What is React Native?
React Native is a JavaScript framework for writing real, natively rendering mobile applications for iOS and Android. React Native is based on React, Facebook's JavaScript library for building UI. However, as React.JS targets browsers, it targets only mobile platform using only a single JavaScript codebase. However, the standard Native development was mainly developed using Java and Kotlin, or Swift or Objective-C.
React Native vs Native?
React Native isn't necessary better than standard Native development. But React Native's main advantage compared to Native is enabling single JavaScript codebase for 2 different platforms. Furthermore, not only is it easier to maintain the app for both platforms, but also it requires less resources as there is no need for both iOS and Android team.
So, does that mean Native isn't as good compared to React Native? Well no, as React's main benefit is the flexibility between iOS and Android, if a client want's an application only for a specific OS, than using a standard Native would be a better option. The main reason is because Native supports all APIs, there's a larger community, and it's easier to detect errors.
What is React Suspense and why is it good?
React Suspense is a way for components to suspend rendering while they load data from a cache. It's good for slow connections, as it gives a developer control over when and where to show certain items on a browser.
What's even better is that, it doesn't destroy the previous view while the suspense is activated. The only downside to this is the difficulty on trying to use React Suspense. This is because it needs to fake a back end API to interact with.
So is React worth it?
React Native is definitely something to look out for in the future, as it is cross platform compatible and easy to learn if a developer is already familiar with React. Definitely there are differences between native development compared to it's counterpart, but it can change the development process within companies as it saves time.
From the graph below, courtesy of Sara Jones from LinkedIn, it could be seen that the trend in React Native has nearly quadrupled from 2016 to 2017. Furthermore, React Native is the 4th most starred Repo on GitHub, just below JavaScript, AngularJS, Gitignore.
Not to sure how to start an app?
If you want to know more about React, Brisbane has a lot of meetup groups! Check out here.
Additionally, Fonseka Innovations invests in understanding our customers and their businesses from the bottom up enabling strategically built intuitive apps. To learn more about the Fonseka difference, get in touch.
References:
Eisenman, B. (n.d.). Learning React Native. Retrieved from https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/learning-react-native/9781491929049/ch01.html
Jones, S. (2017, September 28). React Native: Trends For Digital Transformers. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/SaraJones38/react-native-trends-for-digital-transformers
Mehul, R., & Mehul, R. (2018, July 16). React Native vs. Real Native Apps - Which is Better? Retrieved from https://hackernoon.com/react-native-vs-real-native-apps-which-is-better-a8383d6f7ca5
ReactBris (Brisbane, Australia). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/reactbris/
React Suspense with Netlify Functions. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.netlify.com/blog/2018/10/18/react-suspense-with-netlify-functions/
Trnka, D., & Trnka, D. (2018, August 15). Mobile App Development: React Native vs Native (iOS, Android). Retrieved from https://medium.com/mop-developers/mobile-app-development-react-native-vs-native-ios-android-49c5c168045b
Ula, & Ula. (n.d.). React Native vs. Native App Development-Pros and Cons for Business. Retrieved from https://www.polidea.com/blog/react-native-vs-native-app-developmentpros-and-cons-for-business/
