React Native Blog • Jun 21, 2022

React Native Version 0.69 Release

Article Summary

React Native 0.69 just dropped with React 18 support and bundled Hermes. This is the release that finally bridges the gap between React's latest features and mobile development.

The React Native team announced version 0.69, marking a major milestone with built-in React 18 support and a bundled Hermes JavaScript engine. This release focuses heavily on the New Architecture rollout while introducing several breaking changes that developers need to navigate.

Key Takeaways

First React Native release with React 18 enabled by default
Hermes now ships bundled with React Native, ending version compatibility confusion
New Architecture requires building Hermes from source on Android
React Native CLI bumped to v8.0 with link/unlink commands removed
iOS/tvOS SDK 11.0 deprecated, now requires version 12.4+

Critical Insight

React Native 0.69 brings React 18's concurrent features to mobile, but full access requires migrating to the New Architecture.

The release notes hint at why the team is pushing so hard for Hermes adoption, and it's not just about performance.

About This Article

Problem

React Native developers didn't know which versions of Hermes and React Native actually worked together. The two projects released on separate schedules, so there was no clear guidance on compatibility.

Solution

Starting with React Native 0.69, the team included a compatible version of Hermes in the release itself. This removed the need for developers to manually figure out which versions to use.

Impact

80 contributors wrote 629 commits to get this release stable. Android developers using New Architecture now have to build Hermes from source, which makes the overall development process simpler across both platforms.