deployed to the web with a URL for sharing and use.

Detailed Instructions and CLI Commands

1. Initial Setup:
   • Write a detailed prompt for Bolt to create an app.
   • Enhance the prompt for better results.
   • Insert API keys in the environment variable or directly in the code.
2. Running the App Locally:
   • Download the repo as a zip file and unzip it.
   • Open the code in a code editor like VS Code.
   • Install dependencies with npm install.
   • Start the app with npx Expo start.
   • View the app on the web or on a mobile device using the Expo Go app.
3. Deploying the App:
   • Install EAS CLI with npm install eas-cli.
   • Update the app.json file with package name, app name, and app icon.
   • Initialize EAS with eas init and follow the prompts.
   • Configure the build with eas build:configure.
   • Deploy to the web with npx expo export --platform web and eas deploy --platform web --prod.
   • For app store deployment, use eas build -p [platform] where [platform] is either android or ios.

URLs and Additional Information

• No URLs or additional information provided in the transcript.