React Native is an open-source framework having the largest support community. Unlike conventional hybrid applications, this amazing framework is for mobile platforms. It is based on the JavaScript library, allowing users to build a single JavaScript codebase that is compatible with different mobile OS.
React Native has surprised the mobile app development industry with its incredible features and cross-platform functionality. This framework fulfilled the purpose of its development i.e to address the limitations imposed by the hybrid apps.
Although it was originally introduced for iOS. Having incredible features and abilities, Facebook created its support for Android OS as well. Today, the majority of developers use React Native APIs to build iOS and Android apps using a single codebase. In this blog, we will discuss the challenges experienced by the developers with the usage of React Native. But before that let’s talk about its benefits for developers.
Benefits of React Native Framework
1. JavaScript Based
JavaScript is usually the first language that a developer starts its career with. They have deep knowledge of the programming language and its structure. The fact that React Native relies heavily on JavaScript brings down an additional learnability curve to a great extent. A few modifications need to understand for the React Native knowledge.
2. Build Native Apps
For developers, the biggest challenge is to build fully native apps. The difference is easily observed on the UI & UX front. But with React Native the mobile app design services get the flexibility to use platform-specific components including activity indicator, which gives the very mobile app a recognizable, native-like feel.
3. Smooth Installation Process
The best part about React Native is its smooth installation and with a background similar to JavaScript it can be installed through Node Package Manager. If you are not experienced with the same process, React Native will help you from the trouble of downloading a binary from the source.
4. Strong Community Support
React Native has gained a lot of popularity and recognition ever since its launch. Developers and businesses from around the world have opted for React Native all because of its remarkable benefits. This huge popularity has resulted in the creation of a strong widespread community working on updates, features as well as the pros and cons of the framework on a daily basis.
These are some of the prominent benefits of React Native that can’t be ignored. But users face challenges during the React Native App development that are mentioned below:
Challenges Related to React Native App Development:
1. Dependency on Native app developers
Mobile app developers sometimes need assistance from the native developers, particularly when complex operations need to be integrated within the mobile application. These apps force developers to take computation to the native part of the mobile app, which in turn needs the assistance from the native developer.
Also Read: Mobile App Marketing Tips To Improve Customer Engagement
2. Abstract Layer Limitations
To implement additional functionality in the React Native apps, the native platform is added with the abstraction layer. This comes with some persistent issues that need to avoid in React Native app development including:
Finding bugs that get encountered in the abstraction layer is quite challenging.
Too much dependence on third-party libraries
Dependency on applying custom designs
3. Difficulty with iOS Deployment
In the case of React Native app development, developers feel very much annoyed when they decide to test their iOS app on a different device apart from Apple’s Testflight. The problem they have to experience is to deal with the provision profiles and necessary certificates.
On the other hand, the process is not tough with the Android OS, as it is very smooth and hassle-free to test and deploy the Android-based mobile apps.
As discussed earlier, React Native, like any other framework is full of challenges. It ultimately depends on the experience of the developers. For a newbie or less experienced React Native developers, these challenges would seem like deal-breakers, while for experienced developers it won’t. The only difference between a skilled and unskilled React Native developer is the knowledge of errors that should be avoided to create an error-free mobile app.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of framework is to React Native?
React Native is a JS library that is used to build UI. React Native is basically managed and maintained by React Native developers community and leading corporations, including Facebook and Instagram. It helps mobile app developers to reuse the code already used in any Android or iOS-based apps.
Does Facebook still use React Native?
Facebook developed React Native to support iOS. But with its support for the Android OS, the library can now offer mobile UIs for both the platforms. Facebook used React Native to build its own Ads Manager app, for both iOS and Android OS.
What are the benefits of React Native?
A React Native framework offers speed and agility for the mobile apps; in addition to a great user experience similar to the native app experience. Like other cross-platform app development tools present in the market including Phonegap, and Ionic, which are web-based, React Native deals with Native elements.
Why React Native is the future of mobile app development?
A clear benefit of using React Native is the feature to build a native app without having to understand things like JavaScript, Kotlin, Swift and Objective-C. Apps can be built for iOS, Windows Phone, Virtual Reality headsets, Android and many more.
Wrapping Up:
These are some of the most common challenges which mobile app developers experience while building React Native App. If you are looking to build a mobile app for your business, make sure you hire Mobile app developer from a reputed development company having all the resources and capabilities to meet the business requirements. Check the company reviews and portfolio before taking any development decision and making them as your development partner.
