When to consider choosing React Native?

As a framework for multi-platform development, React Native (RN) is very popular with developers and entrepreneurs alike.

16:52 10 February 2021

Many software companies focus on RN development as their main activity and provide their clients with dedicated teams for cross-platform projects. RN is a versatile framework and by working with it, you can quickly release a product to the market. However, cooperation with an RN development company differs from working with freelancers. You can visit this website to learn more about it.

 

Although this framework is recognized by IT community as versatile, there are some conditions that must be met before making a choice in its favor. In our article, we will tell you when you should definitely pay attention to RN.

 

You aim to cover more than one platform

 

Obviously, RN is a good choice when you are going to develop a multi-platform application. There is a number of frameworks suitable for this task, however, RN remains one of the most popular solutions. This is due to several advantages.

 

First of all, RN uses JavaScript architecture, libraries, and code. JS itself is one of the most popular programming languages, and therefore, it is obvious that the corresponding framework will be popular too. In addition, RN allows you to use the same code for different platforms (primarily, for iOS and Android) in large portions. In some cases, the percentage of the shared code can reach 90%. Thanks to this, one developer can create an app for both platforms and there’s no need to hire several niche specialists.

 

You have a limited budget

 

Developing an app using React Native is indeed cheaper in most cases. Since one person can do the work of two platform-specific developers, you can save on salaries. The number of team members is a serious factor that can take up 70% of a company's entire budget. In addition, the speed of development increases. And the faster the development goes, the cheaper it costs.

 

Again, since the application is created for two or more platforms at once, this also reduces costs for post-development needs, such as promotion and maintenance of the application.

 

You test your idea via MVP or PoC

 

Launching a startup and creating a product are risky endeavors in the modern world. Although the speed of product release is of great importance, entrepreneurs prefer to play it safe and test the idea using an MVP or Proof of Concept.

 

In both cases, there is no better framework than RN to help you achieve the desired result. The framework has the Fast Refresh function (the updated Hot Reloading feature). Thanks to it, any changes to the code can be made in a live mode, without having to restart or stop applications. Thus, you can quickly make edits or updates and immediately see the result of your actions.

 

You rely on constant updates

 

After your application has been published and become available for download, it may be necessary to change something in its operation. According to the rules of app stores, such changes require that the application is re-validated before it becomes available for download again. Thus, any updates that are made after publication will take a lot of time. After that, users must manually update the application, too.

 

RN solves this problem since an application written on the basis of this framework can use the CodePush function. A more detailed overview of this feature can be found here. But in simple terms, customers can continue using RN applications while updates are installed in the cloud. At the same time, there is also no need for the application to be validated again in stores. Thanks to this, product owners can save a lot of time.

 

You prefer using ready-made solutions

 

RN has great support from developers and the community. Therefore, this framework has a huge number of ready-made solutions and libraries. Moreover, using them is the most optimal approach to creating an RN application — why reinvent the wheel, right?

 

Libraries like Enzyme, Jest, and Mocha are good examples. They are all used to test the application. Expo, for example, is an open-source and free SDK, which is used to monitor the product development process and make all necessary changes in time, tracking their effect.

 

ESLint and PropType are tools that are used to inspect code. Any errors, including simply incorrectly written commands (miss-click), that were missed due to the human factor, will be detected and corrected.

 

This list can go on and on. The main idea is that RN development itself involves the use of a large number of different tools, libraries, and SDKs.

 

Final words

 

To sum it all up, you should consider using RN in the first place if you need to quickly develop a cross-platform app, but have a limited budget for this.

 

Yes, in fact, RN is a very versatile framework that, of course, has a number of disadvantages, which we will describe next time. Nevertheless, the framework is capable of performing a huge number of tasks and, if used by specialists, it solves the widest range of problems. The available number of ready-made solutions and support from a large community make the development process smooth. In addition, you can rely on the long-term operation of apps developed with RN, since this framework is here to stay and backing by Facebook is likely to continue for a long time.