Rocket Ship

In this episode, I share an honest update about the future of the Rocket Ship Podcast.

After running the show for quite a while and experimenting with different formats, I’ve decided to pause the podcast for now. In this episode I explain why, what changed, and what I want to explore next.

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

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

🎮 Play Tiny Harvest: https://tinyharvest.app/

• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tiny-harvest-cozy-farm/id6755226300
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.supersimon.harvestgame

❤️  Socials

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

React Native 0.84 is here (with Hermes V1 by default), WebAssembly is landing inside Hermes, Expo is experimenting with AI “Agent Skills,” and there might be a new React Native framework coming from TanStack 👀

Plus I share an honest update on Tiny Harvest hitting $2k/month, negative reactions to my AI crash course, and why I think this tension is actually healthy.

Let’s dive in.

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

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

🎮 Play Tiny Harvest: https://tinyharvest.app/

• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tiny-harvest-cozy-farm/id6755226300
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.supersimon.harvestgame

⚛️ React Native Radar

• ⏳ Expo SDK 55 – still no final release
• 🚀 React Native 0.84 – Hermes V1 now default
• 🧩 WebAssembly in Hermes – WASM support confirmed
• 🖥️ Hermes Node – running Hermes outside mobile?
• 📝 React Native Enriched 0.4 – rich text editor update
• ☑️ Checkbox support coming to RN Enriched
• 📱 TrueSheet 3.9 – tablet support added
• 🎞️ Teleport transitions – Instagram-like shared transitions
• 📋 expo-paste-input – cross-platform native paste handling
• 🔎 expo-spotlight – iOS CoreSpotlight integration
• ⚡ Expo compiler cache – faster builds & workflows
• 🍎 20 new Apple extensions in apple-targets
• 🗂️ iCloud-style folder interaction demo – clean UX inspiration
• 🌐 Radon network throttling – finer networking control
• 🤖 Expo Agent Skills – AI-powered upgrade helpers
• 💰 Mobile app revenue > mobile games – interesting market shift
• ✨ Lynx Framework (Sparkling) – TikTok-backed framework
• 🧠 Expo Vibe Coding IDE – AI-native RN playground
• 📊 State of React 2025 – PWA usage flat / shrinking
• 🛠️ XcodebuildMCP joins Sentry
• 📦 ASC CLI – App Store Connect from the terminal

🔥 Tiny Wins

• 🧱 VegaOS + Monorepo with Expo – finally working
• 🧠 Felt like a proper engineering challenge again

🧠 Build in Public

• 📈 Tiny Harvest – steady at ~$2,000/month
• 📉 Not growing (yet)
• 🤖 AI Crash Course video – mixed / negative reactions
• 💬 Interesting tension in the dev community

🚨 Trending in Tech

• 🧱 TanStack React Native Framework? – teased by Tanner Linsley
• 🔥 Framework competition heating up again

❤️  Socials

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

🔗 Links

• React Native 0.84 (Hermes V1 by default): https://reactnative.dev/blog/2026/02/11/react-native-0.84
• WebAssembly in Hermes: https://x.com/tmikov/status/2023821160241393839
• Hermes Node: https://x.com/tmikov/status/2024609186936660170

• React Native Enriched 0.4: https://x.com/swmansion/status/2023455754460467637
• RN Enriched Checkboxes: https://x.com/G_Moskaliuk/status/2024818330758947105

• TrueSheet 3.9 (Tablet Support): https://sheet.lodev09.com/blog/release-3-9
• Instagram-like Transitions (Teleport): https://kirillzyusko.github.io/react-native-teleport/docs/recipes/instagram-shared-transitions

• Expo Paste Input: https://github.com/arunabhverma/expo-paste-input
• Expo Spotlight: https://github.com/Pflaumenbaum/expo-spotlight
• Expo Compiler Cache: https://expo.dev/changelog/compiler-cache-for-builds

• Apple Targets Extensions: https://x.com/Baconbrix/status/2021286101378650574
• iCloud-style Folder Demo: https://x.com/sumitXbravo/status/2024898265641300101
• Radon Network Throttling: https://x.com/kzzzf/status/2024857771858878891

• Expo Agent Skills: https://expo.dev/expo-skills
• Mobile Apps Revenue > Games: https://x.com/a16z/status/2019484729234583587

• Lynx Framework (Sparkling): https://tiktok.github.io/sparkling/
• Expo Vibe Coding IDE: https://x.com/bidah/status/2024139775729352978
• React Native Vibe Code Example: https://reactnativevibecode.com/p/bd827eb1-fa45-41e8-9d53-c9c84c93e514?model=claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929

• State of React 2025: https://2025.stateofreact.com/en-US
• XcodebuildMCP joins Sentry: https://x.com/camsoft2000/status/2021611811447972125
• ASC CLI: https://asccli.sh/

This week’s episode is packed with deep React Native ecosystem updates, a clear shift toward AI-first tooling, and some really positive momentum on Tiny Harvest. We talk new APIs, better performance, smarter automation - and why it feels like AI has officially crossed a tipping point for most developers.

