Cometchat Native Expo Patterns

Purpose

Teaches Claude how to integrate CometChat into an Expo managed workflow project. Covers:

• Installing the full peer-dependency set (not just the UI Kit)
• Configuring app.json permissions for iOS + Android
• Wiring the provider chain in App.tsx with all four wrappers
• Optional calling SDK setup
• Env vars via expo-constants or .env
• Expo Router subsection (file-based routing)
• Prebuild + run cadence

Read cometchat-native-core first (init/login/wrapper chain + anti-patterns), then cometchat-native-components (prop reference), then cometchat-native-placement (where chat goes).

Ground truth: docs/ui-kit/react-native/expo-integration.mdx, expo-conversation.mdx, expo-one-to-one-chat.mdx, expo-tab-based-chat.mdx, and examples/SampleAppExpo/.

Use this skill when

• Project has expo in package.json dependencies
• app.json / app.config.js exists at the root
• package.json main field references expo (e.g. "main": "index.js" with an Expo-style entry)
• The user says "Expo", "Expo Router", "managed workflow", or "EAS"

Do NOT use this skill when:

• The project has an ios/ + android/ folder at the root (that's bare RN → use cometchat-native-bare-patterns)
• The user says "bare React Native", "React Native CLI", or "ejected"

Hard prerequisite — Expo Go is NOT supported

The CometChat UI Kit depends on native modules that can't be shimmed. This means:

• Expo Go won't load your app — you'll see "Main module field cannot be resolved" or similar
• You must build a development client (eas build --profile development or expo run:ios / expo run:android)
• Or install in a plain Expo simulator via prebuild

The first build can take 5-15 minutes. Subsequent runs are fast via the dev client.

Before integrating, confirm the user has either:

• eas-cli installed and an EAS account, OR
• Xcode + Android Studio for local prebuilds

If neither, stop and ask them to set one up. Don't waste their time installing packages that won't run.

Step 1 — Install dependencies

The UI Kit has a long peer-dep tail. Install them all in one shot so Expo's resolver doesn't miss a native module during prebuild:

# Core SDK + UI Kit
npm install @cometchat/chat-sdk-react-native
npm install @cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native

# Required peer deps (all natively-linked)
npx expo install \
  @react-native-async-storage/async-storage \
  @react-native-clipboard/clipboard \
  @react-native-community/datetimepicker \
  react-native-gesture-handler \
  react-native-localize \
  react-native-safe-area-context \
  react-native-svg \
  react-native-video

# dayjs + punycode — no native code but required by the kit
npm install dayjs punycode

Why npx expo install for the natively-linked deps? expo install picks versions compatible with the project's Expo SDK. Using npm install directly can land incompatible versions that break prebuild.

Optional — calling SDK

If the user's flow includes voice / video calls (the cometchat-native-features skill's § Calls gates this):

npm install @cometchat/calls-sdk-react-native
npx expo install \
  @react-native-community/netinfo \
  react-native-background-timer \
  react-native-callstats \
  react-native-webrtc

Skip these until the user actually wants calls. Adding WebRTC to an Expo project bloats the prebuild and requires extra permissions — don't speculatively enable it.

Step 2 — Configure app.json

Add iOS + Android permissions so the kit's attachments, camera, mic, and media features work. Merge into existing expo.ios.infoPlist / expo.android.permissions — do not replace anything the user already has.

{
  "expo": {
    "ios": {
      "infoPlist": {
        "NSCameraUsageDescription": "Allow camera access to send photos and make video calls",
        "NSMicrophoneUsageDescription": "Allow microphone access to send voice messages and make calls",
        "NSPhotoLibraryUsageDescription": "Allow photo library access to send photos",
        "NSPhotoLibraryAddUsageDescription": "Allow saving photos from chat to your library"
      }
    },
    "android": {
      "permissions": [
        "android.permission.INTERNET",
        "android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE",
        "android.permission.CAMERA",
        "android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO",
        "android.permission.MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS",
        "android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE",
        "android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE",
        "android.permission.VIBRATE",
        "android.permission.READ_MEDIA_IMAGES",
        "android.permission.READ_MEDIA_VIDEO",
        "android.permission.READ_MEDIA_AUDIO"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Permission-string best practice: the iOS Usage strings show in the system prompt when iOS asks the user for permission — write them as user-facing copy, not developer notes. "Camera access for video calls" is fine; "for media upload" isn't a real reason a user would accept.

If the project uses app.config.js or app.config.ts

Merge the same fields into the exported config. Don't switch the project from JS to JSON unless the user asks — respect their setup.

Step 3 — Wire the provider chain in App.tsx

Expo projects use the same four-wrapper chain as bare RN (see cometchat-native-core § 3). The difference is the entry file — Expo uses App.tsx (or index.ts + registerRootComponent) rather than bare's index.js + AppRegistry.

