How to manage Expo SDK version updates? What are the important considerations?

The Expo SDK is the core component of the Expo framework, providing a complete set of APIs and components that enable developers to easily access native device functionality. Understanding Expo SDK version management and update mechanisms is crucial for maintaining Expo projects.

Expo SDK Versions:

Expo SDK uses semantic versioning (Major.Minor.Patch), with each version corresponding to a specific set of React Native versions and native dependencies.

Version Composition:

1. Major Version: Major feature updates or breaking changes
2. Minor Version: New feature additions, backward compatible
3. Patch Version: Bug fixes, backward compatible

Current Version:

Expo SDK is continuously updated, with the latest version typically supporting the latest React Native features and performance optimizations.

Checking SDK Version:

View in package.json:

json
{
  "dependencies": {
    "expo": "~50.0.0"
  }
}

SDK Update Process:

1. Check Current Version:

bash
npx expo --version

1. View Available Updates:

bash
npx expo install --fix

1. Update SDK Version:

bash
npx expo install expo@latest

1. Update Dependency Packages:

bash
npx expo install --fix

Version Compatibility:

• Different Expo SDK versions correspond to different React Native versions
• When upgrading the SDK, you need to update related dependency packages simultaneously
• Some version upgrades may require code adjustments

Important Considerations:

1. Don't manually modify package.json: Use npx expo install command to ensure version compatibility

2. Test upgrades: Create a new branch before upgrading and thoroughly test app functionality

3. Check upgrade guides: Expo provides detailed upgrade documentation listing breaking changes

4. Dependency conflicts: Check compatibility of all dependency packages after upgrading

5. Native modules: If using custom native modules, ensure they are compatible with the new SDK version

Rolling Back Versions:

If issues occur after upgrading, you can roll back to a previous SDK version:

bash
npx expo install expo@49.0.0

Best Practices:

• Regularly follow Expo SDK update announcements
• Test upgrades in non-production environments first
• Keep SDK versions relatively stable, avoid frequent upgrades
• Document changes and test results for each upgrade

Understanding Expo SDK version management mechanisms helps developers better maintain projects and ensure application stability and compatibility.