Building iOS Widgets in Expo Apps with Swift and React Native Integration
Key Points
- Native iOS widgets implementation in Expo apps using Swift
- Widget-first design approach for ambient user experiences
- Expo Config Plugin for managing native Apple targets
Summary
This guide demonstrates how to implement native iOS widgets in Expo applications using Swift while maintaining Expo's development workflow. The approach is showcased through Glow, a widget-first affirmations app that prioritizes ambient presence on iOS home and lock screens.
Key Points
- Widget-first approach: Widgets serve as the primary user interface rather than supplementary features, reducing friction and increasing engagement
- Technical solution: Uses
@bacons/apple-targetsExpo Config Plugin to generate native Apple targets while avoiding manual Xcode project management - Native requirements: iOS widgets require Swift code implementation since they cannot run React Native or JavaScript
- Data sharing: Enables communication between Swift widgets and React Native components within the same app
- Expo workflow preservation: Maintains fast iteration cycles, EAS Build integration, and streamlined development process
- Ambient user experience: Delivers content through lock screen and home screen widgets for zero-friction access