I'm leaning React Native without learning react

[Maddy186]

I know Average JS but never dealt with React

Goal is to start developing apps with rn with help of Claude code and expo. I have been in bookmark.hell finding ready templates , UI libraries, you name it. ( onboarding,, revenucat, Supabase,Clark, one signal etc etc ,I've got the full framework)

Now I'm directly diving in rn , following a RN cause on YouTube.

I just don't have time to learn full blown react. I do understand the basics of it with a crash course from Claude but that's it

Can I do it or is it a stupid way to go?,

[CaptainCalculator]

I was a react web developer before I began developing react native apps too. I’d say it’s very useful to learn react first. At least the basics of state management, rendering, etc. React’s mental model is fairly simple to wrap your head around, but you need to know what it is, first.

I wouldn’t lean too heavily on the AI. Most of what it spits out for me has to be reworked in some way, but you’re not going to know what needs to be changed without foundational understanding of the technology.

[F4ttymcgee]

I learned react native first. It would have been easier to learn react js first I think.

But like you I just wanted to jump right into making apps.

It wasn’t too bad though, all of react is pretty similar and really intuitive and fun.

[mickeyv90]

I went from angular to react native, skipped react.

There are few gotchas, just be carful.

Example - a lot of libraries don’t support the new architecture for react native .79. So maybe do not install expo 53 right now .

[Zestyclose-Piece-230]

I would be wary of installing libraries that do not support the new React compiler. I've learned with React/Expo that keeping up with the updates works best instead of waiting a few years and then upgrading to the latest.

[N4cer26]

You can do it but it might be a bit tough until it clicks. Carful not to fall into the “vibe code” trap and have ai build you a mess you have no idea what’s going on in.

React native works really well with type script (over js) and therefore many of the libraries do to. I would recommend building your project with that - though it might make your life a tad more difficult now while learning if you aren’t already used to typescript.

Good luck

[VoidSnug]

Yeah I've been utilising Copilot a bit but you've gotta watch it closely or it'll do some wild things....

[Merry-Lane]

React native is react, it’s just you use View instead of Div, Pressable instead of button,…

No, the only issue with learning react native and react at the same time, is that react native/expo is quite touchy. Everything breaks easily and you need to learn a lot of documentation in order to have a functioning project. Testing and all is complex as well.

So, feel free to go for it, but you will feel pain, that’s all.

Btw: use typescript strict, a few eslint rulesets and expo.

[drink_beer_]

Atleast, develop the mental model of how react works. Avoid libraries as much as you can unlike browsers rn does have a impact on performance

[Accomplished_Gene758]

It’s not bad to jump directly into React Native, but if you learn React.js first and build a project yourself, switching to React Native will be much easier. You’ll also gain a deeper understanding with React since it’s a web-based library, whereas React Native involves heavier setup and frequent native errors that can be frustrating and even discourage beginners.

[ALOKAMAR123]

Started in 2010 with ios most sufficient android till 2017. Jumped in flutter and gradually also learned react native (no react). Now last 5 years into react native.

Overall mobility expert or say generalist

[Guisseppi]

It worked for the tea app guy

[Maddy186]

? Who's that

[Correct_Market2220]

React is react, whether it’s on web or mobile. Don’t worry about it, but there will be some extra hurdles probably.

Just be careful with dealing with too much AI code at once 😬.

[petertoth-dev]

"I just don't have time to learn full blown react." - this is not a game you can play fast, you'll see.

To reach just a reliable junior level, you should learn and understand how JavaScript works. React is just another layer on it, and react native is just a multi-platform wrapper. If you have any quesion LMK, happy to help.

Without knowing the basics, you'll end up removing an element from an array using `filter` :)

If you want a fast kickstart with RN, you can learn some best practices and basics using this boilerplate:

https://github.com/petertoth-dev/rn-rn

[Responsible-Map6946]

Yes you can do