How Lingvano scales sign language education to 4M learners using Expo
Key Points
- Managed Expo workflow enables cross-platform scale
- Custom TurboModule integrates MediaPipe for real-time fingerspelling
- EAS + OTA provide CI/CD and fast rollouts
Summary
Lingvano migrated from bare React Native to the Expo managed workflow to deliver a cross-platform sign-language learning app (iOS, Android, Web) at scale. The team uses Expo core libraries, EAS CI/CD, OTA updates, and a custom TurboModule that integrates Google MediaPipe for real-time fingerspelling recognition — all without ejecting. The setup prioritizes fast iteration, stable releases, and consistent UX across platforms.
Key Points
- Migrated to Expo (SDK 44 → 54) to simplify builds, speed iteration, and maintain one codebase for iOS/Android/Web.
- Use of Expo modules:
expo-router,expo-notifications,expo-updates,expo-sharingand 28 total Expo libraries to power navigation, reminders, OTA updates, and social features. - EAS Build + lifecycle hooks run native E2E (Maestro) and integrate error reporting into task tracking for automated CI workflows.
- Built a custom TurboModule (via
npx create-react-native-library) with Swift/Kotlin native implementations to run MediaPipe gesture recognition on frames and return real-time predictions to JS. - OTA updates handle JS changes; native modules are rebuilt automatically during EAS builds, avoiding per-platform project maintenance.
Implementation notes (practical takeaways)
- If a needed native package doesn’t exist, create a TurboModule and keep it in the repo (link via package.json) so EAS rebuilds it as part of CI.
- Use
expo-updatesfor urgent fixes and A/B rollout; rely on EAS Build hooks to run E2E and surface failures into your issue tracker. - Combine visual regression tests, Playwright E2E, and Storybook for UI stability across releases.
Impact
- 4 million users, high cross-platform ratings (iOS 4.9 / Android 4.8) and continuous delivery of features and experiments via OTA. Lingvano demonstrates that small teams can ship advanced native capabilities and AI-powered features from a managed Expo workflow.