added

Expo + TypeScript Starter Kit With ViroReact 2.43.6 Support

Overview

We’ve just shipped a major update to the ViroReact + Expo Starter Kit, now running ViroReact 2.43.6 and Expo SDK 54. This release adds several new demo scenes showcasing plane detection, manual placement, and free-space interactions, giving developers a better foundation for building immersive experiences with ViroReact.

📣 A big thanks to community member Somnath Chowdury who got the core starter-kit migrated to ViroReact 2.43.6 and Expo 54.


✨ New Demo Scenes

We’ve expanded the included demos to cover multiple AR interaction types:

1. Opening Scene

  • Acts as the main navigation hub
  • Allows switching between different demo scenes

2. Auto Plane Scene

  • Demonstrates automatic horizontal plane detection
  • Displays and allows dragging a robot 3D model on detected surfaces

3. Manual Plane Scene

  • Lets users tap to manually select planes
  • Places a dog 3D model on the selected surface

4. No Plane Scene

  • Demonstrates AR without plane detection
  • Adds a freely draggable 3D box in world space

🧩 AR Features Demonstrated

  • Automatic and manual plane detection
  • Free-space object placement
  • Plane-constrained vs. world-constrained dragging
  • Loading and interacting with 3D GLB models
  • Ambient lighting setup

🛠️ Developer Improvements

  • Updated Metro bundler config to support .glb, .gltf, .obj asset types
  • Cleaned up TypeScript typings for better editor support
  • Improved scene navigation pattern using ViroARSceneNavigator

🚀 Why This Matters

This release makes it easier than ever to explore, learn, and build with ViroReact. Whether you’re experimenting with ViroReact for the first time or looking for a base for your next immersive app, this starter kit gives you everything you need to hit the ground running.


Need Help?

If you're looking for support getting started or want an expert to help you build a comprehensive AR or VR application, look no further than our community Discord and our trusted experts.

Join the ReactVision Discord →

Hire an Expert →



👍

Support ReactVision

Love what we’re building? Help keep ViroReact thriving by becoming a GitHub Sponsor. Your support funds core maintenance, new platform integrations, and the upcoming ReactVision Studio. Did you know that if every install in the last 6 months had paid us just $1 we'd have enough budget to not only fund our current team but also grow the team further and accelerate development.

Sponsor ReactVision on GitHub →