Build and Install unsigned apk on device without the development server?

Question

As I am new in react-native so if there is anything wrong in steps let me know.

I have build a react native android app using the command as per documentation

react-native android

while running on device the following command was used

react-native run-android

which gives me the output of 2 apk files in my projectfolder/android/app/build/outputs/apk

now when I use to install this apk after the installation it ask for an development server to connect to bundle the JS. But my requirement is that the user doesn't have to struggle with the development server just he needs to install the apk and everything is done.

Have gone through some stackoverflow Questions but not helpful to build unsigned apk which doesn't require development server.

Can you guys help me finding the way that how to build and unsigned apk in react native?

Answer 1

You need to manually create the bundle for a debug build.

Bundle debug build:

#React-Native 0.59
react-native bundle --dev false --platform android --entry-file index.js --bundle-output ./android/app/src/main/assets/index.android.bundle --assets-dest ./android/app/src/main/res

#React-Native 0.49.0+
react-native bundle --dev false --platform android --entry-file index.js --bundle-output ./android/app/build/intermediates/assets/debug/index.android.bundle --assets-dest ./android/app/build/intermediates/res/merged/debug

#React-Native 0-0.49.0
react-native bundle --dev false --platform android --entry-file index.android.js --bundle-output ./android/app/build/intermediates/assets/debug/index.android.bundle --assets-dest ./android/app/build/intermediates/res/merged/debug

Then to build the APK's after bundling:

$ cd android
#Create debug build:
$ ./gradlew assembleDebug
#Create release build:
$ ./gradlew assembleRelease #Generated `apk` will be located at `android/app/build/outputs/apk`

P.S. Another approach might be to modify gradle scripts.