Yaltopia-Tickets-App/ios_build_guide.md

iOS Build Guide for Expo

This project uses the Expo Managed Workflow, which means the ios and android native directories are generated automatically via Continuous Native Generation (CNG). You should not see or manually edit an ios folder in your project root.

---

1. Development (Expo Go)

The easiest way to build/run for iOS during development is using the Expo Go app on your iPhone.

1. Install Expo Go from the App Store.
2. Run the development server:

   npx expo start
   

3. Scan the QR code with your Camera app to open the project in Expo Go.

---

2. Local Native Development (Prebuild)

If you need to test native modules, use a custom dev client, or specifically need the ios folder for debugging in Xcode:

1. Generate the native directories:

   npx expo prebuild
   

   This will create the ios and android folders based on your app.json configuration.

2. Run on the iOS Simulator (requires macOS + Xcode):

   npx expo run:ios
   

Warning

The ios folder is typically gitignored. In the managed workflow, any changes you make manually in the ios folder may be overwritten the next time you run prebuild. Always use app.json or config plugins for permanent configuration.

---

3. Production Builds (EAS Build)

To build a .ipa file for TestFlight or the App Store, the recommended way is using Expo Application Services (EAS).

1. Install EAS CLI:

   npm install -g eas-cli
   

2. Log in to your Expo account:

   eas login
   

3. Configure the project (run once):

   eas build:configure
   

4. Run a build for iOS:

   eas build --platform ios
   

   EAS will handle certificates, provisioning profiles, and building on their servers (no macOS/Xcode required locally).

---

Summary of Commands

Goal	Command
Start Dev Server	npx expo start
Generate iOS Folder	npx expo prebuild
Run on iOS Simulator	npx expo run:ios
Build for Production	eas build --platform ios