What is React Native, and when to use it for your mobile App?

What Is React Native?

React Native is a JavaScript library based on ReactJS, which we use to build mobile apps using iOS and Android platforms. The advantage of React Native is that a single code allows you to create an application at once for two systems, iOS and Android. This is suitable for small applications or MVPs. React Native is a JavaScript platform that allows developers to write real-time, native-looking Android mobile app development. It uses Facebook’s JavaScript libraries to create user interfaces, but instead of targeting browsers, it targets mobile. Facebook developers developed React Native in 2015. The application helps accelerate and lower the costs of developing mobile applications.

How does React Native work?

Initially, the application is written in ReactJS, and the whole environment is based on JavaScript. React Native is combined with platform-specific code and compiled into Swift (IOS), JAVA, and Kotlin (Android).

What is RN used for?

React Native is used to build apps for mobile platforms, and each of the following apps uses React Native technology, e.g. Uber Eats, Discord, Wix, Pinterest, Facebook App, Instagram, and Skype.

Many native developers working in Java or Kotla have switched to React Native because of the simpler workflow for building mobile apps. You can find DeSmart projects made with this technology in our portfolio.

React Native – pros and cons of this technology

PROS

The most significant benefit is the speed of delivery. Some applications that we produce are already available after three months, and such projects we implemented in DeSmart. In the network, you can find a lot of libraries that allow you to improve the process of building applications. React Native is currently popular, and many developers code in it.

However, the most crucial benefit is the almost simultaneous delivery of applications for two platforms, IOS and Android, so the project is done quickly in comparison to native techniques.

If you decide to implement your application in React Native technology, you can count on the fact that you will find many specialists on the market. This is not a niche technology, and an extensive online react-native community provides its support.

From the developers’ point of view, it is pretty easy to switch from React to React Native, thanks to which developers who so far have not worked on mobile can soon expand their skills in the area of mobile application development.

CONS

React Native application is poorly scalable, and it will not be an efficient solution for huge projects. In the case of a desire to introduce functionality, which will only work on one of two mobile platforms such as iOS, problems will be changed in the native code of the application, which will require very senior knowledge.

DeSmart had a challenge in one of the projects in which our client wanted to perform the functionality, allowing the application’s call. We managed to cope with this task, and Senior Kotlin Developer joined the team and wrote natively a part that will enable you to make a call and wake up the phone. Ultimately, we were able to improve the performance of the entire application. DeSmart informed the client that we don’t work in native technologies (Kotlin and Java). We suggested to the client another solution because it’s consistent with our values, one of which is transparency.

What are the challenges with React Native

Dependence on the native application developer. Java has its advantages in some respects and often requires native developers. Limitation of abstraction layers. Zero support for the multi-processing system. Deployments on iOS are highly challenging.

Why should you choose React Native

Fast application deployment, lower cost and many available developers make this application popular and it is easy to find or train developers for it.

When should you use React Native for your Mobile Apps

It is a perfect time when you already have a product, and a regular website is not enough when you want to enter the market and expand the availability of the app. React Native offers all the native solutions that, when it comes to app development, give the same effect as writing an app in Swift or Kotlin, the native technologies used in software development for iOS and Android platforms.

Why shouldn’t you use react React Native

React Native’s biggest drawback are its performance. It’s better than most hybrid tools and web apps. However, it doesn’t avoid large overhead frameworks, which slow performance compared to native apps.

React vs React Native

Native React uses a similar syntax and development mindset to React. They share identical concepts through quite identical but aren’t utter Twins. There are also significant differences among target platforms: browsers and mobile devices at once. React is a lean library that requires the participation of technology developers. React Native, however, is a fully-functional framework with all modules necessary for building a mobile app without any restriction on external library functionality.

