4 Pros and Cons of React Native App Development
Cross-platform development has become a great option to comprehensively develop native mobile apps. With the help of the native mobile development approach, it is possible to segregate apps for Android and iOS. The amazing thing is, cross-platform development enables you to reduce the expenses and save time by exploiting the same code across both the platforms. React Native framework is a trending mobile solution that is now being considered as the future of cross-platform mobile app development.
In the forthcoming sections of this write-up, we will enlighten you about the pros and cons connected with React Native app development. We promise you after reading this piece of information you will be able to decide whether this technology is good enough for your company or not. But, before we move to the business end of this write-up, it is important to first of all get a basic information pertaining to React Native framework.
React Native is an open-source framework that enables you to build mobile apps by employing only JavaScript. It came into existence as a result of an innovation made by Jordan Walke, a Facebook software engineer. It is a new technology that has made the development simpler and created better user experience.
The distinguishing factor is that React Native apps function in the same way as native apps. It does not distinguish itself from apps that are built using Objective-C, Swift or Java. In fact, it employs the same UI building blocks as native iOS or Android apps. The great benefit of this framework is that developing mobile apps is much swifter and cost-effective.
Now that you have gained the basic information pertaining to this framework, it is time to look at the pros and cons.
Pros:
1. Open Source community-driven technology
Everyone knows that React Native is an open-source platform. Result? Everyone can easily see all the documentation related to technology within the community. This can actually be quite helpful if you get stuck with a query. At that time you can take the help of community experts or get online assistance.
In addition to this, as a developer you get recognition for writing codes on the open-source platform. This way it is possible for you to share your experiences and create portfolios, which encourage you to write better codes.
React Native framework is also supported by Facebook. In fact, Facebook developers have a special attachment to this framework. They have created a dedicated developer forum for long-term conversation to share best practices and solutions amongst each other. There is also a feature called Reactiflux chat where you can get instant answers to any of your queries.
2. Access to a wide array of predefined solutions and customized libraries
The React Native framework consists of a wide array of predefined solutions and customized libraries which help in a great way to develop mobile applications.
3. Reusable code and pre-built components
This framework aids developers to use different mobile app for each platform. Reason? Approximately 90% of React Native code can be reused between iOS and Android. If an organization is looking to build a mobile app, React Native framework is a perfect solution as it can, not only save time but also cuts the cost by half. In addition to this, if an organization has already written a web app in React Native most of the code can be reused for developing a mobile app.
With the help of an open-source library of pre-built components in React Native, it is possible to quicken the mobile application development process. Chances are a developer might have already written the code for certain functions that you can use without spending a penny! Amazing, isn’t it?
4. Very simple UI
React Native is mostly about mobile UI. When compared to AngularJS or MeteorJS, this framework sounds more like a JavaScript library. As a developer, you know very well that creating a sequence of actions while developing a mobile app is highly critical. This particular function is performed pretty well by React Native. On top of this, the user interfaces that are designed using this framework are more responsive, provide an easy-going feel, and reduce the load time.
Cons:
1. Need to update the framework on a regular basis
React Native framework is expanding quite quickly where new updates are coming up on a weekly basis. With every update, you can expect certain changes that need to be incorporated for the successful execution of the project. There are also chances of bugs if the framework is not updated on a regular basis.
2. Time to initialize
The initialization time for React Native technology is quite slow in comparison to other frameworks.
3. Not easy to navigate
React Native framework has already been tested in a production environment by several industry giants, including Facebook, Skype or Bloomberg. But, the thing is, it is still in the beta phase. This results in dependencies between versions and changes in tools. There are also times when React Native developers stumble upon different weird issues related to hot reloading failures, compatibility of packages or hot reloading failures. This can slow down the development process which is especially true for inexperienced developers.
4. Shortage of native developers
It is quite difficult to find native developers who are able to perform out-of-the-box solutions. With time, as the community grows, you will see the emergence of more open-source libraries through which developers would be able to get free access to native features. But, the problem is, there is a need for iOS and Android developers who can utilize the more advanced features of React Native framework. In small teams, this is a big challenge. Reason? It is difficult to find developers who have a native mobile experience. This is one of the biggest disadvantages of this technology.
Now that you have seen the pros and cons of React Native app development if you feel this technology is appropriate for your organization, hire React Native developers from a professional React Native development company today!
