For a lot of people, Android is just a mobile operating system, just like they think for iOS. Being introduced to the world for the first time in 2008, Android has received constant updates pretty consistently, which is understandable, given the high levels of features and performance it brings for users.

However, the sheer size of the codebase is pretty difficult to maintain. This issue gets easily resolved with the help of React Native framework.

React Native- A Little Introduction

Originally a JavaScript framework, React Native enables the writing and native rendering of mobile apps for Android and iOS. Proper React Native app development has been on a constant rise since it was first introduced in 2015.

Apps on React Native are written by blending Javascript and XML, which is known as JSX. As a result, you get native apps that absolutely do not compromise the user experience as well. React Native also makes the lives of developers easy- allowing them to keep a single codebase.

As a framework too, React Native has elaborate documentation and a wide community which is a great step to start with.

How do React Native Apps Work?

There are three basic threads that govern the working of React Native apps-

The UI Thread

“Have you thought of a sensational app idea, but unable to decide the right software development framework for it?” Well, this is a common issue faced by several app creators and even businesses planning to build cross-platform applications, as there are a host of outstanding frameworks to choose from.

As per the latest trends, the leading cross-platform app development frameworks are React Native and Flutter. Facebook, Bloomberg, Instagram, Myntra, Pinterest, Office365 apps, etc. are products of React Native app development while Google Ads, Alibaba, Hamilton Musical, Coach Yourself, etc. are products of Flutter app development.  Both of these frameworks are loaded with several goodies. Hence, a thorough comparative analysis of these frameworks is necessary before choosing any of these.

My article compares Flutter and React Native, weighing their upsides and downsides. Reading this article will guide you through selecting the right app development framework to shape your app idea.

React Native vs Flutter: Faceoff          

React Native, introduced by Facebook in 2015, is an open-source app development framework targeting the Web, iOS, Android, and UWP.

Google’s brainchild, Flutter came into being in 2017. It is an open-source UI toolkit for developing apps for iOS, Android, Windows, Google Fuchsia, Linux, Mac, and the web.

Let’s compare them based on the following parameters.

Programming languages used

React Native is based on JavaScript, a popular programming language. The good news is that most professional developers have experience in working with JavaScript, and so a React Native app development company can easily find the required expertise.

Flutter uses Dart, a new programming language coined by Google that is not known to many developers. However, Dart is easy to master as it enables faster compiling of the native code and allows easy customization of widgets. But, one of its major downsides is that Dart skills cannot be used for non-flutter projects.

Inference: Although Dart is developer-friendly and has an easy learning curve, React Native is preferred owing to the huge resource availability for JavaScript. However, it is advisable to try Flutter, if your development team lacks prior technical experience.

UI and UX

React Native offers the following benefits regarding the UI and UX:

• The users experience a nearly-native look and feel as the widgets and buttons appear in the form of native components. As such, even Hybrid Android and iOS apps built in React Native provide a native app experience.
• Whenever the UI of the Operating System is updated; the app components get updated simultaneously.
• The React Native Developers can choose from a wide variety of external UI kits like React Native Elements, React Native Material Kit, Native Base, etc. UI kits offered by React Native are far more in number than Flutter.
• React Native provides good support to the style components of iOS.

Flutter offers the following features for User Interface.

• Flutter uses the proprietary interactive, platform, and visual widgets that are nothing but built-in UI components. These built-in components replace native components.
• Owing to its layered architecture there is good UI flexibility. It simplifies as well as fastens the processes of rendering graphics and customizing the widgets.
• Flutter’s widgets namely Cupertino and material design allow the developers to copy platform-specific native components.
• The pixel rendering feature in Flutter helps to manage each pixel on the screen. This makes the User Interface appear the same regardless of the device on which the app is installed, thereby minimizing support woes.

Inference: React Native delivers a nearly-native UX whereas Flutter provides more flexibility for creating the UI design.

Code Styling and Structure

Flutter app development eliminates the need to separate templates, data, style, etc. It allows developers to code anything from a single centralized location and gives access to all the necessary tools. But, as of now the code-sharing functionality has been implemented for Android and iOS apps only.

React Native has a more complicated code structure as compared to Flutter but employs third-party libraries to share the code across iOS, Android, Windows, and the web.

Inference: Despite Flutter’s simple and organized code structure, React Native is one step ahead as it provides more code-sharing options, enabling developers to focus on code creation without worrying about compatibility concerns.

Performance

React Native uses JavaScript for connecting with native components through a bridge whereas Flutter eliminates the need for a bridge for interacting with native components. This speeds up the developmental process.