⚛️ React Native Radar

• ⏳ Expo SDK 55 – still not released, likely 1–2 weeks out
• 🤏 React Native Gesture Handler v3 (beta)
• 🧩 React Native Screens 4.22 – ongoing polish and fixes
• 🚪 Teleport – a better, more flexible Portal solution for React Native
• 🧠 AI SDK Profiler with Rozenite
• 🤖 Token-efficient automation for AI agents
• ⚡ Superconfig with Nitro
• 📈 5 tips to increase app downloads & retention (Expo blog)
• 🧰 Expo MCP – new features
• 🧠 Vercel React Native Skills for AI agents
• 🧹 Xcode cleanup tool – finally reclaim that disk space
• 💬 Expo OpenClaw Chat 

🧠 Build in Public

• Tiny Harvest Update 🌱
  • 🎟️ Season pass is performing really well
  • 🐔 The new Coop feature feels great in-game
  • 🚀 More big features shipping this week
  • ❤️ Most importantly: people genuinely love the game

🚨 Trending in Tech

• 🤖 AI has reached a tipping point for most developers

🚀 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 iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tiny-harvest-cozy-farm/id6755226300
• Tiny Harvest Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.supersimon.harvestgame
• 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

• RNGH v3 beta: https://blog.swmansion.com/introducing-gesture-handler-3-0-hook-based-api-deeper-reanimated-integration-more-9185b0c8e305
• React Native Teleport: https://kirillzyusko.github.io/react-native-teleport/blog/welcome
• AI SDK Profiler: https://www.callstack.com/blog/announcing-ai-sdk-profiler-for-react-native
• Superconfig: https://github.com/riteshshukla04/react-native-superconfig
• Worklets: https://blog.swmansion.com/behind-the-scenes-of-react-native-multithreading-vision-camera-v5-x-react-native-worklets-a102c37b32ae
• 5 Tips to increase mobile app downloads: https://expo.dev/blog/how-to-increase-mobile-app-downloads-and-retention
• Expo MCP: https://x.com/Baconbrix/status/2016286464510984224
• Vercel React Native Skills: https://x.com/vercel_dev/status/2016226892333121635
• Reactix: https://www.reacticx.com/
• Xcode clean up dev tool: https://x.com/seanallen_dev/status/2019823735667372099
• Expo Openclaw Demo: https://x.com/brunobar79/status/2019444917064315320
• Tiny Harvest Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TinyHarvest/

This week’s episode is packed with Expo-heavy updates, early looks at AI agent tooling, and some honest numbers and lessons from Tiny Harvest. We also zoom out and talk about the idea that we might be living through an Industrial Revolution of Software.

⚛️ React Native Radar

• 🚀 Expo SDK 55 (beta)
• 🧠 Expo Skills – a growing collection of AI agent skills for Expo & EAS
• 🧩 React Native Screens 4.20 released
• 🪟 React Native Windows & macOS 0.81
• ✨ Making AI feel human using Expo, Reanimated & Skia
• 🔄 EAS Channel Surfing – switching update channels at runtime
• 📄 Remote MDX support experiments
• 🖼️ SF Symbols support coming to Expo Image
• 🧭 Expo Router v7 (beta) – big iteration on routing
• 🧮 calc() support lands in React Native styling

🧠 Build in Public

• 📊 App Store ratings & early feedback
• 💰 Purchases & revenue insights

🚨 Trending in Tech

• 🧠 The Death of Software Development
• “We are living through the Industrial Revolution of Software.”

🚀 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

• Expo SDK 55 beta: https://expo.dev/changelog/sdk-55-beta#new-expo-sdk-package-versioning-scheme
• Expo AI Skills: https://github.com/expo/skills
• React Native Windows 0.81: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/react-native/%F0%9F%9A%80react-native-windows-v0-81-is-here/
• EAS Channel surfing: https://expo.dev/blog/channel-surfing-for-expo-updates-how-to-switch-update-channels-at-runtime
• Remote MDX with Expo: https://x.com/Baconbrix/status/2011518481976734099
• calc() support: https://x.com/_ikswodarap/status/2014677703266288082
• Tiny Harvest: https://tinyharvest.app/
• The Death of Software Development: https://mike.tech/blog/death-of-software-development

This week’s episode is a quieter one on the news front - but a big one for reflections.

We look at the latest signals from the React Native ecosystem, then zoom out into what I’ve been building lately, why I can’t stop thinking about my game project, and how AI has quietly become one of the most useful tools in my daily workflow.

⚛️ React Native Radar

• State of React Native 2025 survey: early impressions & what stands out
• JavaScript Rising Stars 2025: what’s gaining traction (and what isn’t)

🧠 Build in Public

• Game updates & early revenue
• Why this project completely took over my brain
• Key lessons learned so far
• What I’m planning to do next
• A small but fun side tool: my asset/icon generator

🚨 Trending in Tech

• AI has crossed an interesting line
• Why engineers are finally talking about it constantly
• How it went from “meh” to genuinely incredible for building

🚀 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

• JS Rising Stars 2025: https://risingstars.js.org/2025/en

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