Rocket Ship

Yousouf El-Azizi, mobile tribe lead at Obytes and core team member of the GeeksBlaBla community in Morocco, discusses his path into technology and becoming a React Native developer. He also talks about his role as the leader of the mobile tribe at Obytes and the benefits of using their open-source starter template. The template, which has gained popularity on GitHub, includes Expo, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, Husky, Lint-staged, Expo Router, React Query, React Hook Form, and localization with I18n. The conversation covers various topics related to the Obytes Starter template for React Native. The main themes include the use of Tailwind CSS, the benefits of using the template, the integration of GitHub actions for automation, the use of React Query Kit and TanStack Query for data fetching, the use of Maestro for end-to-end testing, and the importance of documentation. The conversation also touches on the negative aspects of social media and the benefits of following the right people on GitHub.

Learn React Native - https://galaxies.dev

Youssouf El Azizi

• Youssouf Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElaziziYoussouf
• Youssouf Website: https://elazizi.com/

Links

• Obytes starter: https://starter.obytes.com/
• GitHub Feed is underrated: https://elazizi.com/posts/github-feed-is-underrated/

Takeaways

• The mobile tribe at Obytes follows the Spotify model of managing teams, with tribes focusing on technology and squads focusing on projects.
• The Obytes starter template is an opinionated template that helps align teams and projects, providing a strong foundation and best practices.
• The template includes Expo, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, Husky, Lint-staged, Expo Router, React Query, React Hook Form, and localization with I18n.
• Yousuf discusses the decision-making process behind adopting technologies for the starter template, such as Expo Router and Native Wind. The Obytes Starter template for React Native is designed to incorporate best practices and provide a solid foundation for new projects.
• Tailwind CSS is a popular framework for styling in React Native and is widely used in the React Native ecosystem.
• GitHub actions are used in the template for automation, including validation, testing, and building the app for different environments.
• React Query Kit and TenStack Query are used for data fetching and provide an easy way to manage queries and mutations.
• Maestro is used for end-to-end testing and provides a simple and intuitive way to write tests.
• Documentation is an important aspect of the template and guides how to use the various features and technologies.
• Following the right people on GitHub can be a valuable source of learning and discovering new projects and best practices.
• Social media platforms like Twitter can be overwhelming and cause anxiety, and it's important to be mindful of the time spent on them.

In this episode, Simon and Aaron recap the App.js conference and discuss the key themes and talks. They cover topics such as the state of Expo, the recommended framework for React Native, the importance of iteration speed, the introduction of Expo Orbit and Expo Atlas, the use of React Server Components, real-time 3D applications, Brownfield app integration, and local-first applications. They also highlight the challenges and benefits of using feature flagging and building native libraries. The React Native community is praised for its diversity of skills and the inspiration it provides. The future of React Native includes updates to Expo SDK, the release of React Server components, and the exploration of universal apps and low-code tools.

Learn React Native - https://galaxies.dev

Áron Berezkin

• Aron Twitter: https://twitter.com/AronBerezkin
• Aron Blog: https://www.aronberezkin.com/
• Aron Github: https://github.com/AronBe

Takeaways

• Expo is the recommended framework for React Native and focuses on improving iteration speed.
• Expo introduced Expo Orbit, a tool for managing EAS builds, and Expo Atlas, a bundle analyzer for JavaScript bundles.
• Evan Bacon showcased the use of React Server Components with AI integration, demonstrating the potential of server-driven native UI.
• Mariusz shared his experience with Brownfield app integration, highlighting the challenges and successes of integrating React Native into existing iOS and Android applications.
• Søren Brammer-Schmidt and Brent Vatne discussed local-first applications and the use of Prisma for local data management and synchronization.
• Fernando Rojo built an open-source native library called Galleria for image viewing and zooming, emphasizing the importance of not being afraid to build native libraries. Don't be afraid to build native modules in React Native
• Educate yourself about accessibility and make small changes to improve the experience
• The React Native community is diverse and inspiring
• Updates to Expo SDK and the release of React Server components are expected

