Our templates ship backend-free on purpose: every screen runs on local mock data so you can evaluate and customise the whole app before committing to any infrastructure. When the UI is settled, here's how to make it real.
1. Find the data layer
Well-built templates keep mock data in one place (a mockData/data module or a React Context). That's your integration seam — swap those functions for API calls and the UI doesn't change.
2. Pick a backend
You don't need to build one from scratch:
- Supabase or Firebase for auth + database + storage with almost no server code.
- A REST/GraphQL API you already have.
- Expo Router API routes or a small Node service for custom logic.
3. Wire auth first
The auth screens are already designed. Point the login/register handlers at your provider, store the session (SecureStore / AsyncStorage), and gate the routes. Done.
4. Replace reads, then writes
Turn each mock read into a fetch (React Query pairs beautifully with Expo), then wire the mutations — create, update, delete. Because the template is TypeScript, your API types flow straight into the components.
5. Payments (if you sell something)
Drop in Stripe, RevenueCat, or in-app purchases at the checkout screens the template already includes.
Why this order works
You validate the product with a clickable UI *first*, get feedback, and only pay the infrastructure cost once you know the app is worth shipping. Start from a React Native template and you're editing a finished product on day one.