React Native has turned out to be the most preferred choice for architecting enterprise applications, owing to its myriad benefits like cost-efficiency, faster development, the capability to create platform-agnostic apps, and many more. Apps like Facebook, Uber, Walmart, and Instagram are some of the most popular products of React Native development. However, to bring out the best of this outstanding framework, you require certain tricks and techniques as well. In this article, I have penned down valuable tips that would aid a React Native Development Company to overcome certain roadblocks, ease out the developmental process, enhance productivity and lead to the creation of stunning native-like applications.
So let’s get started!
Tips to optimize React Native App Development Services
The following tips will guide you and your technical team to choose the right path while executing React Native projects.
Offering Native like features
Native-like features are necessary so that users do not have to learn new techniques to operate the application. A native ecosystem can be provided by using standard patterns of navigation, the Native typeface, Native colors, etc.
Categorization into smart and dumb components
Categorizing the application’s logic into smart and dumb components enables the React Native app developers to reuse the available elements in a better way. The smart components are involved in the functioning of the UI such as regulating the state, collecting data from the API, providing data to other elements, computing, etc. This data is then transferred to the dumb components in the form of props. The dumb components are responsible for styling these props and displaying them to the user. These dumb components do not have any dependency on any of the libraries that manage the state. As they can be bound to any other container components as long as the props are matching they become reusable.
Usage of higher-order Components and patterns for code sharing
A higher-order component refers to a function that accepts a component as the input and returns a new component. HOCs facilitate code sharing. React Native also offers alternate patterns that enable code sharing amongst different components and deliver props. This enhances the readability of the code and eases out code maintenance.
Employing platform-specific styles and codes
Employing platform-specific codes and styles are advisable for callbacks and stylesheets. React Native offers two approaches: Platform module or Platform-specific file extensions. The Platform module is a part of this framework and is perfect for stylesheets. Version specific styles can be used for iOS and Android to get a native feeling in the app. Employing Platform-specific file extensions is required when the styles are complicated.
The wise selection of external libraries
React Native offers numerous ready-to-use libraries that save development time. Therefore, it is advisable to React Native Developers to use them instead of starting from scratch. But, one must wisely select the library as per the project needs to leverage its potential. Moreover, some research needs to be done to verify whether the library is active, is maintained regularly, possesses a good rating, supports both Android and iOS, is adequately tested, and is not facing any issue. React Native Typography, React Navigation, React Native SVG, and React Native Vector Icons are some of the widely used libraries for creating React Native apps.
Optimization of React Native images
Images are an integral part of any application and one cannot afford to neglect its importance. However, the practice of processing images from the client-side hampers performance. Hence, the server-side optimization of images is a smart move. This can be done by uploading images to the server by making API calls and then use resources from the cloud to optimize the images and have them display on the frontend using the API. Also, image sizes can be reduced without hampering the quality of the image with the help of tools such as ImageOptim.
Avoiding practices that hamper performance
Certain practices are to be avoided to ensure faster loading of the pages of a React Native App. They are as follows:
- The creation of heavy apps with magnanimous graphics or stuffing the app with unnecessary data, animations, tabs, navigations, and controls, slows down the speed.
- Not adopting any measure to reduce the load on the bridge that connects the JavaScript side to the Native side, affects performance.
- Usage of multiple threads at a time may lead to app crashes as React Native supports only one thread at a time.
- Avoid complex JSON data as in JavaScript applications, JSON data is fetched very slowly.
Picking the right testing methodology
Testing is essential in various stages of the developmental cycle. Firstly, the app should be run on physical devices to validate the usability and get an idea about creating the layout, spacing, and selecting the color. Secondly, the usage of an Android Emulator or Apple Simulator is necessary to check whether the app is functioning as desired, in all kinds of devices. The React environment offers ingenious libraries like Calabash and Jest for testing applications. Calabash enables automated functional testing while Jest tests the app’s features based on their behavior.
Final Verdict
The aforesaid tips and tricks make React Native App Development Services highly advantageous for creating robust applications. These tried and tested techniques are sure to make your React Native project way more effective and productive and maximize profitability as well.
Looking for a dependable React Native App Development Company? Well then, reach out to Biz4solutions, a noteworthy Mobile App Development Company, serving global clients for more than 9 years. Our experienced and skilled professionals would go the extra mile to successfully execute your React Native project.