React Native 0.87.1: Key Changes and How They Affect You
React Native 0.87.1 introduces several updates that can improve your development experience, especially if you're working with iOS apps or using the Hermes JavaScript engine. This release focuses on fixing bugs and enhancing performance, making your apps run smoother and more reliably. Let's dive into the key changes and what they mean for your projects.
What changed
This update brings a variety of improvements, particularly for iOS developers. A significant change involves SwiftPM (Swift Package Manager, a tool for managing Swift code dependencies). Now, if there's an issue with a plugin host being referenced incorrectly, SwiftPM will provide a clear error message instead of failing silently. This helps developers quickly identify and fix problems.
The Hermes JavaScript engine, which is optimized for running React Native apps, has been updated to a new version. This update aims to improve performance and compatibility, particularly for iOS builds.
For developers using animations, there are important fixes. The Animated.Value.addListener() method now correctly types its callback payload as an object containing a number, rather than any type. This change helps prevent errors in your code by ensuring that the data types are consistent.
Who is affected
If you are developing iOS apps with React Native, especially using SwiftPM for dependency management, these changes are particularly relevant. The updates to Hermes will also affect you if you rely on this JavaScript engine for your app's performance. Additionally, if your app uses complex animations, the fixes to the Animated library will help make your animations more reliable and error-free.
Practical impact
The improvements in SwiftPM make it easier to manage dependencies and avoid build failures due to misconfigurations. This means less time troubleshooting and more time developing features. The Hermes update enhances the performance of your app, particularly on iOS, which can lead to a smoother user experience and potentially better app ratings.
For animations, having correctly typed callbacks means that your code is less likely to encounter runtime errors. This results in more stable and predictable animations, which is crucial for providing a polished user interface.
Action checklist
- Review SwiftPM configurations: Ensure that all plugin hosts are correctly referenced to prevent build errors.
- Update Hermes: If you're using Hermes, update to the latest version to take advantage of performance improvements.
- Check animations: Review your use of
Animated.Value.addListener()andAnimated.event()to ensure they are correctly typed. - Test your app: After updating, thoroughly test your app on iOS devices to ensure everything works as expected.
When to ignore
If your project does not involve iOS development or you are not using the Hermes engine, you may not need to prioritize this update immediately. Similarly, if your app does not use complex animations, the fixes to the Animated library might not be critical for you. However, staying up-to-date with the latest version is generally recommended to benefit from overall improvements and bug fixes.
For developers using Good Food Pro's source code, these updates can enhance your apps' performance and reliability. If you're interested in exploring more about building apps with React Native and Expo, check out our guide on EAS Build and location tracking. To get started with our white-label solution, visit the Good Food Pro page.