Library for web and native user interfaces
Expo
React Native Framework. Provides developer tooling that makes developing apps easier
Reasons to choose
Simplified setup and configuration:
Expo provides a pre-configured development environment, eliminating the need for complex native build setup.Rapid development:
With Expo, you can start developing immediately without dealing with Xcode or Android Studio.Flexibility:
Provides unrestricted flexibility, allowing to use any library, SDK, or custom native code while maintaining cross-platform compatibility.Built-in libraries and APIs:
Expo provides a set of pre-built, cross-platform libraries for common functionalities like camera, maps, notifications, etc. These are optimized and regularly updated.Web support:
Expo makes it easier to develop for web alongside mobile platforms, allowing you to share code between mobile and web versions of your app.
Downloads
Demonstrates clear upward trend
Showing total npm downloads for the last 6 months
mobile
React Native Reanimated
Provides a more comprehensive, low level abstraction for the Animated library API to be built on top of
Reasons to choose
Performance:
PerformanceReanimated runs animations on the native thread, resulting in smoother and more efficient animations compared to those running on the JavaScript thread.Complex animations:
It allows for more complex and fluid animations that might be difficult or impossible to achieve with React Native's built-in Animated library.Declarative API:
Reanimated provides a declarative way to define animations, making them easier to understand and maintain.Gesture handling:
It offers excellent integration with gesture handlers, allowing for interactive animations based on user input.Worklets:
Reanimated 2 introduced worklets, which are small JavaScript functions that can run on the UI thread, enabling more dynamic and responsive animations.Community and ecosystem:
Being widely adopted, it has good community support and integration with other popular React Native libraries.
Downloads
Demonstrates clear upward trend
Showing total npm downloads for the last 6 months
mobile
React Native
UI framework for building iOS and Android applications
Reasons to choose
JavaScript/React ecosystem:
React Native leverages the vast JavaScript and React ecosystem. If your team is already familiar with React for web development, the learning curve is lower.Native look and feel:
React Native uses native UI components, which can result in a more platform-native look and feel compared to some alternatives.Performance:
For many use cases, React Native offers near-native performance, especially with recent improvements like the new architecture.Community and third-party libraries:
React Native has a large, active community and a wealth of third-party libraries and tools.Corporate backing:
Developed and maintained by Facebook (Meta), which provides some assurance of long-term support and development.
Downloads
Demonstrates clear upward trend
Showing total npm downloads for the last 6 months
mobile
Modern JavaScript web frameworks
Hono
Web application framework
Reasons to choose
Edge computing focus:
Hono is specifically designed for edge computing environments, making it ideal for deploying to platforms like Cloudflare Workers, or other edge runtimes. Next.js, while it has some edge capabilities, is not primarily focused on edge computing.Lightweight and fast:
Hono is extremely lightweight and fast, with a small bundle size. This makes it particularly suitable for edge environments where resources may be more constrained.Framework agnostic:
While Next.js is tightly coupled with React, Hono is framework-agnostic. You can use it with any frontend framework or even without one, giving you more flexibility in your tech stack.Simplicity:
Hono has a simpler API and less overhead compared to Next.js. This can make it easier to learn and use, especially for smaller projects or microservices.
Downloads
Demonstrates clear upward trend
Showing total npm downloads for the last 6 months
api
framework
Utility library
Zod
TypeScript-first schema validation with static type inference.
