2025 is coming to an end - and instead of another release recap, this episode takes a step back.

In this year-in-review, I reflect on what actually mattered in React Native in 2025:

the shifts that changed how we build apps, what was overhyped, what quietly became important, and the lessons I’m taking into 2026.

This is a calm, opinionated look at the year - from the perspective of someone building apps, teaching developers, and navigating a fast-moving ecosystem.

🧭 Topics in this episode

🔍 The big picture

• What kind of year 2025 really was for React Native
• Stability vs innovation: where the ecosystem landed
• Why this year felt different from previous “big” RN years

⚛️ What actually mattered in 2025

• Changes that genuinely affected day-to-day development
• Where complexity moved (and where it didn’t)
• What turned out to be worth learning - and what wasn’t

📉 Overhyped vs underhyped

• Things that got more attention than they deserved
• Tools and ideas that quietly proved their value
• How hype cycles affected developer decision-making

🧠 Personal lessons from the year

• What I underestimated
• Mistakes I wouldn’t repeat
• How my approach to building, teaching, and content changed

🔮 Looking ahead to 2026

• What I’m doubling down on
• What I’m deliberately saying “no” to
• Areas I’m curious about - but still skeptical

💬 Join the conversation

What was your biggest takeaway from 2025?

What do you want to leave behind - and what are you taking into 2026?

Let me know on X / LinkedIn or in the YouTube comments.

Thanks for listening - and see you in 2026 👋

This week’s episode covers a big React Native release, a critical React security vulnerability, and a wave of performance and DX improvements across the ecosystem. I also share updates from Tiny Harvest and talk about the realities of AI-assisted coding as projects grow.

⚛️ React Native Radar

• 🚀 React Native 0.83 released
• 📦 Release overview & what’s coming next in RN
• 📊 State of React Native 2025 Survey is now open
• 🎞️ Reanimated 4.2.0 with SET support
• ⚡ Pre-built artifacts config plugin for significantly faster builds
• 🔗 Detour – a new developer-friendly deep linking library
• 🧾 True Sheet 3.0 released
• ☁️ Nitro Cloud Uploader – resumable, background-friendly uploads
• 🔐 react-native-quick-crypto 1.0 – fast JSI-based crypto APIs
• 🧭 Expo Router previews
• 🧩 iOS Widgets with Expo UI – native widgets driven from JS

🧠 From My Projects:

• 🔧 Major refactor
• 📊 Added app events & analytics
• 🛍️ Brand new App Store page

🚨 Trending in Tech

• Critical security vulnerability in React Server Components

🚀 Learn React Native: https://galaxies.dev/missions/zero-to-hero

🔥 Weekly Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@galaxies_dev

❤️  Socials

• https://x.com/schlimmson
• https://www.tiktok.com/@simongrimm_
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/simongr

👨‍💻 Apps

• Tiny Harvest: https://tinyharvest.app/
• Matrix Manager: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/matrix-manager-task-manager/id6739463021
• Quick Track: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/quick-track-calorie-counter/id1669892980

🔗 Links

• React Native 0.83: https://reactnative.dev/blog/2025/12/10/react-native-0.83
• React Native Releases: https://reactnative.dev/docs/next/releases
• State of React Native survey: https://survey.2025.stateofreactnative.com/
• Reanimated 4.2.0: https://blog.swmansion.com/introducing-reanimated-4-2-0-71eea21ca861
• RN Pre-Built Artifacts: https://rnrepo.org/
• Detour for Deep linking: https://docs.swmansion.com/detour/
• True Sheet 3: https://sheet.lodev09.com/blog/release-3-0
• RN Nitro Cloud Uploader: https://github.com/Gautham495/react-native-nitro-cloud-uploader
• RN Quick Crypto: https://github.com/margelo/react-native-quick-crypto
• Expo Router Preview: https://x.com/Baconbrix/status/1998438240291049931
• Expo UI Widgets: https://x.com/k7grzywacz/status/1998387025615978645
• Critical Security Vulnerability: https://react.dev/blog/2025/12/03/critical-security-vulnerability-in-react-server-components
• Mitigating vulnerabilities in RSC: https://expo.dev/changelog/mitigating-critical-security-vulnerability-in-react-server-components

This week’s episode covers a mix of major React Native updates, powerful new tools, and insights from publishing my AI-engineered farming game, Tiny Harvest. We also talk about early experiments like React Native Rails and what CSS Grid means for the future of layout on mobile.

