August React Native Insights

Welcome to our August newsletter where we dive into the latest happenings in the React Native world.

In the Spotlight

Let’s kick off this month’s edition with first-hand insights from the Chain React conference:

?? It’s getting easier to ship to different platforms with React Native. React is becoming a universal way of writing UI code.

?? Performance remains crucial, and we’re seeing more tools for observability and optimization, that help us deliver top-notch results.

?? Managing technical debt and maintaining the app's stability is challenging. We need robust processes to ship changes confidently and plan regular tech updates.

Reflecting on Chain React, these are my key takeaways. I’m really satisfied with how React Native has evolved over the years. Seeing so many exceptional products being shipped worldwide makes me confident that choosing this technology was the right decision.

Micha? Chudziak , Director of Engineering at Callstack

Industry News

What’s up in the React Native community?

• New Rise Tools allows developers to update the UI of React Native apps in production without rebuilding or redeploying. It uses Server Defined Rendering to manage client-server interactions, and includes a suite of components, actions, and server libraries.
• There’s a new library, HeatMapView, developed by Alex with the aim to identify frequently re-rendered components in large React Native apps. The library is particularly useful for pinpointing unnecessary re-renders and optimizing app performance.
• Shopify Engineering has just released FlashList v1.7.0 with full support for React Native's new architecture! This update promises enhanced performance and new capabilities, and you can try it today.
• This guide to React Native modules helps companies transition SDKs to React Native. It explains the old architecture's JSON bridge and the new architecture's JSI and Turbo Modules for improved performance. Additionally, it highlights how Expo Modules could be used for a simpler integration for small teams.
• Szymon Rybczak demonstrates integrating any Large Language Model (LLM) into React Native apps offline using Vercel's AI SDK. You can check it out here!
• Many React Native developers struggle to obtain relevant log or crash information for open source library issues. Marc Rousavy offers key tips: post stack traces for JS and Java errors, provide exception details for NSExceptions, use debuggers for segfaults, and include native logs from Xcode or Android Studio.

Upcoming Events

On September 5-6, we are meeting in Wroc?aw, Poland, at React Universe Conf. Join us for an unforgettable conference experience, complete with networking, learning, and fun.

We're bringing together top minds from leading companies like Meta, Microsoft, Expo, Shopify, Bluesky, and Vercel. Our speakers are industry experts who will share their invaluable insights and knowledge of the React & React Native world.

We can't wait to see you there! Prepare to launch into a universe of learning and connection at React Universe Conf 2024 ??

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