1. Introduction

1.1 Goals of the tutorial

This tutorial will guide you through the process of packaging and deploying your React Native application. We'll cover both the Google Play Store (for Android applications) and the Apple App Store (for iOS applications).

1.2 Learning outcomes

By the end of the tutorial, you should be able to:
- Prepare your React Native app for deployment
- Submit your app to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store

1.3 Prerequisites

• Understanding of JavaScript and React Native
• A functioning React Native application ready for deployment
• An active developer account on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store

2. Step-by-Step Guide

2.1 Preparing your app for deployment

Before deploying, you should make sure your app is in a production-ready state. This includes tasks like:

• Testing your app thoroughly to ensure there are no bugs
• Making sure all your app's dependencies are properly installed
• Having a set of icons and screenshots for your app store listings

2.2 Submitting your app to the stores

To submit your app to the stores, you'll need to build a release version of your app then upload it to the respective store.

Android

For Android, this involves generating a signed APK or AAB (Android App Bundle). Using the command line, navigate to your android folder (cd android) and run ./gradlew bundleRelease. This will create an AAB file in android/app/build/outputs/bundle/release/ folder.

iOS

For iOS, you'll need to use Xcode. Open your ios/[projectName].xcworkspace in Xcode, select Product -> Archive, then follow the prompts to upload your app to App Store Connect.

3. Code Examples

3.1 Building a release APK for Android

cd android 
./gradlew bundleRelease 

This code navigates into the android folder of your project, then runs the gradlew script with the bundleRelease option to build a release version of your app.

3.2 Archiving your app for iOS

Unfortunately, this cannot be done via code. You'll have to manually open Xcode and perform the steps mentioned above.

4. Summary

In this tutorial, we covered the basics of preparing your React Native app for deployment and submitting it to the app stores. The key points covered are:

• Preparing your app for deployment
• Building a release version of your app
• Submitting your app to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store

For further learning, consider looking into automating this process using CI/CD tools like Jenkins, Travis CI or CircleCI.

5. Practice Exercises

5.1 Create a simple React Native app and prepare it for deployment

• Create a simple "Hello, World!" app
• Ensure all dependencies are correctly installed
• Create suitable icons and screenshots for your app store listing

5.2 Deploy your app to the stores

• Build a release version of your app
• Submit your app to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store

Remember, the more you practice, the more comfortable you'll be with the process. Happy coding!