⚛️ React Native Radar:

• ✨ Gifted Chat v3 rewrite – modernized API, performance fixes
• 📦 New expo-targets library for advanced project configuration
• 📄 React Navigation PageSheet – new modal presentation style
• 🧻 ActionSheet v10 – cleaner API & better native behavior
• 🎨 Skia zIndex – layering now works more intuitively
• ⚡ Faster JSON parsing improvements from Tzvetan Mikov
• 🧩 Expo Brownfield Target – integrate RN into existing native apps more easily
• 🔲 CSS Grid is coming to React Native (!)
• 🖥️ Radon IDE free trial – RN-focused development environment
• 🍏 Apple Mini Apps Program announced
• 📱 How Vercel built the v0 iOS app – great read on architecture & innovation

🧠 From My Projects:

• 🌬️ My Uniwind experience — what I’ve learned using it in real projects
• 🌾 I Built a Mobile Farming Game in 6 Days (AI + Expo)
• 📲 Tiny Harvest is now available on iOS & Android: https://tinyharvest.app/

🚀 Learn React Native: https://galaxies.dev/missions/zero-to-hero

🔥 Weekly Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@galaxies_dev

❤️  Socials

• https://x.com/schlimmson
• https://www.tiktok.com/@simongrimm_
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/simongr

👨‍💻 Apps

• Matrix Manager: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/matrix-manager-task-manager/id6739463021
• Quick Track: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/quick-track-calorie-counter/id1669892980
• Text to Voice AI: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/text-to-voice-ai-reader/id6739965632
• Healthy Food Swap: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/healthy-food-swap/id6743627410

🔗 Links

• React Native Advent Calendar: https://galaxies.dev/calendar/2025
• Tiny Harvest: https://tinyharvest.app/
• Gifted Chat: https://github.com/FaridSafi/react-native-gifted-chat
• Expo Targets: https://github.com/csark0812/expo-targets
• Actions Sheet: https://github.com/ammarahm-ed/react-native-actions-sheet/releases/tag/v10.0.0
• Hermes JSON: https://x.com/tmikov/status/1993080321626284194
• Brownfield Target: https://x.com/swmansion/status/1991177091841208581
• CSS Grid: https://github.com/facebook/yoga/pull/1865
• Radon Free Plan: https://x.com/swmansion/status/1990801086622429568
• How we built the v0 iOS App: https://vercel.com/blog/how-we-built-the-v0-ios-app

This week’s episode is packed with performance breakthroughs, new UI tooling, graphics innovation, and my own deep dive into AI-assisted game development. We compare Valdi vs React Native, explore what Uniwind v1 means for the styling ecosystem, and look at how WebGPU is reshaping the future of graphics on mobile.

⚛️ React Native Radar:

• 🎉 Uniwind v1 released – a major milestone for fast Tailwind-style styling
• 🦸 Hero UI Native now running on top of Uniwind
• 🟣 Valdi – Snapchat’s cross-platform UI engine and how it compares to React Native
• ⚡ WebGPU demo from Evan Bacon – real GPU compute inside RN
• 🟠 Jelly Slider demo – slick, physics-driven UI interaction
• ✨ Expo Splash Screen transitions are coming
• 🔤 Animated Text API demo – smooth typography animations
• 🔗 Shared Element Transitions arriving in the New Architecture
• 🏆 Expo Awards pushed back

🧠 From My Projects:

• 📺 My 8-hour Wolt Clone video is now live
• 🎮 Highlights from last week’s React Native Godot livestream
• 🌾 Deep insights from building Tiny Harvest using AI engineering

🌪 Ecosystem Thoughts:

• Uniwind vs NativeWind — quick comparison and where each shines

🚀 Learn React Native: https://galaxies.dev/missions/zero-to-hero

🔥 Weekly Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@galaxies_dev

❤️  Socials

• https://x.com/schlimmson
• https://www.tiktok.com/@simongrimm_
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/simongr

👨‍💻 Apps

• Matrix Manager: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/matrix-manager-task-manager/id6739463021
• Quick Track: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/quick-track-calorie-counter/id1669892980
• Text to Voice AI: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/text-to-voice-ai-reader/id6739965632
• Healthy Food Swap: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/healthy-food-swap/id6743627410

🔗 Links

• Uniwind v1: https://www.reactnativecrossroads.com/posts/introducing-uniwind-the-fastest-tailwind-bindings-for-react-native
• HeroUI Native Beta: https://x.com/hero_ui/status/1985721976220966926
• Valdi: https://github.com/Snapchat/Valdi
• Evan GPU template: https://x.com/Baconbrix/status/1986562026714640767
• Jelly Slider: https://x.com/reczko_konrad/status/1986496404777205784
• npx testflight: https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/npx-testflight/
• Simons Wolt clone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYftPYZJsy8
• Simons Godot Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDcOXpRPprU
• State of Nativewind: https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1OwxWePNzmqGQ

This week’s episode covers another wave of React Native ecosystem updates — from Expo’s new AI-native tools to faster storage, cross-framework experiments, and even a React Native + Godot integration.

