5 Points To Prove That React Native Is The Future Of Mobile App Development

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Posted by Bryan Hunter on 27th October 2018

React Native is the native version of React JS which is a popular JavaScript library. In spite of being a newer member of the programming family, React Native has gained immense popularity among the entrepreneurs and the developers for its great potential to develop exclusive mobile applications.

Many tech entrepreneurs are choosing to build cross-platform Android and iOS apps with mobile app development companies that have strong expertise in developing hybrid apps with React Native. This language is believed to have a bright future in the hybrid mobile app development domain. Let’s explore the top five reasons for this belief in the article.

1. High Compatibility With Cross-Platform Development Approach
Majority of mobile apps built in this language are cross-platform that means they have the potential to run smoothly on both the iOS and Android operating systems. Also, with the help of React Native, it becomes easier for the developers to build feature-rich apps that look, feel, and run native without any need to write a single line of the platform specific code.
But in some cases you need to be platform specific. For instance, the design implications vary for Android and iOS platforms. In such cases, this language offers Platform modules and Platform specific file extensions.

The sole function of Platform specific module is to find out the OS on which the app is running, which is then utilized for defining platform specific implementations. On the other hand, Platform specific file extensions have the ability to define files for specific platforms. Also, this language automatically picks up the appropriate file in accordance with the OS on which the app is running.

2. Facilitates Rapid App Development
React Native is capable to speed up the process of app development to a great extent in comparison to other languages. It is blessed with a robust community of passionate programmers who are always available to resolve any issues or glitches. Since it is an open source platform, there are numerous free components available to the developers to use.

Using these components, the development time can be reduced by 30%. Another way to reduce the development time drastically is by using Redux – the state management tool. Redux allows developers to create one shared layer for both Android and iOS, which makes the entire process much faster and minimizes the chances of failures.

3. Provision Of Live Updates & CodePush
One of the most significant advantages that React Native has for developing native applications is the provision of Live Updates. This made it possible for the programmers to push the updates directly to the user phone without any need to go through the entire cycles of app store update.

Live Updates takes a bit long to get approved on the iOS platform, but it provides the users with the capacity to update all their apps on the fly so that there is no need for them to deal with the problems of the older version.

For example, the live update service of Microsoft, which is called CodePush SDK has the potential to integrate with your React app allowing you to push updates easily to your app. But this feature is limited to updating only the JavaScript files and the associated assets. All the updates on the Native OS side will have to face the regular Play Store or App Store update process.

4. React Native Helps In Building Near Native Apps
The mobile apps built using React Native perform as well as any other native app. Java Script being slow in comparison to other native languages such as Swift or Java, when used in combination with React enjoys the power to run even the most complex apps smoothly.

No matter how heavy the compilations are, there is no threat of your app’s UI animation getting lagged, because the JS part of the code runs on its own thread. But this can get disturbed when the processes overlap.

The mobile apps built on this platform are quite similar to the native applications. React Native apps use the same UI building blocks that are used in the native apps. The only difference here is that JavaScript and React are put together.
The programmers also have the freedom to write code in native languages as and when they require. Also, when fine tuning a certain component in React, it is easier for the developers to switch to other languages such as Swift or Java.

5. Promotes Better Development Environment
React Native provides developers with a great time while developing mobile apps. Whenever any changes made to a file, the UI gets instantly refreshed with the help of the hot reloading feature.

The programmers enjoy a pleasant development experience because of the features such as removing the mundane rebuild and deploying from the iteration cycle. Also, React Native uses a common Flexbox layout engine so the developers have to learn it only to develop on both the Android and iOS platforms.

In this way, React Native has a bright future in the mobile app development domain as this platform is highly capable for delivering feature-rich applications. Also, because of the rich ecosystem and the passionate community, this platform is expected to become a norm for mobile app development in the coming years.

 

Anubhuti Shrivastava is a content crafter at Arkenea, a custom software development company helping entrepreneurs and businesses build successful web and mobile apps. She is passionate about writing articles on topics related to design and the software development industry.

 
Written by: Bryan Hunter
Bryan is the founder of Phone Tips and Tricks which provides hundreds of tips, tricks and guides for smartphone users. While he isn't updating the website and blogging about phone related news, he will usually be found tinkering on his own wonder gadget.

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