React Native Limitations

React Native: History and Success Factors

React Native was created by Facebook in 2015 as an extension of React, a library for building user interfaces using components and props. React Native was inspired by the idea of “learn once, write anywhere”, which means that developers can use the same principles and syntax of React to create apps for different platforms.

React Native uses a bridge mechanism to communicate with the native modules and components of each platform, rendering the UI elements on the device screen. React Native also uses a virtual DOM and a diffing algorithm to update only the parts of the UI that have changed, improving the performance and efficiency of the app.

React Native quickly gained popularity and adoption among developers and companies, thanks to its many benefits as stated below:

1. Reduces the time and cost of development by allowing developers to use one code base for both iOS and Android platforms.
2. Leverages the power and flexibility of JavaScript and React, enabling developers to use all the features and libraries of these technologies in their app.
3. An great developer experience and community support, providing various tools and services for testing, debugging, deploying, and sharing the app.
4. Offers a native-like user experience and performance, accessing the native features and capabilities of each platform.

Some examples of successful apps that are built with React Native are Facebook, Instagram, Skype, Uber Eats, Airbnb, etc.

Limitations of React Native

Despite its popularity and advantages, React Native is not a flawless framework. There are some limitations in React Native and challenges that developers should consider before choosing it for their app project. Some of these limitations are:

1. The cross-platform concept does not work the way you imagine:

One of the main selling points of React Native is that it allows developers to create cross-platform apps with one code base. However, this does not mean that developers can write one code once and run it everywhere without any modifications or adjustments.

In reality, there are many differences and nuances between iOS and Android platforms, such as design guidelines, UI components, navigation patterns, permissions, etc. These differences require developers to write platform-specific code or use conditional rendering to handle them. Moreover, some features or functionalities may not be available or supported on both platforms, requiring developers to use native modules or third-party libraries to access them.

Therefore, developers should not expect that React Native will eliminate all the platform-related issues or complexities in their app development process.

2. Too flexible structure is often a hindrance in the mobile project development:

A benefit of React Native is that it gives developers a lot of flexibility and freedom in choosing how to structure their app project. React Native does not impose any strict rules or conventions on how to organize the files, folders, components, or styles of their app.

Developers can use any JavaScript library or framework that they like, such as Redux, TypeScript, etc. They can also use any code editor or IDE that they prefer, such as Visual Studio Code, Atom, etc.

While this flexibility can be advantageous for some developers who want to customize their app according to their preferences and needs, it can also be a hindrance for others who need some guidance and consistency in their app project.

For example, developers may face some challenges in:

• Maintaining and scaling their app project as it grows in size and complexity
• Collaborating and communicating with other developers or teams who work on the same app project
• Following the best practices and standards of mobile app development
• Debugging and testing their app across different platforms and devices

Therefore, developers should be careful and disciplined in choosing how to structure their app project and follow some common patterns and conventions that can help them avoid these challenges.

3. The behavior of some components varies depending on the platform:

React Native provides a standard set of components that developers can use to create native UI elements for their app. However, some of these components may behave differently or inconsistently depending on the platform that they are running on.

For example, the TextInput component may have different keyboard types or auto-correct options on iOS and Android. The ScrollView component may have different scrolling indicators or bounce effects on iOS and Android. The Switch component may have different sizes or colors on iOS and Android. These differences may affect the user experience and design of the app, requiring developers to adjust or customize them accordingly.

Therefore, developers should be aware of these differences and test their app on both platforms to ensure that their components work as expected.

4. This mobile technology has no official frameworks for testing:

Testing is an essential part of mobile app development, as it helps developers to ensure the quality and reliability of their app. However, React Native does not have any official frameworks or tools for testing its apps.

Developers have to rely on third-party libraries or tools to test their app at different levels, such as unit testing, integration testing, end-to-end testing, etc.

Some of the popular testing libraries or tools for React Native are Jest, Enzyme, Detox, Appium, etc. However, these libraries or tools may have some limitations or challenges in testing React Native apps, such as:

• They may not support all the features or functionalities of React Native
• They may not work well with native modules or components
• They may have different configurations or setups for iOS and Android platforms
• They may have different levels of documentation or community support

Therefore, developers should carefully choose the testing libraries or tools that suit their app project and learn how to use them effectively.

5. Specific limitations in React Native for the abstract layer increase the dependence on other libraries:

React Native uses an abstract layer to communicate with the native modules and components of each platform. This abstract layer consists of a bridge mechanism that transfers data between JavaScript and native code, and a virtual DOM that updates the UI elements on the screen.

While this abstract layer enables React Native to create cross-platform apps with high performance and quality, it also introduces some limitations in React Native and drawbacks for developers, such as:

• It increases the dependency on other libraries: The abstract layer does not cover all the features or functionalities that are available on each platform. Developers have to use native modules or third-party libraries to access them. For example:

• React Native does not have built-in support for maps, video players, push notifications, etc. Developers have to use libraries such as react-native-maps, react-native-video, react-native-push-notification, etc. to implement them.

• It adds some complexity and overhead: The abstract layer adds some complexity and overhead to the app development process and outcome. Developers have to deal with some challenges such as:

  1. Debugging the bridge communication and the virtual DOM updates
  2. Optimizing the bridge performance and reducing the data transfer
  3. Handling the memory management and garbage collection
  4. Managing the app size and bundle size

6. The RN-created application has a bigger size than the native one:

React Native apps tend to have a bigger size than native apps. This is because React Native apps include some extra files and libraries that are required for the app to run on both platforms.

For example, React Native apps include the React Native framework, the JavaScript engine, the bridge mechanism, the virtual DOM, etc. These files and libraries increase the app size and bundle size, which may affect the app performance and user experience.

Therefore, developers should try to reduce the app size and bundle size by using some methods such as:

1. Removing unused or unnecessary files and libraries
2. Splitting the app into multiple bundles or modules
3. Compressing or minifying the files and libraries
4. Using code obfuscation or encryption

7. No support for multiprocessing (parallel threading):

React Native does not support multiprocessing or parallel threading. This means that React Native apps run on a single thread (the main thread) that handles both the UI rendering and the business logic. This can cause some problems or limitations in React Native for developers, such as:

1. The app may become unresponsive or slow if there are heavy or long-running tasks on the main thread
2. The app may not be able to take advantage of the multi-core processors of modern devices
3. The app may not be able to use some native features or libraries that require parallel threading

Therefore, developers should try to avoid blocking or overloading the main thread by using some techniques such as:

• Using asynchronous or non-blocking code
• Using web workers or background services
• Using native modules or components

8. Lack of native modules and smooth navigation

• React Native does not have a native navigation system that can handle complex transitions, animations, gestures, or deep linking. Instead, it uses JavaScript-based navigation libraries that are not as smooth, fast, or consistent as native navigation.
• React Native navigation libraries have different APIs and architectures that can be confusing and inconsistent for developers. They also have limitations and drawbacks, such as lack of customization, poor performance, memory leaks, or compatibility issues with other modules and libraries.