React Conf 2025 Talks, React Native 0.84 RC, and the State of RN Survey
Welcome to the second issue of React Weekly.
This week is packed with major releases and even bigger discussions. React Conf 2025 talks are finally public, giving us a front-row seat to the latest in the React Compiler and Server Components. Meanwhile, the React Native team has dropped the first Release Candidate for 0.84, signaling a massive shift: the Legacy Architecture is now removed by default on iOS. We also have a must-watch breakdown from Theo on why he migrated T3 Chat off Next.js, plus some incredible deep dives from the Expo and Software Mansion teams. Let's get into it.
📢 News
React Conf 2025 Talks Are Live
If you missed the conference, the wait is over. The official recordings from React Conf 2025 are now available on YouTube. Key highlights include deep dives into the stable release of the React Compiler, the future of Server Components, and the roadmap for React 19.x. It's the best way to catch up on the technical direction of the library for the coming year.
The first Release Candidate for React Native 0.84 is here, and it brings significant cleanup. The headline change is the removal of the Legacy Architecture by default on iOS, pushing the ecosystem firmly toward Fabric. Additionally, the minimum Node.js requirement has been bumped to v22.11, and support for C++ modules (CxxModule) has been stripped out to streamline the engine.
In this nuanced breakdown, Theo explains why T3 Chat migrated from Next.js to TanStack Start. It wasn't about the recent Vercel exploits or Next.js being bad, but rather a need for a better Single Page App (SPA) experience and tighter full-stack type safety without the server-centric routing overhead. He covers the messy hacks he used to make Next.js work like a SPA and how TanStack Start provided a cleaner, albeit still early, primitive for his specific needs.
Building an Offline-First Audio Tour App with Expo
⏱️ 11 min
A fascinating look at 'Kuratour', a GPS-powered audio tour app built entirely with Expo. This case study details how they achieved a robust offline-first architecture using `expo-sqlite` for data persistence, `expo-location` for real-time triggers, and `expo-audio` for complex layered sound orchestration—all while handling schema migrations seamlessly.
Learn how to create a stunning 'stencil' effect where a live camera feed appears only through text or shapes. This tutorial combines `expo-camera` for the feed, `@react-native-masked-view/masked-view` for the cutout geometry, and `expo-blur` to create a frosted glass overlay. A perfect example of high-end UI in React Native.
Katarzyna Smolen from Software Mansion argues that 2026 is the year the New Architecture stops being 'optional'. They predict a massive shift toward general-purpose concurrency using 'React Native Worklets' (bringing multithreading to JS) and a rise in direct C++ access via TurboModules to squeeze every ounce of performance out of mobile hardware.
The annual census of the React Native ecosystem has officially launched. This is your chance to weigh in on the libraries, frameworks, and tools that defined your 2025. From the rise of Expo Router to the adoption of NativeWind, your answers help the community understand where we are heading.
That’s it for this week! Whether you're binge-watching React Conf 2025 talks or experimenting with the new Expo Camera effects, it's a great time to be a developer. Don't forget to cast your vote in the State of React Native survey—your voice shapes the ecosystem. See you next Sunday!
