React Native has become one of the most popular frameworks for developing cross-platform mobile applications. It allows developers to build native apps for iOS and Android platforms using a single codebase. It has a simple philosophy: “Learn once, write anywhere”, ie. you can build for multiple platforms and target devices with just one single codebase.
With its ability to develop apps simultaneously for both iOS and Android, React Native has proven to be a top favorite among the developer community and for many fast moving organizations. To get an idea of the demand for React Native professionals, LinkedIn shows up nearly 42k RN job openings worldwide.
However, like any technology, there are some common mistakes that new developers make when advancing beyond simple React Native projects. In this post, we’ll explore these common easy-to-make mistakes and how to best avoid them.
Mistake #1 — Not Understanding the Basics of React: While React Native is not the same as React.js (a JavaScript library for building web interfaces, precursor and elder cousin of sorts). If you’re not familiar with React, it’s important to learn the basics before diving into React Native. Understanding concepts like components, state, and props will make your React Native development much, much smoother.
Mistake #2 — Ignoring Platform-Specific Differences: One of the main benefits of using React Native is that it allows developers to write code once and deploy it across multiple platforms. However, this does not mean that the code will behave the same way on both platforms. Each platform has its own set of design principles, UI components, and APIs that developers must consider when building an app. To avoid this mistake, developers should take the time to research the platform-specific differences and implement platform-specific code where necessary. For example, iOS and Android have different navigation patterns, so developers should use platform-specific navigation libraries like react-navigation for React Native to ensure that the app behaves correctly on both platforms.
Mistake #3 — Using Third-Party Libraries Without Researching Them First: There are many third-party libraries available for React Native, which can make development faster and more efficient. However, it’s important to research these libraries before using them. Some libraries may not always be well-maintained or may not be compatible with the latest version of React Native. Always read the documentation and user reviews before integrating a third-party library into your project and check for it’s popularity on Github/GitLab/Bitbucket if possible.
Mistake #4 — Not Optimizing for Performance: Mobile users have high expectations for app performance. If an app is slow or unresponsive, users are likely to uninstall it quickly. Therefore, performance optimization should be a top priority for developers. React Native provides several performance optimizations, such as the FlatList and VirtualizedList components, which can improve the performance of your app. However, new developers may not be aware of these optimizations or may not prioritize performance when developing their app. This is alright when you’re setting out to learn the framework, but not acceptible in production environments. Always keep performance in mind when developing app you should avoid unnecessary render cycles, reduce the size of the app, and use tools like the React Native Performance Monitor to identify performance bottlenecks.
Mistake #5 — Not Testing on Real Devices: If I could yell this from the rooftops, I would. Testing your app on real, physical devices is essential for ensuring that your app works as expected on different platforms and devices. While the React Native simulator or Android emulator can be helpful for development, it’s important to test your app on a real device in order to catch any issues that may not occur in the simulator. Consider using tools like Expo or TestFlight to distribute your app to initial testers and gather feedback from their experience.
Mistake #6 — Not Following Recommended Practices: There are several recommended ‘ best’ practices (although I prefer calling them recommended practices, since this can be highly subjective) for React Native development, such as preferring functional components over class components, using stateless components whenever possible, and separating your code into reusable components (some people advise against this, it depends on your conventions). New developers may not be aware of these best practices or may not prioritize them when developing their app. Discuss with your team, build agreement on what works for your usecases and follow best practices that align with them to ensure that your app is maintainable and scalable.
Mistake #7 — Neglecting App Security: App security is a critical aspect of mobile app development that should not be overlooked. Hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in the app’s code to gain unauthorized access to sensitive user information, such as login credentials, personal information, and financial data. To ensure that the app is secure, developers should use secure coding practices and follow the OWASP Mobile Top 10 guidelines. They should also implement encryption, use secure storage for sensitive data, and regularly test the app for security vulnerabilities.
Developing React Native apps can be challenging, but by avoiding these common mistakes, react native developers can ensure that their apps are well-designed, performant, secure, and meet users’ expectations. By taking the time to understand the platform-specific differences, optimizing performance, ensuring app security, and testing the app thoroughly, developers can build high-quality React Native apps that users will love.
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