Date: 01/29/2025
Okay, so this video about Evan Bacon’s `npx create-target` command for building iOS home screen widgets in React with Expo Router is definitely something I’m digging into. It’s all about bridging that gap between React Native and native platform features in a super streamlined way. For someone like me, who’s been wrestling with platform-specific code for ages, the idea of instantly scaffolding widget functionality with a single command? That’s gold! It resonates with my whole move towards no-code/low-code solutions and using LLMs to generate boilerplate.
Why is it valuable? Because widgets are engagement touchpoints! Imagine using LLMs to generate dynamic widget content based on user data pulled through a Laravel API. Think real-time order status updates, personalized content feeds – all sitting right on the user’s home screen. This isn’t just about slapping a React component onto iOS; it’s about creating a direct, actionable connection with users. I can see myself using this to rapidly prototype widget ideas and using AI to quickly iterate on designs and functionalities.
Honestly, the fact that it’s using Expo Router is what really piques my interest. I’ve been using Expo for years to abstract away the complexity of native builds, and the Router adds a familiar web-dev feel. The promise of instantly adding interactive elements to iOS devices is genuinely inspiring. I’m excited to experiment with this to create widgets for some of my existing Laravel-powered mobile apps and see how I can generate cool features.