EAS Build

Learn cloud builds with EAS Build.

What is EAS Build?

EAS Build is Expo's cloud build service. It produces APK, AAB and IPA files in the cloud without installing Android Studio or Xcode. It runs through the eas-cli tool; to start a build you run eas build --platform android.

The build runs on Expo servers; your computer is not strained. The output is downloaded through a URL. Cloud builds help your team get the same output and reduce the "works on my machine" problem.

The eas build command

The eas build command starts a build. You pick the target with --platform android or --platform ios. You choose a profile from eas.json with --profile production.

When the build finishes Expo sends a URL; you download the output from there. The first build can take a few minutes; later builds speed up thanks to caching. The profile also decides which signing key is used.

Exercise Write your first eas.json profile

Write an eas.json skeleton. The root object holds a "build" section. Inside it define a profile named "preview"; this profile carries an "android" object.

Show example solution

{
  "build": {
    "preview": {
      "android": {
        "buildType": "apk"
      }
    }
  }
}

Test yourself

What does EAS Build provide at its core?
```
eas build --platform android
```
- Copying a database
- Opening a local emulator
- Taking a screenshot
- Cloud build
Show answer

Cloud build — EAS Build runs a build in the cloud; no local setup needed.

Complete the build command

eas ____ --platform android

Show answer

eas build --platform android

Match each piece to its role

eas build

Cloud build
--platform

Target OS
android

APK or AAB
ios

IPA output

Next lesson: EAS Submit

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