In this conversation, Simon Grimm interviews Maximilian Schwarzmüller, a renowned online course creator, about his experience of creating courses and his vast knowledge of various technologies. They discuss the current state of JavaScript frameworks like Angular, React, and Vue, as well as emerging frameworks like Solid.js and Svelte. They also touch on the Node.js environment and the popularity of Express. The conversation then shifts to mobile app development, with a focus on Ionic and React Native. They explore the strengths and limitations of these frameworks and their relevance in the current market. The conversation explores the pros and cons of cross-platform development frameworks, including Ionic, React Native, and Flutter. They discuss their personal preferences and experiences with each framework, highlighting the advantages and limitations of each. They also touch on the future of cross-platform development and the importance of staying up to date with the latest technologies. The conversation concludes with tips for effective learning, emphasizing the importance of building projects and solving real-world problems.

Learn React Native - https://galaxies.dev

Maximilian Schwarzmüller

• Maximilian Twitter: https://twitter.com/maxedapps 
• Maximilian YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maximilian-schwarzmueller
• Maximilian Podcast: https://maximilian-schwarzmueller.com/podcast/
• Udemy courses: https://www.udemy.com/user/academind/

Links

• Academind: https://academind.com/courses
• Academind YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@academind

Takeaways

• The JavaScript framework ecosystem is evolving, with established frameworks like React and Angular continuing to innovate and improve.
• State management is a key area of focus, with many frameworks adopting signals as a way to manage state more efficiently.
• There is a trend towards full stack development, where the boundaries between front-end and back-end become less clear.
• Express remains a popular choice for building APIs in the Node.js environment, despite the emergence of newer frameworks.
• Ionic and React Native are both viable options for mobile app development, with Ionic being more focused on web technologies and React Native providing a more native-like experience. Ionic, React Native, and Flutter are popular cross-platform development frameworks, each with its own advantages and limitations.
• Ionic is straightforward to work with and suitable for building less complex applications, but it may lack certain features and performance compared to React Native.
• React Native and Flutter offer the advantage of compiling code to native UI components or machine code, potentially resulting in better performance and a more integrated development experience.
• The choice between cross-platform and native development depends on the specific requirements of the project and the need for platform-specific features and performance.
• The future of cross-platform development looks promising, with ongoing advancements in frameworks like React Native and the emergence of new contenders like Tori.
• To learn effectively, it's important to build projects and solve real-world problems, rather than relying solely on tutorials and courses.

In this conversation, Simon and Kitze discuss various topics including Kitze's experience as a React Native developer, his encounter with Gary Vee, and his popular product Sizzy. The conversation revolves around the challenges of building customizable UI components in React Native and the lack of comprehensive libraries. Simon and Kitze discuss their frustrations with existing libraries and the need for better primitives and components. The conversation then shifts to the Benji app and the process of building a native app from scratch. In this conversation, Kitze and Simon discuss various topics related to app development, including the challenges of building a native app with React Native based on an existing Next.js project, the use of Tailwind CSS, and the performance issues on Android.

Learn React Native - https://galaxies.dev

Kitze

• Kitze Twitter: https://twitter.com/thekitze 
• Kitze Website: https://www.kitze.io/ 

Links

• Sizzy: https://sizzy.co/
• Zero to shipped course: https://www.zerotoshipped.com/
• Benji: https://benji.so/
• Gluestack: https://gluestack.io/

Takeaways

• The choice of libraries in development can greatly impact productivity and the developer experience.
• The React Native ecosystem offers a variety of tools and libraries that can enhance the development process.
• The challenges of building and maintaining a successful product or project require dedication, focus, and continuous improvement.
• The lack of comprehensive UI component libraries in React Native can be frustrating and lead to the need for custom solutions.
• Having better primitives and components in React Native would make app development easier.
• Being open about not having all the answers shouldn't discourage people from teaching.
• Building a native app from scratch can be challenging, especially when transitioning from a web app.
• Finding the right tech stack and considering the need for a native app early on can save time and effort.
• Building a native app with React Native can be challenging, especially when trying to maintain consistency between the web and mobile versions.
• Tailwind CSS offers a wide range of components and resources, making it a popular choice for app development.
• Android performance can be a pain point in React Native development, requiring optimization and testing on Android devices.
• Integrating Apple Health data and implementing in-app purchases can be complex tasks that require careful consideration and planning.

