#078 - FlashList v2, Native CSS in React Native & The End of the Old Architecture

Rocket Ship

In this week’s episode, we explore major updates in the React Native ecosystem—fresh UI tools, performance boosts, and what the end of the old architecture means for developers. Plus, we dive into the debate on web vs in-app purchases and share the latest AI dev tool trends.

⚛️ React Native Radar:

• FlashList v2 – a complete ground-up rewrite for the new architecture
• Callstack Shimmer – fast, customizable shimmer effects for skeleton loading
• Rozenite – a new plugin framework for React Native DevTools
• New Expo Modules: Animated Toast, Liquid Glass View, iOS Popover Tip
• ElevenLabs React Native SDK – bring advanced AI voice features to your app
• Vercel AI SDK v5 released
• Using Expo Patch-Project for native changes
• Context Menu updates by Evan Bacon
• Native CSS support coming to Expo
• New screen transitions in React Navigation
• Discussion: Is anyone still using the React Native CLI?
• End of the old architecture – newArchEnabled=false removed in RN 0.82

🔥 Trending in Tech:

• Claude + Expo CLI integration experiments
• Flutter vs React Native – Jamon’s take on the debate
• Web vs in-app subscriptions – why web payments might cost you 6% in take-home revenue

🚀 Learn React Native: https://galaxies.dev/missions/zero-to-hero

🔥 Weekly Videos -> https://www.youtube.com/@galaxies_dev

❤️ Socials

• https://x.com/schlimmson
• https://www.tiktok.com/@simongrimm_
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/simongr

👨‍💻 Apps

• Matrix Manager: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/matrix-manager-task-manager/id6739463021
• Quick Track: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/quick-track-calorie-counter/id1669892980
• Text to Voice AI: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/text-to-voice-ai-reader/id6739965632
• Healthy Food Swap: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/healthy-food-swap/id6743627410

🔗 Links

• FlashList v2: https://shopify.engineering/flashlist-v2
• React Native Fast Shimmer: https://www.callstack.com/blog/performant-and-cross-platform-shimmers-in-react-native-apps
• Rozenite: https://www.callstack.com/blog/introducing-rozenite-a-plugin-framework-for-react-native-devtools
• Expo Liquid Glass: https://github.com/rit3zh/expo-liquid-glass-view
• ElevenLabs React Native SDK: https://x.com/ElevenLabsDevs/status/1953096060252869053
• Vercel AI SDK 5: https://vercel.com/blog/ai-sdk-5
• Expo patch-project docs: https://docs.expo.dev/config-plugins/patch-project/
• React Native Screen Transitions: https://x.com/trpfsu/status/1954010840627036600
• CSS Parsing Expo: https://x.com/Baconbrix/status/1954699574050005112
• Remove Legacy Arch: https://github.com/facebook/react-native/pull/53025