10 Things We Learned While Building a React Native App in 2024

React Native’s advantages over other hybrid app development tools like Ionic, Cordova, or PhoneGap helps build beautiful and intuitive mobile applications. In our five years of experience in working with React Native and practical application of the technology, we have learned a great deal about the platform.

When React Native came out in 2015, the developers were reluctant to use it for the development works. But by 2016, React Native was one of the most prominent technologies to build native applications due to its time-saving capabilities.

Throughout these years, we have seen React Native become better with every release. At the time of writing this article, the latest release of this development platform is 0.63.3. So, one thing that you can expect from React Native if you have dropped it earlier and want to pick it up again, is that it has matured.

Must Read: How to upgrade React Native to the latest version

The platform you used back then vs the one you might use now is poles apart. It has become more efficient, diverse, stable, and can deliver a great development experience.

Our React Native application development services have also become better as the platform has grown. Here are 10 things that we have learned while using React Native in 2021.

React Native | The MobMaxime Experience

There is no doubt that React Native’s cross-platform capabilities have opened up a new chapter in the realm of native app development. But the developer’s community is still divided between working or not working with React Native.

MobMaxime has been providing React Native app development services from the time the Java enabled platform hit the market. Here’s what we like, appreciate, and want to improve with React Native.

Things we Really Like about React Native

1. React Native Modals for Component Control

   The purpose of a modal in React Native is to present the content above an enclosing view. The modal component control and working ability of the same are very easy, smooth, and convenient.

   Compared to other hybrid platforms that we have worked with in the past, React Native’s Modal component can also be imported. This means that either you can use the built-in modal component that is shipped with the React Native library or source a plugin-based modal component.

   With the same modal, it is possible to build reusable components. With React Native, we can edit and change the modal configuration, style, and design to make it more interactive and engaging.

   Starting with the Basic version, we can create one with navigation transition, transparent background, pop-up animation (custom), Fading background, and disabling gestures.

2. Intensive and Community Support

React Native is based on JavaScript. This is something that can be a bane or boon depending on the project type. We like the fact that React Native uses JS for the coding part and not Swift, but the ultimate choice depends implying that React Native is not a universal solution.

But that is exactly why we like working with this platform. The fact React Native mobile app development is not a universal thing that gives us the ability to work with different technologies and keeps us looking for better ways to deliver projects.

If we were to compare it with Swift, which is a modern programming language and combines the aspects of both static and dynamic languages. Even though Swift is relatively new, it does not mean that there won’t be issues.

One place where we find React Native-led by JS is better than Swift is the Optionals. They are used to access data irrespective of the fact that it exists or not. Options are a bit difficult to understand with Swift. But creating the sequences for data accessibility in JavaScript is easier and faster.

3. Better Development Tool

If you develop iOS applications, you might be familiar with XCode as a development tool. But, we prefer using WebStorm to React Native app development. And our preference to use WebStorm is not unfounded.

Because MobMaxime represents a team of top react native app development company, we have experience with almost every aspect of development. Speaking from experience, we think that XCode is no doubt a great development tool. It is powerful and provides granular control over the project aspects.

But when compared to WebStorm, XCode is too cluttered and denser. It takes to find the right component which increases the time frame. And in an era when thousands of applications hit the market almost every day, time is of the essence.

4. Beautiful and Easy to Understand Virtual DOM

React Native gives an upgrade to the Document Object Model (DOM)-based logical structure. This sort of DOM arrangement is facilitated in HTML, XHTML, and XML formats.

With this sort of DOM, there is one issue pertaining to the way it processes the changes. Changes like user inputs, queries, commands, navigation, and others are expressed inadequately in DOM.

React Native provides a speedy version with Virtual DOM, which is said to be better than Real DOM. We like how virtual DOM is able to read and display even the smallest change in react native mobile app development.

Aspects we Appreciate about React Native

5. Code Stability

React Native is blessed with One-Direction data flow. This is something that can help developers of all kinds. The way it helps is by using downward data-binding, which in turn shields the parent structures from any changes due to the edits in the child structures.

Primarily, this was a feature embedded in React JS. But, all the features of React JS have been embedded in React Native to provide an improved UI. A react native app developer must be familiar with the React Syntax to add native components to the code.

6. Hot Reloading

Hot reloading means the moment you save the project, the changes will be reflected on the emulator displaying the edits or additions immediately. Compared to the compilation sequences in Swift, hot reloading is better. With re-compiling, you need to first close the app and open it again to depict the development changes. Here again, React Native comes out to be a better platform for app development because it saves time.

7. Amazing Layout Control

The Layout control is seamless with React Native’s WebStorm. While working with other interface builders, almost every one of our developers had a similar view. It is complex and too cluttered. Some of them faced difficulties in controlling the layout of elements.

But ever since, we have been providing React Native app development services. With this platform, the developer is able to control the layouts with CSS and FlexBox. If not for these aspects, controlling the layouts is time consuming and you have to fiddle around with different sized orientations and screen sizes.

Things that can be Improved

8. Debugging

Earlier, React Native app development was not easy and efficient as today due to one reason, debugging. Before the 0.62.0 release, developers had to use several third-party tools to debug the application.

But, after the 0.62.0 React Native release, Facebook added Flipper, an in-built auto debugging tool. Flipper works with both iOS and Android applications. However, after building projects after adding Flipper to the system, we found some issues.

This includes Flipper’s inability to launch on Mac, and the fact that only iOS simulators are supported on Flipper is something that needs to be improved.

9. Resource Intensive Application Development

It has been more than 20 years since JavaScript hit the market. Even though React Native mobile app development is done with JS, it is still at its infancy stage.

Due to this, React Native is the most comfortable and ideal choice to develop sophisticated and complex applications. Developing gaming and navigation applications that require sophisticated visuals and complex user interactions plus a high level of customizations might not be conducive with React Native.

10. Delay in SDK Updates

Whenever Android and iOS updates their APK’s, React Native has to follow suit. But they are known to stay behind on integrating the code library with the new software requirements.

In other instances, we have observed that React Native is quick and adept in making these changes; they take time in this matter. The synchronization between these changes on Android/iOS and React Native takes time, which might affect the development.

Why do we Stick to React Native App Development?

There are a lot of reasons why we are still using React Native for cross-platform and native app development. Starting with the decluttered environment of React Native, we find it easier to work with. The UI elements creation and control is also a great resource, plus the FlexBox-led layout visibility and control is also one of the greatest things about React Native.

Yes, in the past, we had to face issues with React Native development in the beginning, and it was also frustrating. But as Facebook released its upgraded versions, the development experience got better.

One thing that we should mention here is that you should not make an application with React Native if the solution will be running on a single platform. In that case, it is best to choose platform-specific development technology.

Conclusion

As a team representing the top React Native app development company, we find working with React Native satisfactory and resourceful. We have successfully delivered several mobile applications developed with React Native.

We have a team of adept and trained to React Native app developers with industry knowledge. It is our approach to build efficient applications that help deliver extensible applications in record time and React Native helps us deliver them effectively.