⚛️ React Native Radar:

• 🤖 Expo MCP Server – build AI-native apps with the new MCP integration
• 🧩 iOS Simulator MCP v1.5 – new Open/Launch/Install tools for dev automation
• ⚡️ MMKV v4 released – faster, smaller, and now powered by Nitro Modules
• 📱 React Native Nitro Device Info – device info at Nitro speed
• 👆 Pressto updates – smoother tap interactions for React Native apps
• 🎮 React Native Godot – open-sourced integration bringing game engine power to RN
• 🧭 Onboarding component by Software Mansion – polished native onboarding UI
• 💨 Uniwind Benchmarks – performance comparisons across styling solutions
• 🤷‍♂️ Flutter with Expo? – launch a Flutter web app with Expo Launch

🧠 From My Projects:

• 🍔 Wolt Clone recording done, video soon
• 🧱 Planning an Advent Calendar and livestreams

🚨 Trending in Tech:

• ❓ React Native Package Confusion – how to find the right packages?

🚀 Learn React Native: https://galaxies.dev/missions/zero-to-hero

🔥 Weekly Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@galaxies_dev

❤️  Socials

• https://x.com/schlimmson
• https://www.tiktok.com/@simongrimm_
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/simongr

👨‍💻 Apps

• Matrix Manager: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/matrix-manager-task-manager/id6739463021
• Quick Track: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/quick-track-calorie-counter/id1669892980
• Text to Voice AI: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/text-to-voice-ai-reader/id6739965632
• Healthy Food Swap: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/healthy-food-swap/id6743627410

🔗 Links

• Expo MCP: https://expo.dev/blog/become-an-ai-native-developer-with-the-expo-mcp-server
• iOS Simulator MCP: https://github.com/joshuayoes/ios-simulator-mcp/releases/tag/v1.5.0
• MMKV v4: https://github.com/mrousavy/react-native-mmkv/releases/tag/v4.0.0
• Nitro Device Info: https://github.com/l2hyunwoo/react-native-nitro-device-info
• Pressto: https://github.com/enzomanuelmangano/pressto
• React Native Godot: https://github.com/borndotcom/react-native-godot
• React Native Onboarding: https://github.com/software-mansion-labs/react-native-onboarding
• Uniwind Benchmarks: https://github.com/Unistyles-OSS/uniwind-benchmarks
• Flutter with Expo: https://x.com/cedric_dev/status/1984751533221953813

This week’s episode dives into all the major announcements from React Conf 2025—from the upcoming changes to React Native DevTools and React Foundation, to long-awaited features like CSS support and Hermes V1. Plus, I share updates on my latest projects, including the release of my Pocket Clone and progress on the Wolt Clone.

⚛️ React Native Radar:

• 🎉 React Native turns 10!
• 🆕 React Native 0.82 released – major milestone for the new architecture
• 🧩 React Native Screens 4.17 with key fixes
• 🪟 Split View Layout support lands for multi-pane experiences
• 🏆 Expo App Awards open for submissions
• 🏗️ The React Foundation announced – new governance for React & RN
• 🧰 New React Native DevTools (0.83 preview) – with performance and inspector improvements
• 🎨 CSS support officially coming to React Native (along with Hermes v1)
• 📚 React Conf 2025 Recap – biggest takeaways for React Native devs
• 🚀 Nitro Tutorial by Marc Rousavy
• ⚙️ Adding native code with Expo Modules – new official tutorial
• 💨 Uniwind Beta – lightning-fast Tailwind bindings for RN
• 🔗 Deep links improvements from Software Mansion

🧠 From My Projects:

• ✅ Pocket Clone released – learnings from building it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSs4Dnz274k)
• 🍔 Wolt Clone in progress – next big project
• 🧱 Thoughts on the future of Expo UI and where it’s headed

🚀 Learn React Native: https://galaxies.dev/missions/zero-to-hero

🔥 Weekly Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@galaxies_dev

❤️  Socials

• https://x.com/schlimmson
• https://www.tiktok.com/@simongrimm_
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/simongr

👨‍💻 Apps

• Matrix Manager: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/matrix-manager-task-manager/id6739463021
• Quick Track: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/quick-track-calorie-counter/id1669892980
• Text to Voice AI: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/text-to-voice-ai-reader/id6739965632
• Healthy Food Swap: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/healthy-food-swap/id6743627410

