Previously, only web technologies could be used for apps. Now, interface developers can create powerful mobile applications using the popular JavaScript library. This is React Native technology, in which you are not creating an HTML5 or mobile web app. You get a mobile app that’s indistinguishable from apps built using Java, Swift, or Objective-C. Develop a mobile app using react native is a sustainable cost and time saver.
Why React Native technology is needed
1. Individual “universality”
RN allows you to create native applications separate for each platform, considering all the features of the latter. For the main part of a React Native application, one of the most common programming languages – JavaScript – is used, with a single set of tools. Then, the JS-code interacts with the native components of the specific operating system.
BUT! Individual moments, such as design, are often developed individually for each platform.
2. Simplicity and usability
An experienced React Native developer won’t need much time to master the environment. All he needs to get started is knowledge of JS and React. And, of course, experience in “communicating” with the Android and iOS platforms and knowledge of their specific features.
That is, the React Native framework will be easy and comfortable for the developer who knows what he is doing and is familiar with mobile development. That is why the Tino team has no difficulties in creating applications on React Native.
3. High speed
Compared to native development, the time required to create React Native apps is shorter. Additionally, the work is simplified by the ready-made plugins (modules) provided to developers by the React Native community.
Creating a mobile app with React Native can cost a little more than using other frameworks for hybrid products. But it will be cheaper and faster than developing native apps for each individual platform.
4. The ideal for “fast” applications
Products developed in React Native match native in both behavior and appearance, meeting all the expectations of an Android or iOS user. This environment is ideal if you need a high-speed app.
BUT! The framework is not designed for complex products that require large-scale animation (games), complex calculations, working with large amounts of data, etc. In such cases, native development is optimal.
5. Auto-update
All updates of an application created with React Native are performed automatically – there is no need for a manual procedure. Thus, the probability of problems associated with earlier versions disappears.
BUT! The auto-update only works for the “basic” part, written in JavaScript. Updates that concern native components, you will need to install the usual way.
6. Compatibility with native components
The JS “core” of a React Native app can easily be combined with parts of native code written in Objective-C, Swift (iOS) or Java (Android). Thus, Tino proposes to use this to add native components to the final products, and to use RN modules for native applications to save time and provide the same function for both platforms at once.
Now, support for iOS by this framework is higher than for Android due to the greater number of native components and the difference in release dates of operating systems. But the creators of the environment claim that this is a temporary difference.
Benefits and features of React Native
1. One codebase
Instead of developing two different apps, programmers create two versions of the same thing, for iOS and Android, respectively. They are 60-70% identical, which means the total amount of code that needs to be tested and corrected during the development phase is halved.
2. Native
React Native doesn’t have the problems inherent in other cross-platform frameworks, thanks to the use of native APIs. Hybrid apps written in Ionic, for example, mimic the browser environment (you get a solution that looks too much like the mobile version of a website). With RN, your users will have the right, good experience with the interface – everything moves smoothly and quickly, responsive to interaction. By the way, native modules are attached automatically, so developers don’t have to waste time importing and can start using libraries faster.
3. Libraries and component sets
What other advantages does Tino see in React Native? React Native already has a large enough community to develop a solution to most of the difficulties of a few years ago. In practice, this means that developers will almost always find an available, tested, and supported solution to your issues, rather than coming up with one from scratch, which is fraught with unnecessary bugs. At a minimum, Tino uses React Native technology in application development, because it has various ready-made modules to handle animation, text, and graphical content, as well as keyboard input, list scrolling, runtime indicators and much more. This is quite enough for the correct operation of simple applications. In addition to these, React Native has many other useful tools, from Yoga for creating layouts to Sentry, which will look for bugs.
4. TypeScript and fast refresh
Static typing reduces bugs and makes it easier to maintain your project. Code tempting for applications is an advantage, not a disadvantage, as in the case of websites. The second feature is needed to speed up the application – the code is instantly updated as soon as changes are made to it, preserving state.
5. UI
Personalized UI is the main reason to use React Native, downloading an app written in it means a new user experience. Your project no longer must look like standard iOS and Android apps. The libraries have declarative components (Picker, Button, Slider, Switch, etc.) to customize the appearance of blocks, and in addition, programmers can write personalized modules for your non-standard functionality.
6. Modular architecture
With modular programming, program functions can be divided into various interchangeable free blocks called “modules.” It is a software procedure that offers flexible development and also promotes better cooperation between them for updates. React Native developers can easily update applications because of its intuitive modular architecture. Like codes, you can also reuse modules for both mobile and web-APIs.
7. Close to native performance
Many people believe that the performance of native applications cannot be beaten. While this may be true in some cases, a product using React Native is almost like a native application product. It plays an important role in improving performance with native modules and controls. React Native plugs into both native OS components to freely generate code for native APIs.
8. Close to the natural look and feel
The user can’t tell the difference between their own application and a React Native application. The user interface that React Native provides looks native due to the interaction of JavaScript with the native environment.
