Prerequisites

Software and Tools

Node.js and npm

• Why: Node.js is the runtime used for executing JavaScript code outside of a browser, and npm is the Node.js package manager.
• Download: Node.js Official Website

Git

• Why: Git is a version control system that helps you to track changes, revert to previous stages, and work on different branches simultaneously.
• Download: Git Official Website

Watchman

• Why: Watchman is a tool by Facebook for watching changes in the file system.
• Download: Watchman GitHub Repository

JDK (Java Development Kit)

• Why: The JDK includes a Java runtime environment (JRE) for running Java code, which is required for Android development.
• Download: Oracle JDK or OpenJDK

Android Studio

• Why: Android Studio is the official IDE for Android development and includes the Android SDK.
• Download: Android Studio Official Website

Xcode (macOS only)

• Why: Xcode is the IDE for iOS development. It's essential if you're building for iOS.
• Download: Xcode on the Mac App Store

Expo CLI (Optional)

• Why: Expo is a framework and a platform for universal React applications. It's a set of tools built around React Native and is great for beginners.
• Installation: Run npm install -g expo-cli

Installation Steps

1. Node.js and npm: Download and install from the official website. Verify the installation by running node -v and npm -v in your terminal.
2. Git: Download and install from the official website. Verify the installation by running git --version in your terminal.
3. Watchman: Follow the installation instructions on the GitHub repository.
4. JDK: Download and install either Oracle JDK or OpenJDK. Set environment variables as required.
5. Android Studio: Download and install from the official website. Make sure to install the Android SDK as well.
6. Xcode: Download and install from the Mac App Store (macOS only).
7. Expo CLI: Run npm install -g expo-cli to install Expo CLI globally.

Next Steps

Once you have all these tools installed, you're ready to start developing React Native applications. Head over to the Getting Started guide to create your first React Native app.