This guide will walk you through setting up your development environment and getting your first Solana mobile app running in minutes.

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Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed:

Node.js >= 18.0.0

Download from nodejs.org - LTS version recommended

Package Manager

pnpm (recommended), npm, or yarn - we recommend pnpm for better performance

Git

Version control system - download from git-scm.com

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Quick Start

1

One Command Setup

The fastest way to get started is using our CLI tool:

npx start-solana-app
2

Automatic Process

This command will automatically:

  • Clone the repository
  • Install all dependencies
  • Set up environment variables
  • Launch the development server
3

Ready to Go

Your app will be running on iOS Simulator, Android Emulator, or web browser!

That’s it! Most developers can skip the manual installation section below.

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Manual Installation

If you prefer to set up manually or need more control:

1

Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/SendArcade/solana-app-kit.git
cd solana-app-kit
2

Install Dependencies

pnpm install
3

iOS Dependencies (iOS only)

cd ios
pod install
cd ..

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Environment Configuration

The app requires several environment variables for full functionality:

1

Create Environment File

cp .env.example .env.local
2

Configure Core Variables

Add your API keys and configuration to .env.local:

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Getting API Keys

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Backend Server Setup

The kit includes a powerful backend server for enhanced functionality:

1

Navigate to Server Directory

cd server
2

Install Server Dependencies

pnpm install
3

Configure Server Environment

cp .env.example .env
4

Set Up Database

# Create database
createdb solana_app_kit

# Run migrations
pnpm run migrate
5

Start Backend Server

pnpm dev

Server will be available at http://localhost:3000

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Running the Mobile App

1

Start Development Server

From the root directory:

pnpm start
2

Choose Your Platform

# Using Expo CLI
pnpm ios

# Or using Expo development build
expo run:ios

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Development Server Commands

When the Expo server is running, use these keyboard shortcuts:

iOS Simulator

Press i to open iOS simulator

Android Emulator

Press a to open Android emulator

Web Browser

Press w to open in web browser

Reload App

Press r to reload the app

Toggle Menu

Press m to toggle the menu

Developer Tools

Press d to open developer tools

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Verification

1

Check Mobile App

✅ You should see the intro screen with wallet connection options

2

Verify Backend

✅ Check http://localhost:3000/health returns 200 status

3

Test Wallet Connection

✅ Try connecting with any configured wallet provider

4

Navigate Features

✅ Navigate through the app’s main features

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Development Mode

The app includes a special development mode for easier debugging:

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Troubleshooting

Need Help? Join our Telegram community for real-time support from developers and maintainers.

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Next Steps

Explore the UI

Navigate through screens and discover the app’s features and capabilities

Review the Code

Understand the structure with our comprehensive project organization guide

Try Features

Test wallet connections and explore token swaps, NFTs, and other functionality

Start Customizing

Modify the app for your specific use case with practical examples

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Production Deployment

Ready to ship your app? Deploy to app stores with EAS Build:

# Build for iOS
eas build --platform ios --profile production

# Submit to App Store
eas submit --platform ios

Learn More: Check out the EAS Build documentation for detailed deployment instructions.