Article summary
After about a year of working full-time on React Native projects, a few lessons stand out. Mobile development has plenty of moving pieces, and the right habits can make the experience far more predictable. These practices have consistently helped me build better apps with less frustration.
Use Expo.
Expo might feel like the default choice today, but it is worth saying clearly that it is essential for most teams. Expo removes a huge amount of native setup work and makes development far more consistent across platforms. EAS Build, unified APIs, and the broader Expo ecosystem reduce configuration time and keep projects moving forward.
For almost any new project, Expo is the simplest and most reliable way to get started.
Keep Packages Updated.
React Native moves quickly, and outdated dependencies are a common source of problems. I have debugged issues that vanished immediately after updating a package. Layout quirks, odd component behavior, and compatibility issues often come down to version mismatch.
A few habits help:
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Update dependencies regularly
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Prioritize updates for core libraries such as React Native and navigation first
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Review changelogs for breaking changes
Frequent updates save time and prevent unnecessary debugging.
Test on Real Devices.
Simulators are useful, but they cannot replicate the full range of real hardware. Devices differ in screen size, performance, OS behavior, manufacturer changes, and accessibility settings. Something that looks correct on a simulator may behave very differently on a mid range Android phone.
BrowserStack makes this practical by providing access to a wide variety of physical devices without needing your own collection. Testing broadly helps catch issues early.
Share Preview Builds.
Not everyone on your team will run the app locally. Designers, testers, and product teammates often need a simple way to try new features.
Preview build tools such as TestFlight make it easy for others to install and evaluate the latest version. This improves feedback loops and helps identify issues long before release.
Final Thoughts
A year of full-time React Native development has taught me that success comes from consistent habits. The ones that matter most to me are:
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Use Expo.
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Keep dependencies up to date.
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Test across real devices.
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Share preview builds.
These practices reduce friction, improve collaboration, and lead to more reliable apps. If you think I’ve missed anything, please feel free to mention it in a comment!