The article explores the evolution of creating universal applications that run across multiple platforms using a single codebase, highlighting the advancements in technology that make this feasible today. It discusses the benefits of universal apps, such as reduced operational costs and improved team efficiency, while also sharing lessons learned from past experiences and the importance of careful architectural decisions. New tools like Solito and Expo Router are emphasized as key enablers for successful universal app development.

BNA UI is a command-line interface (CLI) tool designed for creating Expo React Native applications, featuring a collection of customizable and modern UI components. It supports light/dark themes, TypeScript, and provides a seamless setup for navigation and performance optimization across iOS and Android platforms. The project encourages community contributions and offers comprehensive documentation for users.

Expo SDK 54 beta has been released, allowing developers to test new features and improvements, including React Native 0.81 and React 19.1.0. Significant enhancements include precompiled XCFrameworks for iOS, support for Liquid Glass icons, and changes to dependency handling for React Native modules. Additionally, the beta introduces updates to the Expo UI and modifications to build processes for Android applications.

Expo SDK 53 beta has been released for a two-week testing period, featuring React Native 0.79.0 and React 19.0.0, with significant changes such as the New Architecture being enabled by default for all projects and improved support for edge-to-edge display in Android apps. Developers are encouraged to test the new features and provide feedback during this beta phase.

A DevTools plugin enhances Zustand state debugging within Expo DevTools, enabling real-time state inspection, action tracking, and time travel debugging. It integrates seamlessly with Expo and supports TypeScript, providing a user-friendly interface for developers to monitor and manage their Zustand stores effectively. The plugin is automatically disabled in production builds for safety.

Autolinking in Expo and React Native aims to simplify dependency management by automatically linking native modules; however, it often leads to complex issues due to the unique requirements of native dependencies. The article discusses the challenges of maintaining dependencies, particularly in monorepos, and the risks associated with implicit dependencies, which can result in version conflicts and build errors. It highlights the need for careful management of both direct and transitive dependencies to avoid runtime issues in applications.