React Native Roadmap 2026-W22

Implement the following React Native chunk for your mobile app:

Goal: Integrate the stable expo-ui library (Expo SDK 56) to replace a custom UI element with a native SwiftUI (iOS) / Jetpack Compose (Android) component.

Files to create or modify:

• package.json — bump expo to SDK 56, add expo-ui
• app/(tabs)/settings.tsx (or equivalent screen) — replace custom picker/bottom sheet with Expo UI component
• app.json / app.config.ts — ensure SDK 56 config

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Run npx expo install expo-ui and ensure expo is on SDK 56
2. Import the target component from expo-ui (e.g., BottomSheet, Picker, or SegmentedControl)
3. Replace the existing custom component on one screen with the Expo UI equivalent
4. Add platform-specific props where needed (iOS-specific SwiftUI styling, Android Compose theming)
5. Run npx expo run:ios and npx expo run:android to validate

Acceptance criteria checklist:

• Component renders natively (SwiftUI on iOS, Compose on Android) — verified via native inspector
• No JS-thread animation jank (check with React DevTools Profiler)
• All existing navigation and business logic on the screen still works
• No TypeScript errors or console warnings

Implement the following React Native chunk for your mobile app:

Goal: Upgrade Expo Router to v56, which decouples from React Navigation, and ensure all navigation flows work correctly.

Files to create or modify:

• package.json — upgrade expo-router to ^56.0.0
• app/_layout.tsx — apply any breaking API changes (new Stack/Tabs props, removed APIs)
• app/(tabs)/_layout.tsx — update Native Tabs configuration if changed
• Any file using useRouter, useLocalSearchParams, Link, Redirect — check for deprecated APIs

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Run npx expo install expo-router@^56 and resolve peer deps
2. Read the Expo Router v56 migration guide for breaking changes
3. Update _layout.tsx files to use new Stack/Tabs APIs if changed
4. Run npx expo run:ios and test: tab switch, stack push, modal open, deep link
5. Run npx expo run:android and verify Android toolbar (title + back navigation)
6. Test deep linking with npx uri-scheme open myapp://your-route --ios

Acceptance criteria checklist:

• All tab screens render without blank screen
• Stack navigation push/pop works correctly
• Modal opens and closes without crash
• Deep link resolves to correct screen on iOS and Android
• No navigation-related errors in Metro logs

Implement the following React Native chunk for your mobile app:

Goal: Upgrade react-native-gesture-handler to v3.0, migrate to its hook-based API, and validate all gesture interactions.

Files to create or modify:

• package.json — upgrade react-native-gesture-handler to ^3.0.0
• App.tsx or app/_layout.tsx — ensure GestureHandlerRootView wraps the root
• Any component using PanGestureHandler, TapGestureHandler, LongPressGestureHandler — migrate to hook-based API
• Any component using TouchableOpacity from gesture-handler — replace with new Touchable

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Run npx expo install react-native-gesture-handler@^3.0.0
2. Wrap your app root in <GestureHandlerRootView style={{ flex: 1 }}> if not already done
3. For each gesture handler component, migrate to the v3 hook-based API:
   • Replace <PanGestureHandler onGestureEvent={...}> with const pan = Gesture.Pan().onUpdate(...) + <GestureDetector gesture={pan}>
4. Replace deprecated Touchable* from gesture-handler with the new Touchable component
5. Test on iOS simulator: swipe list items, tap buttons, long-press menu triggers
6. Test on Android emulator: same gestures; confirm no ANR or jank

Acceptance criteria checklist:

• No DeprecationWarning in Metro logs related to gesture-handler
• Swipe-to-dismiss / swipe list actions work correctly
• Tap and long-press handlers fire at correct timing
• GestureHandlerRootView wraps the entire app
• New Architecture flag is enabled and confirmed working

Implement the following React Native chunk for your mobile app:

Goal: Upgrade react-native-reanimated to 4.4 and enable the new iOS CSS animation engine that offloads animations to Core Animation.

Files to create or modify:

• package.json — upgrade react-native-reanimated to ^4.4.0
• babel.config.js — confirm react-native-reanimated/plugin is listed
• metro.config.js — no change expected, but verify
• Any component using useAnimatedStyle, withTiming, withSpring — check for deprecated API usage
• One feature screen with a visible animation (e.g., modal slide, tab transition, card fade)

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Run npx expo install react-native-reanimated@^4.4.0
2. Check the Reanimated 4.4 changelog for opt-in flags for the iOS CSS animation engine
3. Enable the CSS animation engine in your config if it is opt-in (e.g., in app.json or via a plugin)
4. Locate 2-3 existing withTiming or withSpring animations in your app
5. Run the app on a physical iOS device
6. Open Xcode Instruments → Core Animation → record while triggering the animations
7. Compare FPS with and without the new engine enabled

Acceptance criteria checklist:

• react-native-reanimated upgraded to 4.4 without peer dependency conflicts
• Animations run at ≥60 FPS on physical iOS device (Instruments screenshot captured)
• No visual regressions on Android (test same animations on emulator)
• No new console warnings or errors related to Reanimated
• Before/after FPS comparison documented

Implement the following React Native chunk for your mobile app:

Goal: Connect a Reanimated worklet to an Expo UI native component (SwiftUI/Compose) so its state is driven synchronously without JS-thread round-trips.

Files to create or modify:

• components/NativeSlider.tsx (new file) — worklet-driven Expo UI component
• app/(tabs)/index.tsx (or equivalent) — integrate the new NativeSlider component
• package.json — confirm expo-ui and react-native-reanimated are at correct versions (SDK 56, Reanimated 4.4)

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Create components/NativeSlider.tsx:

   import { useSharedValue, runOnUI } from 'react-native-reanimated';
   import { Slider } from 'expo-ui'; // adjust import per expo-ui API
   
   export function NativeSlider() {
     const progress = useSharedValue(0);
   
     const onValueChange = (value: number) => {
       runOnUI(() => {
         'worklet';
         progress.value = value;
       })();
     };
   
     return <Slider value={progress} onValueChange={onValueChange} />;
   }
   

2. Review the Expo UI Worklets blog post for the exact API
3. Adjust the component to use the correct Expo UI worklet binding API as documented
4. Integrate <NativeSlider /> into a screen in your app
5. Test on iOS: drag slider rapidly — confirm no stutter or delay
6. Test on Android: same test — confirm Compose updates synchronously
7. Add a code comment explaining the worklet pattern for future contributors

Acceptance criteria checklist:

• Slider/control responds to input without visible lag (test by dragging rapidly)
• Worklet executes on the UI thread (log _WORKLET context inside the worklet)
• Component renders correctly on both iOS (SwiftUI) and Android (Compose)
• No JS-thread warnings or bridge overflow errors
• Code comment documents the pattern for future use