React Native’s Secret Superpower

I think React Native's biggest benefits are often missed. Decided I should talk about it more

S/O Ph4seOn3 for the awesome edit 🙏
S/O Cbonilladev for the thumbnail

[mouhibsahloul]

As a react native dev I commend you for this because a lot of web devs don't know the struggles of shipping a new version to the app/play store

[romeorichardson]

So many developers can't see past their noses and only look at performance, it's refreshing to see an opinion from someone like Theo that looks at the nuances of user & developer experience as well.

[vag]

You have literally made me change my mind about react native. I didn't actually pay any attention to it up until I started watching your videos. Thank you.

[randyrips]

I remember you talking about this a few months ago and it made a lot of sense. Something I never really thought about before.

[VeitLehmann]

I did React Native in 2017/18. Flutter hadn't taken off yet. Flow was still a valid alternative for TS, and we used it, because RN also did. It was bleeding-edge, sometimes painful, but often awesome! We also did OTA updates, and sometimes it saved our ass. Now I don't develop mobile apps anymore, but if I did, I thought I'd look into Flutter first. I love the DX that both RN and Flutter provide. But maybe I should give RN another shot first. Server components with RN sound really powerful, can't wait for your insights!

[elvispalace]

Next version of Expo Router will support Server components in the similiar way to NextJS. So excited

[jamonh]

I appreciate you being an advocate for React Native, Theo! It gets often unfounded criticism but I was a native dev back in the day and it was often brutal to get through the App Store review process.

[magne]

Tamagui is also a secret superpower of React Native. One codebase, multiple native platforms (all enabled for web developers).

[epiclifesociety]

I think the single codebase and writing Javascript instead of Swift are good, but what you mentioned here is more legendary than any of that. Thanks for all the great insights.

[MrStupiuno]

Its not "weeks in advance" for app submissions. I often have them approved the same day or at least within 24 hours. Also, you can force upgrades by setting a minimum app version in your API calls. For example, the Chipotle app does this all the time.

[thisweekinreact]

Expo api routes is the first step toward RSC on mobile. It's only a matter of time before EAS offers a server runtime, and fullstack support with universal RSCs

[dalanxd]

Great vid as always, but it's important to say that everything you said about React Native's update system applies to Capacitor JS / Ionic

So this is not unique to RN, it's something that happens when you build native with a JS framework on top that decides what to render

[tmoran]

Over-the-air updates are nice for sure, but by current App Store guidelines, you are only allowed to use them to fix pressing bugs, and not as a way to circumvent the review process (doing so can get your app banned). I think there are also special restrictions/provisions if your app displays an embedded browser (because it's also a form of OTA), so not sure how server components would be allowed meaningfully?

[RaulMartinezRME]

Technically you cannot chage the behaviour of the app or Apple will complain

[EvanBoldt]

How is this not against App Store rules since it effectively bypasses their review?

[qorzzz]

OTA updates are great but if I had to make a list of the 3 best aspects of react native, OTA updates by itself doesn't make my list.

Here's my list for anyone wondering

1. Cross platform targeting (this is the core problem react native was built to solve) .
2. React Native compiles and runs JS (this is what enables OTA in the first place).
3. Fantastic tooling is available - Expo has improved my workflow 10x on everything from development to deployment.

These 3 reasons make it a no brainer when deciding what to use for mobile development.

[pointer]

Finally got my sub. I feel like the quality of your content has picked up lately. Very useful information. Thank you for that l, sir!

[rbus]

Interesting. Gave React Native a whirl when it was just released and tackling a cross-platform iOS/Android app but ended up not using it cuz dev environments weren't up to snuff (having to work outside of Xcode), and Swift was new and really appealing so ended up just using the native tools for each. In retrospect, should have stuck with React Native to save time on maintaining the apps.

[N.A._]

Wasn't this always possible but apple bans your app if you do it yourself, forcing you to pay an "authorized" code push service?

[Calmac_]

Sweet sweet ASP VB (Server Components) 😂 We are going full circle - back to the 1990s! 🤘