In this episode, Henry Moulton, principal engineer at Yonder, shares the story of building the award-winning mobile app Yonder. He talks about the challenges working with private Apple and Google APIs as well as the technology stack of their React Native app. Henry also recaps his App.js talk about Maestro from 2023 and how AI is enabling developers to build even better products today. Tune in to hear what it takes to build outstanding apps with React Native!

Learn React Native - https://galaxies.dev

Henry Moulton

• Henry Twitter: https://twitter.com/HenryMoulton
• Yonder: https://www.yonder.com/

Links

• Henrys App.js talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoCzBdFCoqc
• React Native Connection: https://reactnativeconnection.io/

Takeaways

• React Native is usually a better choice for B2C apps than frameworks like Ionic
• Expo EAS is a key component of shipping weekly app updates at Yonder
• Google and Apple have private APIs for working with payments and credit cards
• Maestro is the rising star of end-to-end testing in React Native
• AI is not taking developer jobs, but makes every person capable of producing more and better ouput

In this episode, Jon Samp, head of product at Expo, shares his background in herpetology research and how he transitioned into programming. He discusses his experience developing the Codecademy app with Expo and the challenges he faced. John also talks about his other apps, including the Single Origin coffee timer and WordCheck for Scrabble. He emphasizes the ease of creating hobby apps with React Native and the importance of using native elements for good design. The conversation concludes with a discussion on EAS and how teams can work better together. Jon highlights the improvements being made to the onboarding experience and the Expo dashboard, and the focus on workflow improvements and release management. He also shares future plans for EAS, including enhancing team coordination and communication and improving device management and notifications.

Learn React Native - https://galaxies.dev

Jon Samp

• Jon Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonsamp
• Jon Website: https://jonsamp.dev

Links

• Expo EAS: https://expo.dev/eas

Takeaways

• React Native and Expo make it easy to develop hobby apps without a large team or production process.
• Using native elements and animations in React Native apps can enhance the user experience and make the app feel more polished.
• EAS (Expo Application Services) simplifies the development and deployment process for React Native apps.
• EAS allows for side-loading apps on iOS and Android, making it easy to distribute apps for development purposes.
• The easiest way to distribute iOS apps is to use EAS device calling create, which generates a QR code that can be scanned to install a provisioning profile.
• EAS supports updates and over-the-air updates, allowing for easy distribution of app updates to users.
• EAS provides a faster and more convenient way to build and distribute private applications compared to using Xcode and Android Studio.
• Future plans for EAS include improving the onboarding experience, enhancing team coordination and communication, and adding features for release management and workflow improvements.

In this episode, Simon interviews Gary Tokman, CEO at Candle, about his experience with React Native and building a personal finance app. Gary shares his background in iOS development and how he transitioned to React Native. He discusses the technology stack used in Candle, and the three main problems of React Native apps. Gary also shares his latest packages Faster Image and Blur View, along with a new library for Push notifications.

Learn React Native - https://galaxies.dev

Gary Tokman

• Gary Twitter: https://twitter.com/f6ary
• Candle: https://candle.fi

Links

• SST: https://sst.dev/
• Candle on Github: https://github.com/candlefinance
• Skip: https://skip.tools/

Takeaways

• The React Native community faces challenges with maintaining packages, especially when it comes to finding the right package that works and is actively maintained.
• React Native faces three main challenges: Concurrency, Presentation, and API Support
• Gary works on several OS projects to bring Swift power to React Native apps
• Front-end development in Candle involves client-side architecture, which presents challenges in balancing performance and processing large amounts of data on the device.

In this episode, Simon interviews Nader Dabit, a developer and expert in AI and Web3. Nader shares his background and explains why he left his job at AWS to focus on Web3. He discusses the current state of Web3 and AI, highlighting the job market and opportunities in the blockchain space. Nader also explains the concept of EigenLayer and its role in providing security for new blockchain networks. He emphasizes the importance of practical use cases in Web3 and discusses the potential for decentralized social networks. In this conversation, Nader Dabit and Simon discuss the intersection of Web3 and React Native, as well as the practical applications of AI in mobile app development.

