Rocket Ship

In this conversation, Simon Grimm interviews Jamon Holmgren, co-founder of Infinite Red, discussing the evolution and advantages of React Native in mobile app development. They explore the early adoption of React Native, its comparison with Flutter, the job market for developers, and the importance of open source contributions in the tech industry. Jamon shares insights from his extensive coding experience and the strategic decisions that led Infinite Red to focus on React Native. They delve into the Ignite boilerplate for React Native development, the importance of choosing the right tech stack, and the utility of Reactotron as a developer tool.The discussion also touches on hiring trends in the React Native space, emphasizing the need for cultural fit and the unique hiring process at Infinite Red. In this conversation, Jamon and Simon discuss the importance of building a lasting company culture, essential skills for React Native developers, the significance of self-evaluation and continuous learning, effective networking and job searching strategies in tech, the future of React Native in the context of AI, and the trend towards universal applications while maintaining user experience.Learn React Native - https://galaxies.devJamon HolmgrenJamon X: https://x.com/jamonholmgrenJamon personal: https://jamon.dev/Jamon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamonholmgren/Jamon Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jamon.devLinksInfinite Red: https://infinite.red/React Native Radio: https://reactnativeradio.com/Ignite: https://github.com/infinitered/igniteReactotron: https://github.com/infinitered/reactotronTakeawaysInfinite Red was founded through collaboration in open source.React Native was chosen for its cross-platform capabilities.React Native allows for significant code reuse, often exceeding expectations.The community around React Native is a major strength.Open source contributions can accelerate product development.Companies are increasingly investing in open source for strategic benefits.The job market favors React Native developers due to its widespread use.Ignite serves as a valuable resource for React Native developers.Ignite serves as a reliable boilerplate for React Native projects.Choosing the right tech stack can simplify development processes.Reactotron offers unique features that enhance the debugging experience.The UI of Reactotron needs improvement to appeal to developers.Hiring at Infinite Red focuses on cultural fit and seniority.Self-evaluation during the hiring process is crucial for accurate assessment.The job market for React Native developers is becoming more competitive.  Building a company culture that encourages long-term relationships is crucial.Investing in employees and understanding their needs fosters loyalty.React Native developers should focus on performance and state management skills.Self-evaluation helps identify areas for improvement and training needs.Networking is essential for job searching in tech.Active engagement on social media can enhance job prospects.AI will significantly impact the future of software development.Universal applications should prioritize user experience over uniformity.Convergence of tools is beneficial, but UI patterns must remain platform-specific.Continuous learning and adaptation are key to thriving in tech.

In this conversation, Simon Grimm interviews Kim Chouard, a developer and educator, about his journey in coding, the challenges of building a multiplatform music game using React Native, and the innovative app Odisei Play that aims to help users learn to play wind instruments. Kim shares insights on the creative aspects of coding, the evolution of React Native, and the technology stack behind Odisei Play, including audio handling and pitch recognition. The discussion highlights the importance of education, creativity, and community in the tech space. In this conversation, Kim Chouard discusses the evolving landscape of development tools, particularly focusing on AI tools and their implications for new developers. He shares insights on the Expo audio package and the challenges faced in audio synchronization within applications. The discussion also delves into the use of Skia for performance optimization in React Native applications, highlighting its capabilities and the need for better documentation. Finally, Kim emphasizes the importance of a web-first approach in React Native development, advocating for a unified community that leverages the strengths of both web and mobile development.Learn React Native - https://galaxies.devKim ChouardKim X: https://x.com/KimChouardKim personal: https://chouard.kim/Kim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimchouard/LinksOdisei Music's website (creator of Odisei Play): https://odiseimusic.com/Kim AppJS Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGvhniTxpu4&ab_channel=SoftwareMansionExpo AV: https://docs.expo.dev/versions/latest/sdk/av/Chromatic: https://www.chromatic.com/Storybook: https://storybook.js.org/TakeawaysKim's mission is to leverage games for alternative education.Coding can be a creative process, not just technical.Building a music game requires precise timing and performance.React Native's rapid evolution presents both opportunities and challenges.Odisei Play aims to make learning wind instruments accessible and fun.The app combines elements of gamification and music education.Skia is crucial for the performance of the Odisei Play app.Bluetooth technology can be optimized for real-time music applications.AI tools like Cursor can enhance coding efficiency.Community support is vital for navigating the fast-paced tech landscape. AI tools can accelerate development but may lead to inconsistencies.Expo AV is the only production-ready audio library available now, although it has some limitationNew opportunities of more robust alternatives for audio handling are on the horizon (expo-audio, react-native audio, etc.)Audio synchronization remains a significant challenge in app development.Skia provides a powerful canvas for creating high-performance applications.The integration of web technologies can enhance React Native development.Community collaboration is essential for overcoming development hurdles.Real-time audio recognition is complex and requires advanced algorithms.A web-first approach can simplify the development process for React Native.The React Native community is passionate and supportive.Future advancements in 3D and game development are on the horizon.

