React Native, a Facebook-developed programming language, is gaining traction among developers for its ability to create mobile applications that feel like native apps, yet maintain the flexibility and ease of web apps. Marc Shilling, developer of the highest-rated app built with React Native, underscores its advantages.
React Native allows developers to use JavaScript to write mobile apps that can access platform-specific features, such as the camera or accelerometer, typically only accessible to native apps. This is a significant shift from traditional web apps, which are often criticised for their inability to interact with device hardware.
Shilling also highlights the speed of development as a key benefit. Changes made in the code can be seen instantly on the device, unlike native development, which requires the app to be recompiled to reflect changes. This significantly reduces the time spent waiting for updates to be visible, increasing productivity.
However, React Native is not without its challenges. It’s a relatively new language with a small community and limited resources. The tooling is also still in the early stages of development and can be problematic. Despite these hurdles, Shilling believes that the benefits of React Native far outweigh the drawbacks, predicting a bright future for this innovative programming language.
Go to source article: http://readwrite.com/2015/09/25/react-native-mobile-apps-web-apps-marc-shilling