React Native 0.59 Release
Article Summary
React Native 0.59 just dropped with the biggest Android performance upgrade in years. If your app still feels sluggish compared to iOS, this changes everything.
React Native 0.59 shipped with 644 commits from 88 contributors, marking a major milestone for the framework. This release addresses long-standing performance issues on Android and introduces architectural changes to make the codebase more maintainable.
Key Takeaways
- React Hooks now available for reusing stateful logic across components
- Updated JavaScriptCore brings 64-bit support and major Android performance gains
- Inline requires feature enables faster app launches through lazy loading
- Lean Core initiative moves AsyncStorage, NetInfo, Slider to community packages
- CLI commands now run nearly instantly with improved logging
Critical Insight
React Native 0.59 closes the Android performance gap with modernized JavaScriptCore, introduces Hooks, and begins splitting the bloated core into focused community-maintained packages.