🔗 Links

• React Native turned 10: https://x.com/reactnative/status/1976066079874220397
• React Native 0.82: https://reactnative.dev/blog/2025/10/08/react-native-0.82
• React Native Screens 4.17: https://github.com/software-mansion/react-native-screens/releases/tag/4.17.0
• React Foundation: https://react.dev/blog/2025/10/07/introducing-the-react-foundation
• DevTools Preview: https://x.com/huntie/status/1976094434958901476
• Expo CSS Support: https://x.com/Baconbrix/status/1976050536756691384
• React Conf 2025 Recap: https://react.dev/blog/2025/10/16/react-conf-2025-recap
• Expo App Awards: https://expo.dev/awards
• How to build a Nitro Module: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=528SxTGnIlc
• How to build Expo Modules: https://expo.dev/blog/how-to-add-native-code-to-your-app-with-expo-modules
• Uniwind Public Beta: https://github.com/Unistyles-OSS/uniwind
• Detour: https://docs.swmansion.com/detour/
• Expo UI Thoughts: https://x.com/kudochien/status/1978805681378807936

This week’s episode covers the latest React Native ecosystem updates, a few personal wins, and what’s next for my upcoming projects.

⚛️ React Native Radar:

• React 19.2 – small update, big polish
• React Native 0.82 RC5 – new fixes before the full release
• Vega OS – Amazon’s new platform for apps and games
• React Native Enriched (RTE) – rich text editor by Software Mansion
• Nitro Fetch – faster networking from Margelo
• localStorage API with Expo SQLite
• Live Activities now even easier to integrate
• App structure best practices for clarity and scalability
• OS Animations library now open source
• Access iOS APIs directly from JS – new possibilities
• Voltra on the horizon
• UniWind public beta feedback looks promising
• NativeWind v5 preview released
• Header fix coming to React Native Screens
• React Native Buoy – floating debug & support tools inside your app

🔥 Tiny Wins:

• 🏃‍♂️ Ran a Marathon in 3:36
• 💪 Back to cutting & strength training
• 🚴‍♂️ Got a Zwift setup for indoor rides

🧠 Build in Public:

• 📱 Pocket Clone coming soon
• 🍔 Wolt Clone up next
• 🪐 Started a new Galaxies.dev Mission

🚨 Trending in Tech:

• React Conf is around the corner!
• AI tools getting practical—like testing Apple submissions automatically

🚀 Learn React Native: https://galaxies.dev/missions/zero-to-hero

🔥 Weekly Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@galaxies_dev

❤️  Socials

• https://x.com/schlimmson
• https://www.tiktok.com/@simongrimm_
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/simongr

👨‍💻 Apps

• Matrix Manager: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/matrix-manager-task-manager/id6739463021
• Quick Track: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/quick-track-calorie-counter/id1669892980
• Text to Voice AI: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/text-to-voice-ai-reader/id6739965632
• Healthy Food Swap: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/healthy-food-swap/id6743627410

🔗 Links

• React 19.2: https://react.dev/blog/2025/10/01/react-19-2
• Vega OS: https://developer.amazon.com/apps-and-games/blogs/2025/09/announcing-vega-os
• React Native Enriched: https://github.com/software-mansion/react-native-enriched
• Nitro Fetch: https://github.com/margelo/react-native-nitro-fetch
• Expo Live Activity: https://github.com/software-mansion-labs/expo-live-activity
• Expo App Folder Structure: https://expo.dev/blog/expo-app-folder-structure-best-practices
• Animated Demos: https://github.com/enzomanuelmangano/demos
• Direct Native API Access: https://x.com/birch_js/status/1971619696991740259
• Voltra: https://x.com/saul_sharma/status/1972161677165473980
• Nativewind v5 Preview: https://x.com/nativewindcss/status/1971247806271848535
• React Native Buoy: https://github.com/LovesWorking/react-native-buoy

In this episode, I’m joined once again by Alberto Moedano aka Code with Beto. We discuss the exciting features of Expo SDK 54, including the introduction of React Native 0.81, the new Expo Router version 6, and the integration of Expo UI with SwiftUI.

Beto and I also delve into the benefits of the Liquid Glass design, the improvements in build times, and the future of Expo Maps.

Beto finally shares insights on his successful tool Snap AI and the importance of keeping up with SDK updates for better performance and user experience.