In this conversation, Simon Grimm and Britta Evans-Fenton discuss the importance of accessibility in React Native and mobile development. Britta shares her personal journey into accessibility, motivated by her grandmother's experience with macular degeneration. They explore the definition of accessibility, the consequences of neglecting it, and the various tools and features available to enhance accessibility in mobile applications. The discussion emphasizes the need for inclusivity in technology and the potential legal implications of failing to comply with accessibility standards. In this conversation, Simon and Britta Evans-Fenton delve into the complexities of accessibility in React Native applications. They discuss the current state of accessibility resources, practical steps developers can take to improve accessibility in their apps, and the importance of community awareness. Britta emphasizes the need for a mindset shift among developers to prioritize accessibility, considering the growing number of users who will require these features in the future. The conversation also touches on potential improvements for accessibility tools and APIs in React Native.Learn React Native - https://galaxies.devBritta Evans-FentonBritta X: https://x.com/13rittaBritta LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/britta-evans-fenton/LinksAccessibility Cheat Sheet: https://scanqr.to/5e270983Crafting an Inclusive Shopify Point of Sale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoFnQQj4g1AAccessibilityInfo API: https://reactnative.dev/docs/accessibilityinfoTakeawaysAccessibility is crucial for creating inclusive technology.Personal experiences can drive a passion for accessibility.Understanding accessibility benefits everyone, not just those with disabilities.The European Accessibility Act will impose fines for non-compliance.Companies can gain customers by prioritizing accessibility.Accessibility features include screen readers and voice control.There are various layers to accessibility beyond visual impairments.Developers should be aware of both iOS and Android accessibility nuances.Using accessibility tools can enhance user experience for all.Accessibility is about removing barriers for all users. There is a lack of resources on accessibility in React Native compared to web development.Many developers do not consider accessibility because they do not have disabilities themselves.Grouping components can significantly improve accessibility for users with screen readers.Accessibility labels and roles are crucial for making interactive elements understandable.Overloading elements with unnecessary labels can confuse users, especially those with partial vision.Testing apps manually can help identify accessibility issues.Keeping labels concise is essential for effective communication with screen readers.Building a community around accessibility awareness is vital for improvement.The aging population will increasingly require accessible technology.Developers should engage with local organizations to better understand accessibility needs.

What are my top 3 libraries? Which styling solution is the best? How can we build better universal apps for web, iOS and Android? In this special Q&A episode I answered tons of your questions about the current state of React Native, Expo and the future improvements like RSC or Expo DOM components and react-strict-dom.Learn React Native - https://galaxies.devLinkshttps://docs.swmansion.com/react-native-reanimated/https://gorhom.dev/react-native-bottom-sheet/blog/bottom-sheet-v5https://zeego.dev/https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/variables/https://podcast.galaxies.dev/episodes/051-react-native-brownfield-integration-with-mariusz-staniszhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT5hQbvGRW8&ab_channel=SimonGrimmhttps://docs.expo.dev/guides/analyzing-bundles/https://docs.expo.dev/review/overview/#internal-distribution-with-eas-buildhttps://docs.expo.dev/eas-update/getting-started/#configure-the-update-channelhttps://tamagui.dev/https://onestack.dev/https://www.nativewind.dev/TakeawaysReanimated is a core library for React Native projects.TypeScript is recommended for better reliability in mobile development.Secret keys should not be stored in the app's code or .env files.Using a server to store sensitive keys is a safer approach.Integrating React Native into existing apps can be challenging but rewarding.Unistyles is a powerful styling solution for React Native.Expo is widely adopted and offers many advantages for new projects.Ejecting from Expo is no longer necessary with pre-builds.Reducing app size often involves optimizing images and assets.EAS updates can streamline workflows for larger teams.