A JavaScript-based framework created by Facebook, React Native is an open-source framework for creating native mobile apps. A JavaScript library that offers best-of-breed UI building capabilities, React Native combines the benefits of native development with React.
In order to develop mobile on the current native stacks, most companies must make some compromises. There are three ways to lose productivity: multiple engineers on multiple stacks (develop the same product), low quality (make low-quality apps), or one platform (focus on one platform). Tal Kol, ex-Head of Mobile Engineering at Wix.com, says in an interview that inventing new mobile stacks – like React Native – is the way to stop these compromises.
React Native is being used by many companies to build mobile applications today. In other words, JavaScript can be used for almost all of the code, and it can be shared across iOS and Android without requiring two separate teams to maintain separate codes. Visit Myazimia to get updated.
React Native users
In 2015, Facebook announced React Native.
The same JavaScript team was involved in developing Facebook’s first React Native app, according to Facebook engineers Daniel Witte and Philipp von Weitershausen, that works across Android and iOS. In just five months, the engineers were able to create a native iOS app with a native look and feel despite not having any React experience. “Three months after releasing the iOS app, we released the Android version.”
PH 0.63.4 / November 30, 2020 is the most recent version of React Native, after hundreds of updates, fixes, and additions.
Many popular apps use React Native to gain a competitive advantage in the market. Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Skype, Uber eats, or Bloomberg, React Native’s popularity and convenience have caused its use to spread.
The benefits of developing React Native apps
Below we give you the major pros, or top reasons, why you should build mobile apps with React Native.
- Saves time and money by reusing code
Developers do not need to create separate codes for iOS and Android since React Native can be used for both platforms. By reusing code, you can reduce development costs and improve efficiency, as well as bring super-quick development results. As a result of open-source libraries, including UI libraries, the mobile app development process is sped up considerably.
It is also possible to reuse some of the code from a company’s React web application on a mobile application, if it already exists.
- Reloading – Hot and Live
Mobile app development with React Native focuses on live reloading and hot reloading features. With live reloading, developers can make changes in real-time while the app is loading, and make changes afterward: while the hot reloading feature only reloads the changed area, testing is streamlined.
Therefore, the first point is even more valid, since it allows for faster, more efficient, and more intuitive application development.
- Native feel
A native development component maps 1:1 to a React Native component. As a result, developers can design interfaces faster, increase the flexibility of the app, and create an authentic, native feel that can’t be replicated by other applications.
This makes RN ideal for adding quick extensions to existing native applications as it integrates seamlessly with the existing code. It is also compliant with native software.
- Integration with third-party plugins
Some components of React Native may not yet meet business needs because it is still in development. As a solution, React Native implements JavaScript and native third-party plugins.
React Native, for example, allows you to incorporate any plugin into a native or third-party module, such as Google Maps.
- Industry popularity and community support
Among all cross-platform frameworks, React Native is the most popular. Strong community support means developers can get help with their projects. Because React Native is an open-source platform, you can get help from community experts or access libraries of relevant information. Whenever you need a quick answer, you can use Reactiflux chat. Additionally, there are many tutorials for React Native.
React Native’s drawbacks
The entire software development world was shocked by recent news: Airbnb ended up working on React Native, despite its many advantages, but decided that this platform was still not appropriate for their needs.
Even the most efficient programming tools cannot handle certain business cases, as shown in this example.
- Partially inadequate guidelines
As well as its advantages, the open-source platform carries flaws in the form of incomplete documentation.
Additionally, Stack Overflow provides over 95,000 questions about #react-native, which raises a number of questions. If you are not able to find a satisfactory answer to a question of interest, you might not worry about it, but if you are unsatisfied with the quality of the library, you might wonder. Why would questions arise if something is working well?
- iOS and Android features are not supported
These platforms are not supported by all features of React Native. Certain modules must be custom developed instead. As a result, developers may need to rebuild incomplete or outdated features.
- Native apps perform better
In spite of all its advantages, JavaScript is notoriously slow to perform.
The bridge between JS and React Native is primarily to blame for this reduced performance. They intend to roll out a new bridge update in 2021 as well as a change to the way native code interacts with JS, which will give RN a performance boost. Developers may also have to integrate tools such as TypeScript and Flow into their existing infrastructure. By programming skillfully, a noticeable amount of optimization can be accomplished.
- Inability to handle complex user interfaces
You should not choose React Native if you need a lot of animations, integrations, and background processing in your app.
Developers may have some difficulty creating complex gesture-based screens because the touch subsystems used by Android and iOS are too different to provide a common API.
How popular is React Native and what is its perspective?
JavaScript libraries and frameworks continue to grow in number. It seems like every year there is a new “killer” product that promises improved performance, increased usability, and less bugs. The process cannot be stopped, so you must monitor it to make sure you don’t end up with an outdated stack.
Trend tracking can be done using a variety of tools. You should only keep in mind that you need to refer to several of them to get the full picture. Let’s take a closer look at how the market is currently doing.
React Native Apps
In this case, a mobile application for quest players illustrates how React Native is implemented.
Two features were essential for the app:
Through the app, anyone can create their own quests;
- Anyone interested in solving the riddles can download the app, select a journey, come to the starting point, and then begin solving the riddles.
- A cross-platform application using React Native to cover both iOS and Android to reach the maximum number of users within the client’s resources like time and money.
Questy App
A number of cross-platform development challenges were encountered during the project, but our developers overcame all of them, delivering all the client’s requirements. Additionally, we contributed additional activities and interactions that enabled us to improve the original idea and to engage people with quest’s culture based on the client’s goal.
What to Consider When Choosing React Native
Despite its unique advantages, React Native is not the right solution for all business ideas, no matter whether you are a start-up or a successful business executive.
The benefits of using React Native include:
- Ease of use in projects;
- E-commerce and social media interfaces with an attractive design and efficient functionality;
- JavaScript applications;
- Short iterations for rapid development.
The following, however, might not be solved by React Native:
- A complex visualization;
- Gaming with a lot of features;
- A lot of background processes are needed when building rich multimedia apps;
- Applications that are specific to a particular platform.
After reading this material, we hope you have fewer questions, but if you still have any, feel free to contact our experts.
1 Comment
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