The Last Homework Assignment

We had a choice to either play with React Native via the Expo app or revisit an old lesson plan. I did a little of both .

I downloaded the Expo app on my Google Pixel and went to this site to try and recreate the classic wood labyrinth game using the phone’s built in accelerometer. With Expo, you can drag and drop Native view elements to play around and instantly see it on your phone screen. Unfortunately I didn’t get very far. Knowing literally nothing about React Native, I found Expo not very intuitive (I don’t know why I assumed it would be). I started reading the docs just to learn about React Native and learned the following generic things:

• Unlike ReactJS, which is a library, React Native is a framework.
• React Native doesn’t need a builder like Webpack. It will theoretically come with everything you need.
• You need XCode for iOS (which I have already) or Android Studio for Android (which I don’t have even though I own a Pixel). You can run your code on a simulator or on your actual device.
• HTML isn’t a thing in React Native. Similar components are used that will eventually boil down to the code needed to run on either or both platforms. Ex: a View tag is similar to a div tag and and Text tag is similar to a p tag.
• Style sheets are created in the JavaScript, not in their own files.
• React Native is Flexbox friendly. Yay!
• React Native Navigator is similar to React Router.
• You can design an app to look differently on iOS than on Android, or you can design it to be the same. This involves possibly writing twice as much code as you prepare for each platform.
• Most developer tools will still be helpful.

While I didn’t actually build anything during this assignment, I did do a bunch of research I’ve been wanting to do on React Native, but just haven’t had time to do yet. I’m excited to learn more and try and build a small project on my own.

Part Two: Web Token Summary coming soon.