React Native App Development
Cross-Platform Done Right
React Native enables building native iOS and Android apps using JavaScript and React. Used by Instagram, Discord, Walmart, and thousands of others, it offers the best balance of development speed and native performance.
Why React Native?
React Native, created by Meta (Facebook), brings React web development patterns to mobile. If you know React, you can build mobile apps. If you know JavaScript, the learning curve is gentle. This accessibility, combined with native performance, explains its widespread adoption.
Unlike hybrid frameworks that run web code in a container, React Native renders using actual native components. When you create a button, it becomes a real UIButton on iOS and a native Button on Android. This means your app looks, feels, and performs like a native application.
The ecosystem is massive. Expo simplifies React Native development further by handling native configuration automatically. Thousands of libraries cover virtually any functionality you might need. A large community means help is readily available.
Fastshot generates React Native code specifically because of these advantages. The output is standard React Native that any React Native developer can understand, modify, and maintain.
React Native Advantages
JavaScript Ecosystem
Access to npm, the largest package registry. Millions of JavaScript developers can contribute. Familiarity reduces learning curve for web developers.
Native Components
UI renders using platform-native elements. Apps automatically respect platform conventions and accessibility features.
Hot Reloading
See code changes instantly without rebuilding. Dramatically speeds development iteration compared to native development.
Code Sharing
Share 70-95% of code between iOS and Android. Business logic, API calls, and most UI code works on both platforms.
Native Module Bridge
When you need platform-specific functionality, write native modules in Swift/Kotlin and call them from JavaScript.
Expo Enhancement
Expo adds development tools, over-the-air updates, and managed native configuration. Fastshot builds on Expo for the smoothest experience.
Companies Using React Native
React Native powers apps you probably use: Instagram (Meta rebuilt their app in React Native), Facebook (partial), Discord (gaming communication), Walmart (retail giant), Shopify (e-commerce platform), Pinterest (visual discovery), Bloomberg (financial news), and Microsoft (parts of Office mobile). These companies chose React Native for its development efficiency while maintaining the native quality their users expect.
React Native vs Alternatives
| Aspect | React Native | Flutter | Native |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | JavaScript/TypeScript | Dart | Swift/Kotlin |
| Learning curve | Low for JS devs | Medium | Steeper |
| UI approach | Native components | Custom rendering | Platform native |
| Web developer friendly | Very | Somewhat | Less |
| Ecosystem maturity | Most mature | Growing rapidly | Platform standard |
React Native FAQ
About the Author
Elvira Dzhuraeva is an expert in AI mobile app development and React Native. A former Senior Product Manager at Google specializing in AI/ML and Generative AI, she is the Founder of Fastshot (YC-backed) and a founding contributor to Kubeflow.