Learn React Native - https://galaxies.dev

Nader Dabit

• Nader Twitter: https://twitter.com/dabit3
• Nader YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/naderdabit
• William Github: https://github.com/dabit3

Links

• Eigenlabs: https://www.eigenlabs.org/
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/
• Farcaster: https://www.farcaster.xyz/
• Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/
• Lens Protocol: https://www.lens.xyz/
• React Native AI: https://github.com/dabit3/react-native-ai

Takeaways

• Web3 and AI offer different opportunities and challenges, with Web3 currently having a more promising job market.
• Stablecoins are a powerful use case in Web3, providing a stable currency for international transactions.
• Decentralized social networks are emerging as a practical use case in Web3, offering public, immutable infrastructure and increased user control.
• The complexity and terminology of Web3 can be overwhelming, but embracing the chaotic and fast-paced environment can lead to success.
• Web3 offers exciting possibilities for building decentralized apps and social networks.
• React Native provides a powerful framework for developing apps on Web3.
• AI APIs make it easy to incorporate AI capabilities into mobile apps.
• Differentiation and rapid iteration are key to success in the Web3 space.

In this conversation, Simon Grimm interviews William Candillon, the creator of Can It Be Done in React Native, about React Native Skia. They discuss the basics of Skia, the benefits of using Skia in React Native, and the performance improvements in React Native Skia. They also talk about the connection between reanimated and React Native Skia, as well as practical examples of what can be done with React Native Skia. William shares the latest release of React Native Skia and provides resources for developers to get started with it.

Learn React Native - https://galaxies.dev

William Candillon

• William Twitter: https://twitter.com/wcandillon
• William YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wcandillon
• William Github: https://github.com/wcandillon

Links

• React Native Skia: https://github.com/Shopify/react-native-skia
• Will it Fly video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUbj_NxcgKg&ab_channel=WilliamCandillon
• Daehyeon Mun: https://twitter.com/DaehyeonMun
• Enzo Mangano: https://twitter.com/reactiive_
• Text rendering hates you: https://faultlore.com/blah/text-hates-you/

Takeaways

• React Native Skia is a powerful library that brings the best of Skia to React Native, allowing developers to create high-performance animations and graphics.
• Skia is a 2D graphics library that is used by Flutter and other frameworks. It provides low-level APIs for drawing and rendering graphics.
• React Native Skia improves performance by bypassing the bridge between native and JavaScript threads, allowing for faster animation and rendering.
• The connection between reanimated and React Native Skia allows for advanced animations and interactions in React Native applications.
• Developers can get started with React Native Skia by checking out William Candela's tutorials and the official documentation.

In this episode, Charlotte Isambert, developer at BAM Labs, shares insights on architecture, emphasizing the importance of splitting code into features and following domain-driven design principles. Charlotte also introduces the QRQC (Quick Response Quality Control) and explains Ship Show Ask methodologies, which focus on problem-solving and efficient code reviews. Additionally, she highlights the benefits of adopting a one-feature flow approach and provides general recommendations for improving code quality in React projects.

Learn React Native - https://galaxies.dev

Charlotte Isambert

• Charlotte Twitter: https://twitter.com/c_isambert
• Charlotte Github: https://github.com/charlotteisambert

Links

• React Summit 2024 Talk: https://portal.gitnation.org/badges/react-summit-2024/charlotte_isambert
• Build Your Mental Model of React’s Rendering Behavior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x2HdZ5unH4

Takeaways

• Splitting code into features and following domain-driven design principles can improve code organization and maintainability.
• The QRQC methodology encourages understanding the root cause of bugs and implementing preventive measures to avoid similar issues in the future.
• Ship Show Ask promotes efficient code reviews by allowing developers to indicate when a review is unnecessary or when feedback is desired.
• Adopting a one-feature flow approach, where the entire team focuses on one feature at a time, can improve code quality and knowledge sharing.
• General recommendations include actively participating in open source projects, continuously learning and improving, and implementing problem-solving techniques.