While architecting hybrid apps with React Native, it becomes quite complex and challenging for React Native developers to run the libraries and native components without issues. Flutter contrarily eases out things for developers as the existing code can be reused effortlessly. Also, Flutter is supported by the C++ engine which ensures better performance in the end-product.

Unlike React Native, Flutter has been compiled into the native ARM code for iOS as well as Android, and so it never encounters any performance woes.

Inference: Flutter surpasses React Native in terms of performance.

Other differences

• React Native offers APIs that support Bluetooth, Geo-location, and other features. If there is a requirement for native interfaces like Wi-Fi, NFC payments, biometrics, etc., React Native is the right choice. But it lacks the tools required to customize the graphics. Flutter, apart from easily offering various APIs, makes use of the Skia Graphics Library that processes the graphics and loads apps faster.
• Owing to the ready-to-use components, React Native involves a speedier development cycle than Flutter.
• Flutter’s documentation is well-organized, detailed, and easy to understand while React Native’s documentation is a bit disorganized.
• Hot Reloading works much faster in Flutter than in React Native.
• Flutter, being a newbie lacks the strong community support that is enjoyed by React Native.
• React Native offers lesser testing tools and depends on third-party toolsets. Flutter, on the contrary, offers a rich toolset to test apps at the widget, unit, and integration levels.

Final Verdict

Both Flutter and React Native possess specific strengths and have some drawbacks too. Therefore, the choice of framework depends on your project requirement.

In case of any assistance, contact Biz4Solutions, a leading mobile app development company, offering React Native as well as Flutter app development services. Write to us at sales.enquiry@biz4solutions.com.

To know more about our other technologies, refer to links below:

Mobile App Development Companies

Angular App Development Company

Ionic App Development Company

One of the vital segments of the React Native development is the payment integration process and this blog is all about that. 

Well, making online payments through the web or mobile apps is a common practice today. As a result, millions of apps have the payment processing feature embedded in them. Various payment gateways are used for this purpose, like PayPal, Braintree, Stripe, Expo, RazorPay, AWS Amplify, etc. to name a few. Out of these, Stripe is one of the most widely used and fastest-growing gateways. It is also being extensively used in a diverse range of React Native apps and is a preferred choice of several React Native app development services worldwide.

So let us have a glimpse at what is Stripe, its working mechanism, and the step-by-step method to integrate it in the React Native applications.

What is Stripe?

As discussed earlier, Stripe is a popular payment gateway or a payment processing platform founded in 2010. It is used by individuals or businesses- small or large, for accepting payments via credit and debit cards, recurring payments used for subscriptions, sending payouts, and also process automated clearing house (ACH) transactions. It also serves as a third-party payment processor and supports various payment methods such as Google Pay, Apple Pay, Masterpass by Mastercard, Wechat Pay, Microsoft Pay, etc.

Stripe is quite easy to integrate due to the availability of easy-to-use APIs. Also, it provides prevention from frauds, banking, and technical infrastructure, etc. that is needed for on-line payment systems operation. A large number of eCommerce solutions are using Stripe. Currently Stripe powers the payment processing for some of the well-known brands including Lyft, Pinterest, Blue Apron, Under Armour, etc.

Working Mechanism of Stripe in React Native Apps

Let us understand how Stripe works in React Native apps with a pictorial representation.

• A payment is initiated in the frontend of a React Native app. Details like card number, expiry date, CVV, etc. are sent to Stripe.
• In case of valid details, a token is sent by the Stripe server to the app.
• After this token is received on the app, payment information along with token information has to be sent to your backend server. Your backend server will communicate with the server of Stripe along with the token and payment details.
• After successful completion of payment, Stripe sends the transaction response to the backend server.
• Then the backend server sends the payment success response to the app.

Stripe and React Native development

Stripe can be implemented in the frontend of the React Native apps in two ways as mentioned below:

1. Integrating the Stripe SDK for Android or iOS
2. Using a 3rd party library like Tipsi-stripe

Both of these methods have their share of pros and cons. The Tipsi-stripe library can be easily implemented and works smoothly. But as of now, Stripe has not ‘publicly’ approved the React Native library from Tipsi. But preferring Stripe’s SDK’s is considered a smarter choice when one is looking for maximum compliance in a production environment.

How to implement Stripe?

Note: Here we have considered the Tipsi-stripe library for integration of Stripe. Also, version 0.60 of React Native was used. Also, we considered a Firebase server for the backend part.

