Self-contained React Native app possible?

Question

I built a react-native app for Windows (https://github.com/Microsoft/react-native-windows). The app runs fine on my development machine, but if I copy the EXE (and DLL dependencies) to another machine and run, I get the error message

Unable to Download the JS bundle. Did you forget to start the development server or connect your device?

Is there a way to build a self-contained app that does not depend on a "development server"?

Answer 1

React Native Windows Environment Setup (with Typescript)

1. Download and Install Visual Studio 2017 Download Link
2. Download and Install Visual Studio Code Download Link
3. Download and Install NodeJS Download Link

4. Install React Native CLI

   npm i -g react-native-cli

5. Install TypeScript

   npm i -g typescript

6. Create your project

   react-native init --version="0.55.0-rc.0" MyApp --template typescript && node MyApp/setup.js

7. Change project directory MyApp

   cd MyApp

8. Install the React Native Windows CLI Plugin

   npm i --save-dev rnpm-plugin-windows

9. Run the Windows initialization command

   react-native windows --windowsVersion 0.55.0-rc.0

10. Open project MyApp.sln file in Visual Studio

11. Follow the prompts to install the Windows 10 SDK v. 10.0.14393.0

12. If prompted, select Developer Mode in the Settings window under "Use developer features" and approve the Certificate Installation request. Enable "Developer mode" to allow the custom application to run

13. Install windows build tools (run in Windows Power Shell)

    npm i -g --production windows-build-tools

14. Run your application

    react-native run-windows

15. Prompt Windows PowerShell Installing Certificate: Enter Y to install

16. Prompt window: Allow Access to windows firewall

Answer 2

You can bundle your JS code using

react-native bundle --platform windows --entry-file index.windows.js
--bundle-output windows\myapp\ReactAssets\index.windows.bundle
--assets-dest windows\myapp\ReactAssets
--dev false

If you want to upload to store then you can follow https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/packaging/packaging-uwp-apps#create-an-app-package