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Getting Started with React Native

Getting Started with React Native

setting up environment

Agrit Tiwari's photo
Agrit Tiwari
·Apr 12, 2021·

3 min read

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A little disclosure to the widely popular question i.e., Why build mobile apps with react native?

  1. React Native is a cross-platform, single codebase stack for both native iOS and Android apps.
  2. Uses React Javascript.
  3. 100% access to native APIs via Javascript and reuse of packages from NPM.
  4. Backed by Facebook. isn't it enough?

Hey, It's most easy to set up and start development quickly. I'll be providing 3 major ways in which you can complete your setup and begin your development journey in react native.

Snack

If you'd like to try out React Native directly in your web browser before installing any tools, you can try out Snack. It's the easiest way to work on react native with low system configurations and requirements. This platform is highly beneficial for learning and teaching purposes as well. And another advantage that you can build and host small react native projects on the Snack. It is much easier to share your project and get quick feedback from mentors. It's like Codepen for React Native.

Expo Cli

As you are getting started with React native, it is the most friendly choice, easy to begin with, and above all, supports live rendering of your code on your physical device. Seeing your code working on your physical device is quite a feeling of achievement. As I started development, I followed a lot of tutorials that were deprecated till that time, so I had to struggle a lot. And expo CLI has helped me set up my learning journey of react-native. To begin with, Assuming that you have NODE installed, use your command line to install expo CLI

npm install -g expo-cli

Then create a new React Native project using

expo init <Project Name>
cd <Project Name> 
expo start

This will start a development server for you. And it will show a QR code that can be scanned by Expo Go Client. Expo app can be downloaded from your native app store on physical devices. This is a marvel to debug your app with live rendering and zero delay reloads.

React Native CLI

React Native CLI is a little bit complex set up to begin the react-native developer journey and most appropriate for high complexity apps. The amount of work required in the setup is quite a lot and demands high-performance machine specification as it will require you to install an Android or an iOS simulator for live rendering on your screen. I'll be rolling out tutorials on react native CLI as I prosper.

I highly suggest following the documentation for React Native along with whatever course, tutorial, or Bootcamp. As I have been myself a victim of learning deprecated stuff, and I do not wish the same upon you.

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