Native code in Expo SDK 56: inline modules and type generation
Expo SDK 56 introduces inline native modules, allowing developers to write Swift and Kotlin code directly alongside application files while automatically generating matching TypeScript interfaces. The update reduces friction between JavaScript and native development workflows and makes it easier for Expo teams to add custom native functionality without leaving the app codebase.
Summary
Expo SDK 56 introduces inline native modules, allowing developers to write Swift and Kotlin code directly alongside application files while automatically generating matching TypeScript interfaces. The update reduces friction between JavaScript and native development workflows and makes it easier for Expo teams to add custom native functionality without leaving the app codebase.
Key Updates
- Expo SDK 56 supports writing Swift and Kotlin modules directly next to application files.
- Matching TypeScript interfaces are generated automatically.
- Native code can be developed within the existing Expo project structure.
- Developers can create custom native functionality without maintaining separate native module projects.
- The feature is designed to improve workflow consistency between JavaScript, TypeScript, and native code.
Why It Matters
Expo has traditionally helped developers avoid native development complexity. With SDK 56, Expo is moving toward a model where adding native functionality becomes a natural extension of the application workflow rather than a separate engineering effort.
For teams building React Native applications, this could reduce the overhead of creating custom native integrations, accelerate prototyping, and improve type safety between native and JavaScript layers through automatic interface generation.
The broader signal is that mobile development tooling continues to blur the boundary between application code and platform-specific code, allowing teams to access native capabilities without fully adopting traditional iOS and Android development workflows.
Builder Takeaway
Builders using Expo should evaluate whether inline native modules can replace custom native packages or reduce the need for third-party dependencies in their applications.
This is worth watching because it lowers the operational cost of introducing native functionality into React Native projects while maintaining a strongly typed developer experience.
Sources
- Native code in Expo SDK 56: inline modules and type generation: https://expo.dev/blog/native-code-expo-sdk-56
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