// App.tsx
import "react-native-gesture-handler";   // MUST be the first import
import React from "react";
import { GestureHandlerRootView } from "react-native-gesture-handler";
import { SafeAreaProvider } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
import { CometChatThemeProvider } from "@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native";
import { CometChatProvider } from "./src/providers/CometChatProvider";
import { AppNavigator } from "./src/navigation/AppNavigator";
import Constants from "expo-constants";

const extra = Constants.expoConfig?.extra ?? {};

export default function App() {
  return (
    <GestureHandlerRootView style={{ flex: 1 }}>
      <SafeAreaProvider>
        <CometChatThemeProvider>
          <CometChatProvider
            appId={extra.COMETCHAT_APP_ID}
            region={extra.COMETCHAT_REGION}
            authKey={extra.COMETCHAT_AUTH_KEY}
            uid="cometchat-uid-1"   // dev mode only
          >
            <AppNavigator />
          </CometChatProvider>
        </CometChatThemeProvider>
      </SafeAreaProvider>
    </GestureHandlerRootView>
  );
}

The CometChatProvider itself is defined per cometchat-native-core § 6 — reuse that implementation; don't invent another one.

import "react-native-gesture-handler" must be first

Even before React. Expo's entry-file hot reload otherwise loses the gesture handler patch and the composer / bottom-sheet gestures silently disable.

// At the top of App.tsx:
import "react-native-gesture-handler";
// THEN everything else
import React from "react";

Step 4 — Env vars

Two options; pick one based on what the project already uses.

Option A — app.json extra + expo-constants (simple, recommended)

{
  "expo": {
    "extra": {
      "COMETCHAT_APP_ID": "YOUR_APP_ID",
      "COMETCHAT_REGION": "us",
      "COMETCHAT_AUTH_KEY": "YOUR_AUTH_KEY"
    }
  }
}

Read via expo-constants:

import Constants from "expo-constants";
const { COMETCHAT_APP_ID, COMETCHAT_REGION, COMETCHAT_AUTH_KEY } = Constants.expoConfig?.extra ?? {};

Warning: these values end up in the client bundle. Never put REST_API_KEY or any server-side secret in expo.extra — use a backend (see cometchat-native-production).

Option B — .env + expo-dotenv / SDK-native .env support

Expo SDK 50+ supports .env out of the box via EXPO_PUBLIC_* prefix:

# .env
EXPO_PUBLIC_COMETCHAT_APP_ID=your_app_id
EXPO_PUBLIC_COMETCHAT_REGION=us
EXPO_PUBLIC_COMETCHAT_AUTH_KEY=your_auth_key

Read directly via process.env.EXPO_PUBLIC_COMETCHAT_APP_ID anywhere in your app. Any variable WITHOUT the EXPO_PUBLIC_ prefix is ONLY available in app.config.js / server scripts, not bundled — useful for REST API keys in backend-only code.

Which to choose

• If the project already has .env — Option B.
• If the project hasn't set up env vars at all — Option A (one file, no prefix rules).
• Never mix both for the same variable — pick one place.

Step 5 — Expo Router subsection

Expo Router is a file-based alternative to @react-navigation/*. If the project has app/ instead of (or alongside) src/screens/, they're using Expo Router.

Detect Expo Router by checking package.json for expo-router in dependencies, and app.json for the "expo-router" plugin.

5a — Router entry (app/_layout.tsx)

In Expo Router, the app/_layout.tsx file is the root layout — wrap the provider chain here instead of in App.tsx.

// app/_layout.tsx
import "react-native-gesture-handler";
import { GestureHandlerRootView } from "react-native-gesture-handler";
import { SafeAreaProvider } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
import { CometChatThemeProvider } from "@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native";
import { CometChatProvider } from "../src/providers/CometChatProvider";
import { Slot } from "expo-router";
import Constants from "expo-constants";

const extra = Constants.expoConfig?.extra ?? {};

export default function RootLayout() {
  return (
    <GestureHandlerRootView style={{ flex: 1 }}>
      <SafeAreaProvider>
        <CometChatThemeProvider>
          <CometChatProvider
            appId={extra.COMETCHAT_APP_ID}
            region={extra.COMETCHAT_REGION}
            authKey={extra.COMETCHAT_AUTH_KEY}
            uid="cometchat-uid-1"
          >
            <Slot />   {/* Expo Router renders child routes here */}
          </CometChatProvider>
        </CometChatThemeProvider>
      </SafeAreaProvider>
    </GestureHandlerRootView>
  );
}

5b — Conversations + message route

app/
  _layout.tsx          ← provider chain (above)
  index.tsx            ← home (could be the conversations list)
  messages/
    [uid].tsx          ← dynamic route, one chat per uid

// app/index.tsx
import { CometChatConversations, CometChatUiKitConstants } from "@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native";
import { router } from "expo-router";

export default function Home() {
  return (
    <CometChatConversations
      => {
        const entity = conversation.getConversationWith();
        const type = conversation.getConversationType();
        if (type === CometChatUiKitConstants.ConversationTypeConstants.user) {
          router.push(`/messages/${(entity as any).getUid()}`);
        } else {
          router.push(`/messages/group-${(entity as any).getGuid()}`);
        }
      }}
    />
  );
}

