At the foundation of every successful mobile app lies a concourse of app developers, who puts up a whole grind of work. Not only are they expected to create seamless, high-performing, and cross-platform apps, but they are also supposed to take a shorter course of development and cut down the go-to-market time. The two extreme choices usually find developers in a sticky place, and they end up compromising on one of the ends.
We understand that masterpieces are never urgent. But, also remember that competition doesn’t wait.
This is where React Native stands out as the choicest app development framework that promises both functionality and shorter development cycles.
React Native: What is it?
React Native has been able to carve its unique niche in the exponential market of mobile apps. It is built on React—a JavaScript code library for designing user interfaces by Facebook. It’s arguably the simplest framework available in the market for creating extensive apps without installing or configuring tools to build the native code. Developers only need to code on JavaScript and share it across multiple platforms for creating full-throttle apps; thereby, saving themselves from the usual drudgery of developing cross-platform apps.
The Working Principle
React Native doesn’t compromise on the quality, build, and functionality of a mobile app, and provides quick turnaround time. However, the curious question is HOW?
With React Native, WebView components have become a thing of the past. The framework uses APIs running on JavaScript VM and fundamental UI components that you will find in native iOS and Android apps. To say it differently, whatever components you piece together to create iOS and Android apps, the same can be found in React Native. The native rendering of the UI ensures a consistent look and feel without any tedious configurations in React Native.
The React Native-based apps are compatible with both Android and iOS platforms. Using the framework, you can render interfaces for both the platforms and since it’s open-source, it’s being worked upon continuously for improved functionality. Who knows that it might fit other platforms, like Windows or tvOS, any day in the future?
React Native Framework: Pros
React Native Framework has simplified hybrid app development by removing layers of configurations required. It’s better, faster, and more efficient. The following are some of the reasons why developers should make a switch to React Native by ditching the limited frameworks, like REACT and AngularJS.
1. Time-Saving and Cross-Platform Compatible
React Native Framework offers native UI reusable components for both Android and iOS apps; thereby, providing technical ease of coding and saving a lot of development time. Additionally, developers are given a greater leeway of incorporating React Native components into the existing code or applying them to the Cordova-based code using a plugin without any rewriting. There is no doubt that React Native shares a popular appeal among the web development enthusiasts.
2. No Learning Curve Involved
Another bottom-line benefit of working on React Native for the developers is that they don’t need to brush-up their skills on Android-specific Java or iOS’s Swift for hybrid app development. Knowing JavaScript in its entirety is all that they need.
3. Native-like UI
Hybrid apps based on React Native have native-like UI. When the components combine and the native UI is rendered, the resulting app has a slicker feel and works incredibly smooth.
4. Third-Party Plugin Compatibility
React Native Framework has put an end to the constant tussle of choosing iOS or Android for mobile apps. Plus, with its third-party plugin compatibility, the dependency on WebView for meeting certain features has now been reduced. Developers can simply incorporate the desired plugin with a native module, and that’s all.
React Native is the best-of-the-bandwagon JavaScript app framework available. It is not surprising to see that big guns, like Facebook, Tesla, and Bloomberg, have set their eyes on its incredible potential, and are making serious investments in it.
React Native Framework: Cons
React Native has its stipulations too. It’s relatively new, still developing, and not free of its own performance glitches, primarily in terms of the modules. React Native lacks some of the modules, which might push developers to build and create their own. Another shortcoming of React Native is the presence of technical bugs and glitches, which erode its functionality. So, anybody using React Native will require professional assistance to look out and fix the glitches and bugs.
Final Words
React Native has catapulted to its current-day fame for an array of reasons. It’s an ideal proposition for creating hybrid apps owing to the level of ease and agility it brings in. Further, it shortens the app development cycles and saves money. Since developers can create both Android and iOS-compatible apps on React Native, which is a top-end bonus, the framework is a pure success. A few shortcomings or hiccups fail to blot its core functionality as a top-notch hybrid app development framework.