React Native vs other mobile technologies: Which one should I choose for my project

Flutter vs React Native

Google Flutter is cross-platform alternative for Facebook’s React Native. In contrast, React Native does not utilize native interface or API components. Flutter offers seamless migration to a mobile development platform with fewer resources and fewer libraries. The view is created using the Skia graphic library in a platform-specific manner. It then renders the viewa using the C++ engine. Instead of JavaScript, Flutter uses Dart, a native library, which can be written directly in a native library with no bridge. So the company will be able to provide better performance for the user and enables quicker startup.

Benefits of React Native

One codebase for two platforms: savings in time and money

React Native does not look great, but it has significant advantages as an individual programmatic system. The framework allows sharing of logic between iPhone and Android devices. You don’t have to have two different developers: one for writing Java or Kotlin for Android and another for working in Objective-C or Swift for iOS. Your job will get done faster and inexpensively than native development on Android and iOS. Generally, the time and cost savings are smaller, but up to 90 per cent are reusable across platforms.

Fast Refresh and Flipper: better debugging experience

RN developers used debuggers mainly in the past. However, things started to turn out well after adding Fast Refresh functionality and enabling Flipper to be installed. If enabled from RN development, Fast Refresh automatically shows changes to code in any application instantly. Fast Refresh automatically indicates errors in the browser as they occur while you edit the code. Whenever the browser displays the mistakes, the screen gives hints as to the cause of the error. Consequently, it is quicker for new feature development and fixes.

Ready-to-use components: great development speed

React Native consists primarily of ready-for-use components to save time and create standard blocks with minimal programming knowledge. Facebook has a whole lot more content than just a simple site. RN users are free to browse the libraries built by RN contributors or published on GitHub. Examples include the abundance of prebuilt features that allow you to build MVP products for testing and quickly develop unique production app ideas.

Familiar ecosystem and concepts: a mild learning curve for JS developers

While React Native is an individual problem, it can be easily learnable by anyone who has experience with Java and React JS. Usually, it takes between 2 to 2 weeks for developers to develop their RN applications. Typically, no further learning is needed for the specific topic. The complete documentation needed to start is free, but you may also consult with a large community of RN developers.

JavaScript at the core: access to a vast talent pool and easy switch from web to mobile

React Native uses JavaScript, the most commonly-used programming language, for the eighth time. – The estimated 12.8million developers worldwide currently use JavaScript. This price offers business delegates a large variety of specialist options. Engineers who specialize in React Native or

Facebook developers developed React Native in 2015. The application helps accelerate and lower the costs of developing mobile applications. The framework allows creating cross-platform apps on Android and iOS devices. We can create a native app for Android and iOS devices by creating java script. After completing the application, our application will return the same file. Tell me the purpose or function of Native Reaction? Introduction to developers on mobile applications.

JS can quickly get a good understanding of RN concepts.

Hermes engine: better runtime for Android and iOS

Hermes is a JavaScript engine built by Facebook that improves app development performance and speeds. Using this system can help reduce startup time, reduce memory use, or decrease download size. Until now, it only worked for Android phones. React has rolled out an update for iOS 0.64, which makes iOS apps start 40% faster and more responsive. It brings a new bonus to cross-platform development.

When should I use React Native?

All the mobile app developers that wish the App to work on the same device as Android and iOS should keep it in the same codebase and not separate. Although React Native gets better with performance and seems closer to an authentic native experience, the main differences remain that should remain visible.

Cross-platform vs native mobile app

The most crucial difference between native apps versus cross-platform apps is the native apps created with specific operating systems. So the people can use the blessings that come with this program. React Native aims to be platform-agnostic in the long run as it will rethink the framework. Although cross-platform apps have become widely adopted, they don’t have specific functionality or performance like native app apps. Take alligators and fish. Alligators can swim and swim but never swim as well as fish. In contrast, fish cannot move in this direction.

Best worldwide known projects in React Native

Read up on which apps are written in react. You can find the complete list of apps here: https://reactnative.dev/showcase

Is React Native good for the future

It is also a good option for cross-platform app development because of its intuitive architecture, live reload, fast development time and excellent performance and code reusability.

Are you looking for React Native team?

Just let us know.

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