Samp says the foundation can give companies that use React professionally a voice in how it evolves. He welcomes Expo’s collaboration with the React and React Native teams, and points to the React Compiler and new debugging tools, including a network tab, as developments coming to React Native.
Expo Isn't a Hobby Tool Anymore: The New App Awards
Speaker
Jon Samp, head of product at Expo, talks with a Callstack host at React Conf in Henderson, Nevada, about the React Foundation, Expo’s role as React Native’s default framework, and the new Expo App Awards.
Samp says Expo has expanded support for native code and introduced Continuous Native Generation (CNG) to serve more ways of building apps. As the default React Native framework, Expo needs to support a wider range of use cases and offer primitives that help developers avoid hitting a roadblock and migrating elsewhere.
Samp says Expo created the awards to recognize apps built with React Native and Expo, which he says are common among the App Store’s top 100. The five categories are Best Overall, Most Innovative, Most Creative, Best at Scale, and Community Choice.
The transcript gives an October 31, 2025 submission deadline, judging from November 1 to 13, and says finalists and winners will be announced afterward. Winners receive a custom Expo keyboard made with Norbauer, identified as the Seneca model. The host directs listeners to expo.dev/awards to submit apps and vote.
Takeaways
- Expo aims to support production apps without requiring developers to leave its framework when their needs grow.
- Frameworks need flexible primitives to serve a broader range of app building needs.
- React Native developers can look to the React Compiler and new debugging tools as shared React work reaches mobile.
- Showcasing finished apps can help developers see what a framework supports in practice.
- The Expo App Awards include a Community Choice category alongside four judged categories.
Mentioned in this talk
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What was claimed 10
- role at
“head of product at Expo”
YouTube Verified2 sources· Talk
- role atSeth Webster is executive director at React Foundation
“now executive director of the foundation”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- integrates withReact Compiler integrates with React Native
“That stuff’s coming over to React Native.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- role at
Expo is default framework at React Native“the one and only React Native framework”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- launchedExpo launched Expo App Awards
“This year, we're starting with the Expo App Awards.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- featureExpo App Awards: Submissions accepted through October 31, 2025; reviews scheduled November 1–13, with finalists and winners to be announced afterward
“between now and October 31, we're accepting submissions”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- featureExpo App Awards: Five categories: Best Overall, Most Innovative, Most Creative, Best at Scale, and Community Choice
“There are five categories”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- metricSeneca: About ten pounds
“This thing weighs about ten pounds.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- built
“They're called Norbauer, and they have a keyboard called the Seneca.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- featureExpo App Awards: Winners receive a customized Expo keyboard
“Everyone who wins will get a customized Expo keyboard.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
