Steps I took to set up create-react-native-app to use previous, stable and compatible versions of dependencies such as React, npm, etc

Create_React_Native_App_Setup.md

Step 1: ensure you have nvm installed by running command -v nvm and ensuring it outputs nvm (edited)

if it doesn't, figure out how to install nvm. not going to list steps for this since I didn't have to do it.

Step 2: navigate to the directory where you will create your react native app folder

Step 3: run nvm install node

Step 4: ensure that node -v outputs v8.x.x, and npm -v outputs v5.x.x

Step 5: run nvm install 7.10.1

Step 6: ensure that node -v outputs v7.10.1

Step 7: ensure that npm -v outputs v4.2.0

Step 8: run npm i -g create-react-native-app even if you have done so before

Step 9: run create-react-native-app brand-new-project-name where your project name is something you haven't used before

Step 10: cd into your project

Step 11: run rm -rf node_modules

Step 12: replace the contents of app.json with this...

{
  "expo": {
    "sdkVersion": "15.0.0"
  }
}

Step 13: replace the contents of package.json with this, and also...

• fill in your own project name for the 'name' field
• delete the line with react-apollo if you are not planning on using Apollo/GraphQL

{
  "name": "brand-new-project-name",
  "version": "0.1.0",
  "private": true,
  "devDependencies": {
    "jest-expo": "^0.3.0",
    "react-native-scripts": "0.0.27",
    "react-test-renderer": "~15.4.1"
  },
  "main": "./node_modules/react-native-scripts/build/bin/crna-entry.js",
  "scripts": {
    "start": "react-native-scripts start",
    "eject": "react-native-scripts eject",
    "android": "react-native-scripts android",
    "ios": "react-native-scripts ios",
    "test": "node node_modules/jest/bin/jest.js --watch"
  },
  "jest": {
    "preset": "jest-expo"
  },
  "dependencies": {
    "expo": "15.0.2",
    "react": "15.4.2",
    "react-native": "0.42.3",
    "react-apollo": "^1.2.0"
  }
}

Step 14: run npm install

Step 15: run npm run start -- --reset-cache (I recommend using this command every time you restart your server)

Step 16: use the expo app to scan the barcode

Step 17: ensure the app is loaded and the name of the app on your phone (which I see labeled when I press the multitask button on android) is the same as your project name

Step 18: start coding! When you reference documentation, make sure you are looking at the correct release version, e.g. React Native 0.42 rather than latest 0.49: http://facebook.github.io/react-native/releases/0.42/docs/layout-props.html