Learn Once, Write Anywhere: Intro to React Native

Facebook has gifted the world with a new way to develop native mobile applications using JavaScript: React Native. This doesn't sound like a very revolutionary concept, but the way Facebook chose to do it makes React Native stand out among its peers. In this talk, we’ll take a look at what RN is, how it differs from its competition, and why we might want to use it. Geared toward developers with limited or no experience building mobile applications, it takes a high level view of the framework and makes a compelling case for considering it as part of your toolset.

Transcript

1. Introduction to React Native Learn Once, Write Anywhere Aaron Greenwald github.com/aarongreenwald @aaronjgreenwald aarong@wix.com
2. 01 / Meet React Native
3. “A framework for building native apps with React” - Facebook
4. “A framework for building native apps with React” - Facebook Very popular, but very young and unstable
5. Wait...this isn’t new let [ PhoneGap, Trigger.io, Cordova, Ionic, Sencha Touch, Kendo UI, Appcelerator Titanium, Xamarin ...rest ] = stuffWeTriedBefore;
6. 02 / How It Differs
7. Webviews vs Native UI
8. Write Once, Run Anywhere
9. Write Once, Run Nowhere
10. Learn Once, Write Anywhere
11. 03 / How it Works
12. JS Core UI Bridge
13. UI Asynchronous Serializable Batched Communication JS Core
14. 04 / How It Feels
15. Look Ma, No XCode!!!
16. IDE Packager Chrome Simulator
18. 05 / Advantages
19. We need native mobile apps but we hate writing them
20. Smoother transition from the web
21. Use the richest ecosystem there is Smoother transition from the web
22. Use the richest ecosystem there is Smoother transition from the web Develop quickly
23. Develop quickly Use the richest ecosystem there is Smoother transition from the web Deploy like you’re on the web
24. Develop quickly Deploy like you’re on the web Use the richest ecosystem there is Smoother transition from the web Learn Once, Write Anywhere
25. Develop quickly Deploy like you’re on the web Use the richest ecosystem there is Learn Once, Write Anywhere Smoother transition from the web Reuse code
26. We need native mobile apps but we hate writing them
27. UX of Native Developer Experience of the Web
28. But...what if it limits me?
29. It won’t.
30. By definition.
31. 06 / It’s Still Not Web Development
32. You can’t always code push. Sometimes you need to change binaries. It’s Still Not Web Development
33. You can’t always code push. Sometimes you need to change binaries. Styling is different. Presents a learning curve. It’s Still Not Web Development
34. You can’t always code push. Sometimes you need to change binaries. Styling is different. Presents a learning curve. Platform-specific thinking. Adapt requirements and mindset for mobile. Debugging isn’ t the same. It’s getting better, but slowly. It’s Still Not Web Development
35. It’s Still Not Web Development You can’t always code push. Sometimes you need to change binaries. Styling is different. Presents a learning curve. Platform-specific thinking. Adapt requirements and mindset for mobile. Debugging isn’ t the same. It’s getting better, but slowly.
36. 07 / Should I Use It? Umm...it depends
37. • Many poorly solved problems • No consensus on best practices • Instability • Large community • Many solved problems • A chance to get involved
38. • Many poorly solved problems • No consensus on best practices • Instability • Large community • Many solved problems • A chance to get involved If your scale is relatively small, stick to traditional native
39. • Reuse web developers’ skills • Transition quickly between web and mobile • Deliver amazing mobile apps • Many poorly solved problems • No consensus on best practices • Instability
40. • Reuse web developers’ skills • Transition quickly between web and mobile • Deliver amazing mobile apps If you’re Wix, you don’t really have a choice • Many poorly solved problems • No consensus on best practices • Instability
41. Resources The INTERNET
42. Resources The Mobile Guild The INTERNET https://github.com/wix/awesome-mobile-framework