Reasons to choose
Comprehensive Validation:
Zod supports a wide array of data types and validation rules, allowing you to define complex schemas with ease. This includes built-in support for: 1. Primitive types (string, number, boolean) 2. Complex types (objects, arrays, tuples, unions, intersections) 3.Custom validation functionsType Safety:
Zod leverages TypeScript's type system to provide static type checking. When you define a schema in Zod, it automatically infers the corresponding TypeScript type. This helps you catch potential type errors early on, leading to more robust and maintainable code.Developer-Friendly:
Zod has a clean and intuitive syntax, making it easy to read and write schemas. Its focus on developer experience makes it a joy to use, even for those new to schema validation.Error Handling:
Zod provides detailed error messages when validation fails. These messages can be customized to provide specific feedback to users or other parts of your application.Flexibility:
Zod is highly flexible and can be adapted to various use cases. You can create custom validation logic, integrate it with other libraries, and even generate documentation from your schemas.Active Community and Ecosystem:
Zod has a growing community and a well-maintained ecosystem of tools and resources. This makes it easier to find help, learn about best practices, and discover new ways to use Zod in your projects.
Downloads
Demonstrates clear upward trend
Showing total npm downloads for the last 6 months
utility
The cloud service providers are indispensable part of modern development
Cloudflare
Global cloud services provider that delivers a broad range of services
Reasons to choose
Global Edge Network:
Cloudflare has one of the largest and fastest global edge networks, which can significantly improve content delivery and application performance worldwide.Integrated Security:
Offers robust security features including DDoS protection, Web Application Firewall (WAF), and bot management integrated into their platform.Workers and Edge Computing:
Cloudflare Workers allow you to run serverless JavaScript at the edge, enabling fast, low-latency computations close to users.Cost-effectiveness:
For many use cases, Cloudflare can be more cost-effective, especially at scale, with predictable pricing models comparing to somthing like AWS or Vercel.DNS Management:
Cloudflare provides fast and reliable DNS services, which can be particularly beneficial if you're managing multiple domains.Caching and CDN:
Strong caching capabilities and CDN services are built into the platform, which can significantly improve website performance.Developer-friendly Tools:
Tools like Cloudflare Pages for static site hosting and Cloudflare R2 for object storage provide a comprehensive development ecosystem.Database Solutions:
With Cloudflare D1 (SQLite database at the edge) and Workers KV (key-value storage), Cloudflare offers unique database solutions optimized for edge computing.DDOS Protection:
Cloudflare is known for its strong DDoS protection capabilities.
cloud provider
Firebase
Google's mobile and web app development platform
Reasons to choose
Real-time database:
Firebase provides a cloud-hosted NoSQL database that syncs data in real-time across all connected clients.Authentication:
It offers easy-to-implement user authentication, including email/password, phone, and social media sign-ins.Cloud Storage:
Firebase provides secure file storage and serving for user-generated content.Cloud Functions:
Allows you to run server-side code in response to events or HTTP requests without managing servers.Analytics:
Built-in analytics help you understand user behavior and app performance.Crash reporting:
Automatically reports app crashes and errors to help you identify and fix issues quickly.Push notifications:
Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) enables easy implementation of push notifications.Performance monitoring:
Helps you gain insights into app performance and user experience.Remote Config:
Allows you to modify your app's behavior and appearance without publishing an update.Cross-platform support:
Firebase works well with both iOS and Android, making it ideal for React Native's cross-platform approach.Integration with other Google services:
Easy integration with Google Analytics, AdMob, and other Google products.
cloud provider
database
Automate your development and release process
Fastlane
Automate your development and release process
Reasons to choose
Integration with CI/CD:
Easily integrates with popular Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment tools.App store optimization:
Helps manage metadata, screenshots, and other app store assets.Code signing management:
Simplifies the complex process of code signing, especially for iOS apps.Multiple environment support:
Facilitates managing multiple environments (development, staging, production).Plugin ecosystem:
Offers a wide range of plugins to extend functionality. As an exaple you can integrate it with Firebase and leverage Fireabse Distribution for testing your mobile apps.Version control friendly:
Fastlane files can be version controlled, allowing easy tracking of deployment process changes.Reduced human error:
Automation reduces the likelihood of mistakes in repetitive tasks.Time-saving:
It significantly reduces the time spent on repetitive tasks like screenshots, code signing, and app store submissions.Automated workflows:
Fastlane automates many tedious tasks in the app development lifecycle.
tool