by software-mansion-labse3f00cdb3494MIT291 starsListed Oct 8, 2026Updated Oct 8, 2026Repository updated 10 days ago
Best practices for integrating and using RNRepo — Software Mansion's infrastructure for pre-built React Native library artifacts that reduces native build times by up to 2×. Use when setting up, configuring, or troubleshooting RNRepo in a React Native or Expo project. Trigger on: 'RNRepo', 'rnrepo', 'slow builds', 'build times', 'prebuilt artifacts', 'prebuilt libraries', '@rnrepo/expo-config-plugin', '@rnrepo/build-tools', 'prebuilds-plugin', 'rnrepo.config.json', 'DISABLE_RNREPO', 'packages.rnrepo.org', 'Maven prebuild', 'CocoaPods prebuild', 'xcframework prebuild', 'prebuild AAR', 'build from source', 'native compilation slow', 'Gradle plugin slow', 'pod install slow', 'CI build times'.
Guides setup, configuration and troubleshooting of RNRepo prebuilt React Native library artifacts to cut native build times.
What it does
This skill provides best practices for integrating RNRepo, Software Mansion's infrastructure for pre-built React Native library artifacts. It covers installation for Expo CNG and standard React Native projects, configuration such as per-library opt-out via rnrepo.config.json denyList and full opt-out with DISABLE_RNREPO, and troubleshooting build failures. It produces guidance drawn from three bundled reference documents on installation, configuration and troubleshooting.
When to use it
Use it when setting up, configuring or troubleshooting RNRepo in a React Native or Expo project. It is relevant when native builds are slow, when adopting prebuilt artifacts, or when diagnosing build failures related to the Gradle or CocoaPods plugins.
Requirements
No scripts; instructions and reference documents only. The described setup targets React Native 0.77, 0.78, 0.79 and versions above 0.80.0 with the New Architecture, and involves @rnrepo/expo-config-plugin or @rnrepo/build-tools plus Gradle and CocoaPods configuration. Network access to packages.rnrepo.org is implied by the artifact distribution.
RNRepo
Software Mansion's infrastructure for pre-building and distributing React Native library artifacts, reducing native build times by up to 2× with zero infrastructure changes.
Read the relevant reference for the topic at hand. All references are in references/.
Key facts
Beta, New Architecture only. Works with React Native latest patches of 0.77, 0.78, 0.79 and all versions above 0.80.0.
How it works: A Gradle plugin (Android) and CocoaPods plugin (iOS) intercept the build and substitute libraries with prebuilt artifacts from packages.rnrepo.org. Falls back to source if a prebuild is unavailable.
Expo CNG: Use @rnrepo/expo-config-plugin — it configures both Android and iOS automatically.
Standard RN: Install @rnrepo/build-tools and edit android/build.gradle, android/app/build.gradle, and ios/Podfile manually.
Opt out per library: Add a rnrepo.config.json with a denyList at the project root. Required for libraries with native patches (Objective-C/Java/Kotlin). JS-only patches do NOT require opting out.
Opt out entirely: Set DISABLE_RNREPO=1 environment variable before the build command.
References
File
When to read
references/installation.md
Setting up RNRepo for the first time — Expo CNG, standard React Native, Android Gradle, iOS CocoaPods
references/configuration.md
Opting out specific libraries (denyList), disabling the plugin, Fingerprint config, GPG verification
references/troubleshooting.md
Build failures, C++ debug/release mismatch, duplicate .so files, Xcode version issues, empty repository list, verifying the plugin works