Step 1: Creation of Stripe Developer account and getting the API keys

For creating the account, visit Stripe.com. Note that the services provided by Stripe are limited to certain countries. After account creation and registration, you will land in the Stripe Dashboard. Then go to Developer Tab > API keys for accessing the keys. Ensure that for viewing the ‘Test Data,’ you ON the toggle. All the development tasks must be carried out with ‘Test Data’.

‘Publishable key’ is used to connect the react native app with the Strive Native SDK or Tipsi-stripe library. This key is used for generating a token. ‘Secret key’ is used in the backend for the actual payment processing, where your server makes a connection with the Stripe server using this secret key. After testing the process, you may toggle to ‘Live keys.’

Step 2: Development of a React Native app for integrating Stripe

For developing a basic app, ensure that you are equipped with all the pre-requisites pertaining to the React Native’s official documentation. Now create a blank app and run it in a simulator or device. The default start screen will appear on the simulator or device. You may use the user interface of the Tipsi-stripe library because it supports all kinds of payment options viz. Google Pay, Apple Pay, etc.

Step 3: Integration of the Tipsi-stripe library for the generation of token

Install Tipsi-stripe package for integrating Stripe functionality into your react native app. Now, set up your Podfile for the integration of appropriate pods in iOS apps and then run pod install. Then set up the Xcode project, link the Tipsi-stripe package against your Xcode project, this will install all dependencies related to CocoaPods. Import the library in your app for the generation of the token. Now initialize it with the Stripe credentials which you will get from Stripe Dashboard. The Publishable key is used for generating token only. Now replace the Publishable key with your own key.

To generate the token, the ‘paymentRequestWithCardForm’ method can be used from the library. This method will open the card details Stripe form. User will receive a token from the Stripe after entering the card details in the above form.

Step 4: Creation of Firebase function or any other backend server

For completing the payment, we can create a Firebase cloud function (or any other backend server) and execute it using REST calls from your app. This function will interact with the Stripe server and successfully complete the payment. The sub-steps involved in this process are as follows:

• Create a Firebase project and cloud functions
• In the app Install Firebase tools
• Connect your React Native development environment to the Firebase console.
• Developing a Firebase function for making payment requests. This function accepts request object from the app, then sends the request of payment to the Stripe server and returns the response from Stripe to the application.
• Testing the Firebase Function internally using firebase serve, as external API calls are allowed by Firebase only for paid accounts.
• Deploying Firebase Function to live server

Step 5: Connection of the app with the deployed live Firebase server and completion of the payment

The final step involves making an HTTP call to the Firebase function and completing the payment request using the generated token. In this way, payment processing happens in the React Native apps using the Stripe gateway.

Also read our article "How to Migrate Chat Applications from Layer to Firebase?“.

Concluding Lines:

In this blog, we learned that there are two important sections in the Stripe payments- frontend for the tokenization process and backend for the payment requesting and completion. The Tipsi-stripe package is used for the frontend part and any server can be used for the backend part. We have gone through the significant steps involved in this process which will be very helpful to React Native developers and every React Native app development company aiming to design top-notch apps with a sleek payment processing feature.

We hope this blog was useful to you! Please share your thoughts in the comments section. For any other details, you may mail us at sales.enquiry@biz4solutions.com!

While developing a mobile app, start-ups have the aim of reaching a wider audience at once and building a brand out of their product. Cross-platform app development allows the building of attractive mobile apps for multiple platforms using a single code-base and enabling start-ups to reach a large market in one go. However, in the past, when companies had to build an app, the only option was to build separate apps for different platforms. React Native framework is a functional cross-platform program for developing powerful apps for both platforms- Android and iOS. It has great potential for building innovative applications for different businesses. After the tremendous success of React Native, many businesses, especially start-ups prefer this framework.

Why choose React Native mobile app development for your start-up?

As we can see, many successful names in the business world have used React Native. It has already become a winning choice of many. Have a look at the positive potentials of React Native that benefit a start-up.

Budget-friendly: Using this framework, the developers can write a single code and run it on both platforms. It makes the work smoother and faster for React Native developers. This reduces the development time by approximately 30–35%. It also reduces the cost to a great extent which is the best benefit to a start-up.

Faster time-to-market: React Native helps faster development of MVP version of the apps which is a plus point for start-ups. MVP version makes the basic product available in the market at the earliest for grabbing the attention of the investors quickly, thus giving a competitive edge to the app owners.

Better UI/UX : If compared with other frameworks like AngularJS, React Native looks like a JavaScript library and not as a framework. It provides a simplified and platform-specific user interface in mobile apps. Also, the apps are more responsive with reduced loading times. React Native uses third-party libraries for developers.

Enhanced Security: The apps built using React Native are difficult to hack. React Native uses JavaScript, which is the core programming language and the chances of errors are very less. So, these apps have high security and reliability.