🚀 Learn React Native: https://galaxies.dev/missions/zero-to-hero

🔥 Weekly Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@galaxies_dev

❤️  Socials

• https://x.com/schlimmson
• https://www.tiktok.com/@simongrimm_
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/simongr

🤝 Alberto Moedano

• Beto X: https://twitter.com/betomoedano
• Beto YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@codewithbeto
• Code with Beto Courses: https://codewithbeto.dev/

🔗 Links

• Expo SDK 54: https://expo.dev/changelog/sdk-54
• Livestream "What's new in Expo SDK 54?": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBlbkjqxNbM
• Expo UI Docs: https://docs.expo.dev/guides/expo-ui-swift-ui/
• Expo UI iOS Liquid Glass Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wXYLWz3YEQ
• SNapAI: https://github.com/betomoedano/snapai

This week’s episode is packed with big updates in the React Native world—new tools, major releases, and even a glimpse into the future of the framework.

⚛️ React Native Radar:

• Maestro 2.0 released – faster, more powerful mobile testing
• Audio support updates from Software Mansion
• LegendList 2 brings better list performance
• Reanimated 4 stable – the next step for animations in RN
• Nitro Fetch – the network layer gets an upgrade
• Shopify migrates fully to the New Architecture
• Module Federation for React Native apps
• Expo Launch – a new way to get apps into the store faster
• New GlassEffect module in Expo SDK
• React Native 0.81 – Android 16 support, faster iOS builds, SafeAreaView changes
• Expo SDK 54 beta now available
• RFC0929 – removal of the legacy architecture officially on the way

🚨 Trending in Tech:

• Warp – new AI-powered tool for devs
• Performance breakthroughs in RN apps (Tesla, Replit, Doodle Jump)
• React Universe recap

🚀 Learn React Native: https://galaxies.dev/missions/zero-to-hero

🔥 Weekly Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@galaxies_dev

❤️  Socials

• https://x.com/schlimmson
• https://www.tiktok.com/@simongrimm_
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/simongr

👨‍💻 Apps

• Matrix Manager: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/matrix-manager-task-manager/id6739463021
• Quick Track: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/quick-track-calorie-counter/id1669892980
• Text to Voice AI: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/text-to-voice-ai-reader/id6739965632
• Healthy Food Swap: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/healthy-food-swap/id6743627410

🔗 Links

• Maestro 2: https://maestro.dev/blog/introducing-maestro-2-0-0
• LegendList 2: https://x.com/jmeistrich/status/1963918763306164652
• Reanimated 4: https://blog.swmansion.com/reanimated-4-stable-release-the-future-of-react-native-animations-ba68210c3713
• React Native Nitro Fetch: https://x.com/Turbo_Szymon/status/1963935399346053520
• Shopify New Aech Migration: https://shopify.engineering/react-native-new-architecture
• Expo Module Federation: https://x.com/_jbroma/status/1964432339057922523
• Expo Launch: https://expo.dev/blog/introducing-expo-launch
• React Native 0.81: https://reactnative.dev/blog/2025/08/12/react-native-0.81
• Expo SDK 54: https://expo.dev/changelog/sdk-54-beta
• Doodle Jump: https://x.com/mrousavy/status/1961077962200977821
• Uniwind: https://uniwind.dev/
• Rock Framework: https://www.callstack.com/open-source/rock

In this episode, I’m joined once again by Jamon Holmgren, co-founder of Infinite Red and host of React Native Radio. We dive deep into the new React Native architecture - from TurboModules, Fabric Components, and Nitro, to whether it’s time for everyone to migrate.

We also explore how AI is already changing development, what the future holds for tools like Ignite and Reactotron, and whether React Strict DOM will reshape how we build for web. Jamon shares his perspective on current trends, and why he believes the next few years will bring a new wave of innovation in the React Native ecosystem.

Previous Podcast with Jamon: https://podcast.galaxies.dev/episodes/055-why-companies-use-react-native-job-interviews-open-source-trends-with-jamon-holmgren

🚀 Learn React Native: https://galaxies.dev/missions/zero-to-hero

🔥 Weekly Videos -> https://www.youtube.com/@galaxies_dev

❤️  Socials

• https://x.com/schlimmson
• https://www.tiktok.com/@simongrimm_
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/simongr

🤝 Jamon Holmgren

• Jamon X: https://x.com/jamonholmgren
• Jamon personal: https://jamon.dev/
• Jamon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamonholmgren/
• Jamon Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jamon.dev

🔗 Links

• Infinite Red: https://infinite.red/
• Jamons Game: https://jammin.games/into-the-dawn/
• React Native Radio: https://reactnativeradio.com/
• React Native Web vs Strict DOM: https://shift.infinite.red/react-strict-dom-vs-react-native-for-web-in-2025-bb91582ef261
• Ignite: https://github.com/infinitered/ignite
• Reactotron: https://github.com/infinitered/reactotron
• iOS Simulator MCP: https://github.com/joshuayoes/ios-simulator-mcp