Don’t Be That Developer: 7 Must-Follow Resources for Every React Native Developer

Once upon a time, there was a brilliant developer who was intelligent, respected, and successful. He was living the dream: a growing team, a boss who constantly praised him, and a project that kept getting better and better.

Everything was going great… until it wasn't.

He stopped getting promoted.

His inbox dried up, with no job offers and no collaboration requests.

One by one, his team members moved on. And there he was alone, overwhelmed, and out of sync with the world he once ruled.

What went wrong?

He didn't keep up.

That's all it took. He failed to stay current with industry trends, missed out on new tools and technologies, and didn't adapt to changes. Slowly but surely, the tech world moved on without him.

Think of it like building apps with React Native 0.52 while the rest of the ecosystem is sprinting ahead with the latest version and new architecture. Not good, right?

Don't let that be your story.

So, to help you (and your team) stay sharp, here are seven invaluable resources every React Native developer should be following:

1. App.js Conference

Hosted in Kraków, Poland, App.js is a React Native and Expo-centric conference organized by Software Mansion. It brings together hundreds of mobile developers from around the globe for in-depth discussions on modern mobile development, and, of course, lavish after-parties.

With over 20 talks from top minds in the React Native space, the event strikes a balance between code-heavy sessions and practical advice. It also changed how many experienced developers view Expo, not just for beginners anymore! The platform has evolved, and this event showcases just how production-ready Expo has become.

2. React Working Groups on GitHub

GitHub isn't just for commits and PRs; it's also where the future of React Native is discussed in the open.

Two repositories you must keep an eye on:

React-native-releases – Tracks the progress and planning behind each release.

React-native-new-architecture – A discussion hub for Fabric, TurboModules, and the architectural shifts shaping tomorrow's apps.

Following these groups helps you anticipate changes early. If you're partnering with a React Native app development company, make sure they're actively tracking these updates to future-proof your product.

Visit the Discussions tab regularly to gain early insights into what's next and how others in the community are preparing.

3. React Native EU Conference

Europe's largest React Native conference is packed with community, learning, and practical takeaways. Hosted annually in September, React Native EU invites engineers from notable companies, including Meta, Microsoft, Stripe, and Shopify.

Whether you attend virtually or in person, you'll walk away with strategies, tools, and inspiration to build better mobile apps.

And yes, it's easily one of the smoothest online tech events I've ever joined.

4. React Native Radio Podcast

If podcasts are your jam, React Native Radio should be in your playlist.

With weekly episodes covering workflows, recent updates, ecosystem news, and cross-platform comparisons (hello, Flutter), this podcast delivers value with a healthy dose of humor. It's educational, honest, and fun to listen to.

5. The React Native Newsletter

Short on time? This bi-weekly newsletter is your best friend.

With over 12,000 subscribers, it curates the top news, tutorials, updates, and libraries in one place. It's the one newsletter I never skip, because it filters the noise and delivers only what matters to active React Native developers.

If you're overwhelmed by how fast things move, this is your anchor.

6. The React Native Show Podcast

Hosted by Mike Grabowski (@grabbou) and Łukasz Chludziński, this podcast dives deep into library updates, open-source tooling, and behind-the-scenes stories from React Native maintainers and creators.

Guests often include engineers from Meta, Microsoft, and major startups. If you want to hear what shapes the decisions behind React Native's roadmap and how to use those insights to your advantage, this one's for you.

Now that you're staying informed, take your React Native app to the next level with these performance-boosting strategies.

7. William Candillon – YouTube Channel

If you've ever wondered, "Can it be done in React Native?" William Candillon likely has an answer for you.

His video series demonstrates complex animations, fluid UI patterns, and custom components that push the boundaries of what's possible in React Native. Beyond building beautiful apps, he explains the why and how behind every interaction.

It's visual, educational, and a great resource to elevate your frontend skills.

Final Thoughts

The React Native ecosystem evolves quickly, and so should you.

Staying current doesn't mean knowing everything. It means having the right go-to sources and making learning a habit.

These seven resources have personally helped us grow as developers, build better apps, and connect with the broader mobile dev community.

How about you? What's your favourite React Native resource? Let's keep the list growing.