Reusability of Native components: With this framework, start-ups can extend the functionalities of their apps by using native components like GPS, phone camera, maps, etc. It provides a Native UX feeling to the apps making them more useful and captivating. However, the developers should know about native development to leverage this benefit.

Availability of talented pool: As said earlier, this framework uses JavaScript, which is the most popular language. It is known to more than 67% developers, as per a survey conducted by Stack Overflow. So, there is a huge pool of talented developers available.

Stable framework with big community support: React Native is comparatively new, yet much stable framework. Thanks to Facebook and its active support. Facebook itself uses the React Native framework on Facebook and Instagram mobile apps. Their team consistently works on improving the framework. They keep introducing innovative features, new libraries and functionalities. So, with React Native mobile app development, start-ups get the support of a huge community and the chances of failure of the apps are rare.

Summary:

React Native is a promising option if you are looking for developing a cross-platform app for your start-up. You can have a great app in the market quickly and easily while being cost-effective. This framework has a vibrant ecosystem and works well in combination with other frameworks as well. It provides plenty of benefits that start-ups can leverage to get outstanding apps developed. Looking at this huge scope, many React Native app development services are popping up across the globe.

If you want to develop your React Native app contact us, Biz4Solutions, a leading React Native app development company. We have helped many of our clients- start-ups as mid-sized companies- to develop outstanding mobile apps that truly looks like Native apps.

We can help to let your start-up grow and flourish!

Contact us today!

React Native is a popular cross-platform app development framework and its scope is growing at a fast pace. It is an open-source framework used for developing powerful native-like apps. With this framework, developing mobile apps is quite faster and cost-effective. React Native mobile app development allows using the same code for both- iOS and Android platforms which saves time and efforts of the developers. So, this framework is like a blessing for start-ups, small and mid-sized companies who have tight budgets. They can reach a wider market in one go using React Native app development solutions. This framework is already a favorite choice of many successful names in the mobile industry. Bloomberg, Facebook manager, Myntra, UberEats, Instagram, Tesla, Pinterest, and a lot more have turned towards this framework for iOS and Android apps.

In the following article, we will know about the benefits of React Native and when should the companies prefer it for mobile app development.

Key Benefits React Native

• Reusability of native components like GPS, camera, maps, etc. to provide a Native UX feeling to the apps.
• Allows building a mobile applications using only Javascript.
• A plethora of ready-made solutions and libraries
• Simplified and platform-specific UI/UX
• Changes are implemented as soon as the code is saved
• Responsive mobile apps having lower loading times
• Enhanced security and reliability
• Faster development, so faster time-to-market
• Strong community support by Facebook
• Works well while used in combination with other frameworks
• Declarative coding style to simplify the coding process
• Third-party plugin support- native modules and JavaScript modules
• With so many benefits, React Native stands to be a promising solution for cross-platform app development.

When to Choose React Native for Mobile App Development

If one has to develop an app faster, React Native allows the development of MVP version of applications and brings the basic product in the market at the earliest. It not only grabs the investors’ attention quickly but also gives a rough idea about the success or failure of the app. The app owners can know in a short amount of time, whether the target audience likes the app or whether advanced features needs to be added to make it more competitive.

This is an open source framework hence anyone can use it. It makes use of native UI elements thereby giving the apps a native look and feel. It uses high-level programming language- JavaScript which reduces the chances of errors and ensures high security in the apps. So, for all scales of mobile apps, React Native is a good choice. However, it suits more to the applications that need a more sophisticated server for its computation process.

As an open-source platform, React Native has plenty of documentation available for free. Anyone in the community can use it and even share the experience with anyone in the community. So, for any doubts and queries as well, the developers can connect with the community. As a result, React Native mobile app development becomes easier and the chances of the app failure are rare. Start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and even giants can benefit profoundly from this framework.

Wrap-up:

React Native is a remarkable framework, especially for cross-platform app development. It is still growing and making advances to deliver better. It has a futuristic and flexible approach for app development projects. Hopefully, this article may have helped you to know when you should prefer this framework and solved all related queries.

Do you want to develop outstanding multi-dimensional mobile apps for your specific business needs? We can help!

Biz4Solutions is a prominent React Native app development company based in Texas. We have extensive experience in developing mobile apps using React Native. We have 9+ years of experience in providing new-age software solutions to global-level start-ups, mid-sized enterprises, etc. Our React Native app developers have the expertise to deliver top-notch mobile apps with all advanced features. We ensure that we deliver top-quality products and exceed our clients’ expectations.

Contact us to know more!