Setting up a new React Native app can be overwhelming, especially when integrating modern tools like TailwindCSS for styling. This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of creating an Expo project and configuring NativeWind, a TailwindCSS implementation for React Native. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just getting started, this tutorial has you covered.

Why Choose Expo and NativeWind?

Benefits of Expo

Expo simplifies React Native development by providing:

• Cross-platform support: Build for Android, iOS, and web with a single codebase.

• Built-in tools: Includes Expo CLI for seamless app management.

• TypeScript configuration: Pre-configured support for TypeScript.

Why NativeWind?

NativeWind brings the power of TailwindCSS to React Native, offering:

• Utility-first styling: Simplify your styles with reusable utility classes.

• Consistency: Unified styling for all platforms.

• Ease of use: No need for complex configurations.

Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Create a New Expo Project

Start by creating a new React Native project with Expo:

npx create-expo-app@latest .

What This Command Does:

• Initializes a new project with the expo package.

• Includes a tab navigator from Expo Router for basic navigation.

• Configures TypeScript by default.

For more details, check out the official Expo tutorial.

Optional: Reset the Project

If you need a fresh start, reset your project using:

npm run reset-project

Start the App

To run your app and view it in action:

npx expo start

If everything works fine, you’re ready to integrate NativeWind.

Step 2: Install NativeWind (TailwindCSS for React Native)

Install Required Dependencies

Run the following command to install NativeWind and its dependencies:

npm install nativewind tailwindcss react-native-reanimated react-native-safe-area-context

Generate Tailwind Config File

Create the Tailwind configuration file:

npx tailwindcss init

Configure tailwind.config.js

Update the file to include the paths to your components and enable NativeWind:

/** @type {import('tailwindcss').Config} */
module.exports = {
  content: ["./app/**/*.{js,jsx,ts,tsx}"],
  presets: [require("nativewind/preset")],
  theme: {
    extend: {},
  },
  plugins: [],
};

If you’re using a src folder, replace ./app/ with ./src/ in the content field.

Create Global Styles

Add a global.css file with the following content:

@tailwind base;
@tailwind components;
@tailwind utilities;

Step 3: Configure Babel and Metro

Babel Configuration

Create a babel.config.js file to support NativeWind:

module.exports = function (api) {
  api.cache(true);
  return {
    presets: [
      ["babel-preset-expo", { jsxImportSource: "nativewind" }],
      "nativewind/babel",
    ],
  };
};

Customize Metro Configuration

Run the following command to create a metro.config.js file:

npx expo customize metro.config.js

Update the file to integrate NativeWind:

const { getDefaultConfig } = require('expo/metro-config');
const { withNativeWind } = require("nativewind/metro");

/** @type {import('expo/metro-config').MetroConfig} */
const config = getDefaultConfig(__dirname);

module.exports = withNativeWind(config, { input: "./global.css" });

Step 4: Final Setup in App Files

Import Global CSS in Layout

In your app/_layout.tsx file, add this import at the top:

import "../global.css";

Test NativeWind

To confirm everything works, update your index.tsx file with a sample component:

<Text className="bg-orange-500 p-4 font-bold mt-2 rounded-lg">
  NativeWind is Working
</Text>

Run the App

Finally, run the app to see the magic:

npx expo start

Troubleshooting Tips

1. Metro Bundler Issues:

   • Ensure the metro.config.js file is correctly configured.

2. NativeWind Classes Not Working:

   • Verify the content field in tailwind.config.js matches your project structure.

3. Reanimated Errors:

   • Install and configure react-native-reanimated as per Expo’s documentation.

Conclusion

Congratulations! Your React Native app is now set up with Expo and NativeWind, leveraging the power of TailwindCSS for styling. With this configuration, you can build stunning, responsive designs quickly and efficiently.

Happy coding! 🚀

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