October 12, 2021

5 min read

What is React Native?

React Native is an open-source software framework developed by Facebook, Inc. This framework gained its popularity by mobile developers using the following platforms: Android, Android TV, iOS, macOS, tvOS, Web, and Windows. Since its first public appearance at React.js Con in 2015, the React Native framework has gained immense popularity to make itself synonymous with cross-platform app development.

What is Native Mobile Application Development?

Native development is using programming languages specific to targeted systems to develop platform exclusive applications. Native applications are famous for delivering high-performance apps, with exceptional user experience. However, being restricted to a single platform, it can be expensive to develop cross-platform native applications. This makes native app development gradually lose its charm.

 

Native application development for Android

Programming languages used:

• Java
• Kotlin
• C++

When the developed application is ready, it is uploaded to the Google Play app store where users can download it as a free or paid application.

Native application development for iOS

Programming languages used:

• Objective-C
• Swift

Applications developed for the iOS operating systems have a closed source code, meaning they can only be run on Apple products. Hence a Mac is needed to develop native mobile applications for iOS systems.

 

 

 

 

Why React Native for Mobile Development?

Development time

When it comes to mobile applications, there are two main markets, Android, and iOS. Software developers want to maximize the market for their products by making them cross-platform. This can be expensive when two different development teams are used to build the same application for two different platforms with a completely different codebase. Both teams would need to design an app, write its code, test and deploy it; accruing unwanted development hours for the same end product.

This is where React Native comes to save the day. It uses a single codebase written in JavaScript, developed and tested by the same developers. This same codebase can be used to build React Native apps for both Android and iOS platforms.

Mobile Application Cost

React Native framework reduces the codebase by 95%. This cross-platform development feature allows for 30% - 35% lower development costs when compared to native development for the same app.

React Native uses JavaScript, and according to Statista, JavaScript is used by 69% of software developers making it one of the most popular programming languages. This saves a company from employing specialized programmers in specific stacks to make a product for multiple platforms.

Today, most applications are developed in an Agile environment. This approach favors quicker prototypes and gradual refinement over the software development life cycle. Using React Native in mobile application development allows developers to use one language, JavaScript, for developing cross-platform applications, making it easier to write and test, and use its vast open-source libraries for quick development. Quicker development is a key factor in reducing costs.

 

 

 

 

Scalability

React Native equips developers with wider tools for processing a higher amount of work in an application and deploying bigger updates. Just like the codebase, the updates are also cross-platform, giving it an edge over native development.

Application Maintenance

Native apps have two different codebases making it a nightmare to track bugs on both platforms. Not only that, a specialized developer is needed depending on which stack the error came from.

This is not a worry when React Native is used, as a developer just needs to maintain one codebase written in JavaScript. If an error arises in the codebase, it can be fixed in one place and a resolution can be implemented for both Android and iOS platforms.

Open Source

Being open-source has its own advantages. No licensing fees. Free to modify and refine framework to better suit developers. Opensource libraries are more lucrative nowadays due to their vast support network. As of 2019, just three years after its inception, React Native had 9,100 contributors on GitHub. Additionally, if users run into trouble with React Native, there are 50,000 active contributors to the React Native tag on Stack-Overflow, meaning developers can often find someone to help them with their challenges.

All is good?

UI/UX experience

Great UI/UX experiences can be achieved using React Native but at an increased complexity as it is difficult to match the UI/UX standards for both Android and iOS platforms. This is not a problem for native development. Native development allows for design for a platform-specific design and is streamlined for the platform rather than being generalized for multiple platforms, which is the for React Native.

Performance

Though the use of using a single programming language in the React Native framework has its advantages; its major downside is performance compared to native environments. JavaScript works with only a single dedicated device thread making it harder for it to perform multiple tasks asynchronously at the same time. This hampers its ability at some native device features, advanced technologies, and other complex manipulations.  

The native environment on the other hand using languages like Java that can handle complex tasks, and access advanced device hardware. In general, the performance award goes to native app development.

Programming Language, Framework, and Documentation

Despite its popularity, React Native is still in Beta mode, which means there might be some lengthy troubleshooting needed if a problem arises with package compatibility or debugging tools. If the developer is not experienced in React, this can cause significant delays.

Additionally, React Native uses JavaScript, a language that may seem easier to learn at first but has its own loopholes and flaws, with scarce publicly available documentation. Native languages, on the other hand, are well-supported object-oriented languages with amazing documentation.

Programming languages employed in the native environment are backed by major corporations like Apple, Google, and other tech giants. They regularly update the codebase and resolve errors. In comparison React Native, being open-source has fewer updates, and known errors get fixed pretty late.

 

In mobile application development, there are several factors that allow for a cost-effective solution. If you are in need of a solution, contact us and we can hook you up with a mobile app specialist who can analyze your needs and provide you with the best, cost-effective solution. Our developers are experts in various domains and we strive to make our customers happy.