React Native released their long-awaited 0.62 update last month, on March 26, 2020. Facebook’s famous application development solution comes amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which seems like a strange time to release anything. However, when Rick Hanlon React Native Core at Facebook released news of the update, he explained this by saying, “We’re releasing this version today to respect the work of hundreds of contributors who made this release possible and to prevent the release from falling too far behind.”
React Native update 0.62 adds a wide range of features from support for the Flipper debugging tool to a new dark mode. Source: Unsplash
React Native is an open-source, JavaScript framework that is designed to write real, natively rendered mobile applications for iOS and Android. It was designed to be an easy way for app designers to hone their talent and build quality user interfaces. React Native originally rolled out in 2015 and ever since then, Facebook, as well as other companies and individual talent, have worked hard to keep the platform as up to date and relevant as possible.
Enter the React Native 0.62 update that took place toward the end of March. This update has blown the previous update, 0.61, completely out of the water. While 0.61 was working toward fixing the use frameworks error and rolling out the Fast Refresh, update 0.62 comes with major feature improvements. However, that is not the only part of the React Native platform that makes it alluring to app developers. Here are some of the overall advantages for React Native:
Advantages of React Native
React Native came right out of the gate with an exciting implementation: React Native (formerly React) has always allowed programmers to write their own application code in a framework that could handle a lot of creativity. The goal of React Native from the very beginning was to supply app developers, from all backgrounds and experiences with a “native” digital setting for their up and coming apps. Here are the highlights that React Native is commonly praised for:
React Native is consistently high-performing
When developers are working on a new app, one of the most important aspects of the framework they decide to use is reliability. Many people who use React Native are on a time limit, with a deadline looming. They need to be able to count on the framework to be fully functional and easy to navigate whenever they need it.
React Native consistently provides that high-performing reliability. That is why it is trusted by major corporations, as well as individual startup programmers.
Offers cross-platform innovations
While it is still not entirely possible to have a completely cross-platform framework, there is an impressive number of code specifications that can be used for both iOS and Android applications. The less individual code a developer has to write to incorporate the same functions into the same app, the better. Plus, there are additional advantages including:
● Cost-effectiveness
● Time-saving
● Brand consistency
Thus, it is no surprise that many developers take advantage of all the cross-platform innovations they can, in order to procure the best result and widest audience for their application.
React Native allows the implementation of third-party plugins
This feature is similar to the way the open-source platform Wordpress works. However, the third-party plugins are for mobile applications, instead of blogs or websites. Nevertheless, React Native’s success is in part because they are willing to accept third-party plugins as part of a user’s code.
The plugin must work with the one-direction data flow that makes up the React Native framework and it must be safe. Yet, aside from that, as long as the plugin works properly, there is no issue with using it. This ability opens up a lot of doors, both for developers to share their creations and for other application builders to save time (and frustration) creating something that is already freely available.
React Native offers a shortened development time
Every business on the planet wants to find the quickest, most efficient option for every business activity. Since React Native is based around JavaScript, the most popular coding language worldwide, it makes sense that it would also be an efficient platform.
How much faster is it than other frameworks? Well, in a framework to framework competition, React Native proved to be more than 33% faster than the competition. This is because React Native is an open-source platform that has such a large community adding to the library of resources and reusable code available to all its users.
React Native’s 0.62 update improvements
The 0.62 update followed the patchwork that was the primary reason for the 0.62 update and brings with it some new features. While there are a few fixes mixed in, the new features are driving the React Native 0.62 update and it shows. Here are some of the most notable new features that were made available with the 0.62 React Native update:
Flipper
Flipper is best known for its ability to debug mobile apps. Therefore, the 0.62 update came with this new feature. Here are some of the out-of-the-box improvements that Flipper brings to the React Native framework:
● Metro Actions: Reload the app and trigger the Dev Menu right from the toolbar.
● Crash Reporter: View crash reports from Android and iOS devices.
● React DevTools: Use the newest version of React DevTools right alongside all the developer’s other tools.
● Network Inspector: View all the network requests made by device applications.
● Metro and Device Logs: View, search and filter all logs from both Metro and the device.
● Native Layout Inspector: View and edit the native layout output by the React Native renderer.
● Database and Preference Inspectors: View and edit the device databases and preferences.
Plus, Flipper also works with third-party apps, to give the same debugging genius to other portions of an app that are not strictly React Native.
New dark mode feature
There is now a new dark mode feature that is available to developers. React Native realizes that every developer is different. Some prefer light mode and some prefer dark mode. Until the 0.62 update, only the light mode was available. Now, React Native users have the choice to use the light or dark mode.
React DevTools Vol. 4
The 0.62 update also comes with the fourth installment of React DevTools. This exciting change provides significant performance enhancements as well as a completely reconfigured and improved navigation experience. Plus, full support is now available for React Hooks.
Completing the 0.62 update:
When any update comes to a platform of this magnitude, it can be a scary prospect. After all, for many developers, their life’s work is contained on that platform. Therefore, it is important that when a developer does upgrade to React Native 0.62, they do it correctly.
React Native knows how nerve-wracking it can be to perform the latest update and that is why they created Upgrade Helper. This is the best way to ensure developers are managing the update process correctly.
Thankfully, it is easy to use the Upgrade Helper. All developers need to do is choose which upgrade they want and follow the prompts that they are given. This will lead them successfully through the update.
Yet, it is important for developers to know what is going on while this update is taking place. After all, developers are building applications, writing code and creating digital magic on the React Native framework. So, it is good that they know how those creations are being changed during the update. Here are some of the more intricate items that are being affected due to the 0.62 update.
● Remove proptypes: Now proptypes are completely removed from core components. This reduces the app size impact of React Native core and offers a better runtime.
● Remove accessibility states: The previously depreciated accessibility states are now completely removed and replaced by the accessibility state prop. This is better for components to describe information about their state to accessibility services.
● Text input changes: Text input was not W3C compliant, and difficult to implement in Fabric. Therefore, it was removed completely, along with input view prop, and selection state.
● Accessibility info.fetch warning: While this function was already depreciated, it now comes with a warning.
● Setting use Native Driver is Required: Use Native Driver is now required. This change was in preparation of future switching of the default mode.
Other than that, if developers follow the Upgrade Helper, they should be able to update to React Native 0.62 without an issue.
To close, React Native continues to be a fortified, highly reliable and ever-improving platform that puts its users and developers first. Even in the announcement about the latest update, Rick Hanlon explained that it is out of respect for the hard work everyone put into the update, that they chose to release it now. React Native, the people who work behind the scenes, and its large community of followers is always looking to improve. The 0.62 update is even more proof of React Native’s dedication to their craft and their community.
