Created an app with create-react-native-app, how to publish it to the Google Play Store?

Question

I have created an app with create-react-native-app, but I am not sure how to publish it to google play store.

Error 1

After reading this doc.

; exp build:android
[exp] Making sure project is set up correctly...
/[exp] Warning: Not using the Expo fork of react-native. See https://docs.expo.io/.
\[exp] Warning: 'react-native' peer depencency missing. Run `npm ls` in /var/www/html/test/testme/osmosis-seek-android to see full warning.
[exp] 
[exp] If there is an issue running your project, please run `npm install` in /var/www/html/test/testme/osmosis-seek-android and restart.
[exp] Your project looks good!
[exp] Checking if current build exists...

[exp] No currently active or previous builds for this project.

? Would you like to upload a keystore or have us generate one for you?
If you don't know what this means, let us handle it! :)
 false
[exp] Starting build process...
[exp] Publishing...
[exp] Published
[exp] Your URL is

https://exp.host/@kenpeter/osmosis-seek-android

[exp] Building...
[exp] Must specify a java package in order to build this experience for Android. Please specify one in app.json at "expo.android.package"

Answer 1

With projects created using create-react-native-app you have two paths to the Google Play Store.

Use the Expo exp build command

One path is to use the Expo (a project I work on) exp command-line tool to build the APK. The exp command-line tool (and XDE GUI program) can load projects created with CRNA. After getting set up, you can run exp build:android and receive an APK in a few minutes.

The first time you do this, you'll have to add some information to expo.json or app.json (whichever you have) that's required for the APK. Specifically you need to specify the Java package name like this (it's important it's a valid Java package name!):

{
   android: {
       package: "com.example.myapp"
   }
}

These are the docs that talk about building an APK (and IPA for iOS): https://docs.expo.io/versions/latest/guides/building-standalone-apps.html

Eject and build an APK manually

Another path is to use CRNA's eject command, which creates Xcode and Android project files for you. Then you'd create an APK and submit it to the Play Store like any other React Native Android app. One of the downsides of this approach is that after you've ejected from CRNA, you don't get to use CRNA's tools and it won't take care of upgrades for you in the future.