// app/messages/[uid].tsx
import { useLocalSearchParams, router } from "expo-router";
import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
import { View } from "react-native";
import { CometChat } from "@cometchat/chat-sdk-react-native";
import {
  CometChatMessageHeader,
  CometChatMessageList,
  CometChatMessageComposer,
} from "@cometchat/chat-uikit-react-native";

export default function ChatScreen() {
  const { uid } = useLocalSearchParams<{ uid: string }>();
  const [user, setUser] = useState<CometChat.User | null>(null);

  useEffect(() => {
    if (!uid) return;
    // Simple UID routing; group routing encodes differently in the index example above
    CometChat.getUser(uid).then(setUser).catch(() => setUser(null));
  }, [uid]);

  if (!user) return null;

  return (
    <View style={{ flex: 1 }}>
      <CometChatMessageHeader user={user} => router.back()} showBackButton />
      <CometChatMessageList user={user} hideReplyInThreadOption />
      <CometChatMessageComposer user={user} />
    </View>
  );
}

5c — Tabs in Expo Router (if the project uses them)

app/
  _layout.tsx
  (tabs)/
    _layout.tsx        ← Tabs layout
    chats.tsx
    users.tsx
    groups.tsx
    calls.tsx
  messages/
    [uid].tsx

// app/(tabs)/_layout.tsx
import { Tabs } from "expo-router";

export default function TabsLayout() {
  return (
    <Tabs screenOptions={{ headerShown: false }}>
      <Tabs.Screen name="chats" options={{ title: "Chats" }} />
      <Tabs.Screen name="users" options={{ title: "Users" }} />
      <Tabs.Screen name="groups" options={{ title: "Groups" }} />
      <Tabs.Screen name="calls" options={{ title: "Calls" }} />
    </Tabs>
  );
}

Each tab file renders a single list component (CometChatConversations, CometChatUsers, etc. — see cometchat-native-placement § 2 Bottom tab for the component choices) and pushes to /messages/[uid] on press.

Expo Router gotchas

• unstable_settings in _layout.tsx can break deep linking if set incorrectly. Leave it alone unless you know you need it.
• Navigation between stack + tabs: router.push("/messages/abc") works from a tab. router.back() returns to the tab. No extra configuration needed.
• Search params: use useLocalSearchParams() (not useSearchParams() — that's web-only).

Step 6 — Prebuild + run

Before the first run, Expo needs to generate native projects:

npx expo prebuild

Then run on the platform:

# iOS (requires Xcode)
npx expo run:ios

# Android (requires Android Studio)
npx expo run:android

# Or EAS for cloud builds
eas build --profile development --platform ios

Subsequent runs use npx expo start with the dev client — no rebuild needed unless native deps change.

When to rebuild vs. reload:

• Changed JS / JSX / TSX → no rebuild, just r to reload or save in Fast Refresh
• Added / removed a native dependency → npx expo prebuild --clean && npx expo run:ios
• Changed app.json permissions or plugins → npx expo prebuild --clean

Step 7 — Verify integration

npx tsc --noEmit    # TypeScript check

Then in the running app:

1. Open the chat screen you wired
2. Check that the keyboard opens when you tap the composer (gesture handler working)
3. Tap the "+" attachment button — the action sheet should slide up (bottom sheet working)
4. Send a message — it should appear immediately

If any of these don't work, see cometchat-native-troubleshooting.

Hard rules

1. No Expo Go. The user's project must use development builds. Detect early and tell the user if they're on Expo Go.
2. import "react-native-gesture-handler" is the first line of the entry file (App.tsx or app/_layout.tsx for Expo Router). Not second. Not after any React import.
3. Install all peer deps via npx expo install, not npm install, for native modules. Expo's resolver picks SDK-compatible versions.
4. Never commit REST_API_KEY (or any server-side secret) to app.json extra — it ends up in the client bundle. Use a server endpoint (see cometchat-native-production).
5. Merge permissions into app.json, don't replace. The user may already have permissions for other libraries; wipe them out and their other features break.
6. npx expo prebuild --clean after changing app.json permissions or adding native deps. Without it, iOS + Android see the old config.
7. Every <CometChatMessageList> must include hideReplyInThreadOption unless you're also wiring a full thread panel (see cometchat-native-placement § Hard rule 5).
8. The four-wrapper chain goes at the app root, not per-screen (see cometchat-native-core § 3). For Expo Router, that's app/_layout.tsx. For plain Expo, that's App.tsx.

Common questions

Q: Can I use npx create-expo-app --template tabs? Yes — the tabs template already has Expo Router set up. Just add the provider chain in app/_layout.tsx per § 5a and replace a tab's content with a CometChat component.

Q: Can I use SDK ≤49? Expo SDK 49 may work but the CometChat peer deps target 50+ conventions. If the user is stuck on an older SDK, ask them to upgrade — or fall back to bare RN via npx expo prebuild + cometchat-native-bare-patterns.

Q: I'm seeing "Main module field cannot be resolved" when opening Expo Go. That's the "Expo Go doesn't support native modules" error. Build a dev client: eas build --profile development or npx expo run:ios.

Q: My app crashes on first push-notification receive. Push notifications need additional setup (APNs + FCM + maybe expo-notifications). Out of scope for this skill — see cometchat-native-troubleshooting § Push notifications.

Skill routing reference