React Native 0.79 marks a pivotal update in 2025, delivering notable performance enhancements and developer-focused improvements. With a focus on speed, compatibility, and modern development workflows, this release aims to streamline the experience for both new and seasoned React Native developers. Here’s a detailed look at what’s new and why it matters.
A New Pace for React Native Releases
The React Native team has accelerated its release cadence, with 0.79 being the third release of 2025-a significant uptick compared to previous years. This consistent momentum signals a renewed commitment to rapid iteration and community feedback, ensuring the framework stays relevant and robust.
Metro Bundler: Dramatic Speed Improvements
A standout feature in React Native 0.79 is the overhaul of the Metro bundler. Metro now leverages deferred hashing, which defers certain file checks during startup. This change results in over three times faster startup times, especially in large projects and monorepos. Developers benefit from reduced wait times during development and continuous integration, translating to higher productivity and a smoother workflow.
Additionally, Metro now fully supports the exports and imports fields in package.json. These features, previously introduced in earlier versions, are now stable and enabled by default. This advancement enhances compatibility with modern npm packages and allows for more organized and standards-compliant project structures.
JavaScriptCore (JSC) Moves to a Community Package
Another significant architectural change is the migration of JavaScriptCore (JSC) from React Native’s core to a dedicated community-maintained package, @react-native-community/javascriptcore. This move reduces the core’s complexity and allows JSC to be updated independently, ensuring developers have quicker access to the latest features and security updates. Developers using Hermes as their JavaScript engine remain unaffected by this transition.
Faster Android App Startup
React Native 0.79 introduces a change to how the JavaScript bundle is packaged for Android. By shipping the JS bundle uncompressed within the APK by default, Android apps now start significantly faster. Real-world results, such as Discord’s reported 400ms reduction in time-to-interactive, highlight the tangible benefits of this optimization for end-users and developers alike.
Modernized iOS Native Module Registration
For iOS developers, React Native 0.79 brings a more streamlined and Swift-compatible way to register native modules. The new approach allows modules to be registered directly within the package.json file using a modulesProvider field. This eliminates boilerplate code and simplifies the integration of Swift and Objective-C modules, making it easier to leverage native functionality in React Native projects.
Removal of Remote JS Debugging
In pursuit of a leaner and more maintainable codebase, the Remote JS Debugging feature has been removed. Developers are encouraged to adopt alternative debugging tools and practices within the React Native ecosystem, ensuring continued support and better alignment with modern development standards6.
Additional Enhancements and Bug Fixes
Beyond the headline features, React Native 0.79 includes numerous under-the-hood improvements and bug fixes across platforms:
- Animated Module: Memory optimizations and more reliable animation lifecycle handling.
- Codegen: Transition from jscodeshift to @babel/core for improved code generation.
- Dependency Updates: Upgrades to Node 20 and React DevTools for enhanced compatibility and developer tooling.
- Platform-Specific Fixes: Improved Gradle compatibility for Android and better CocoaPods integration for iOS.
Why These Changes Matter
The enhancements in React Native 0.79 are designed to create a faster, more reliable, and future-proof development environment. By focusing on performance, modularity, and modern tooling, the React Native team is empowering developers to build better apps with less friction.
Conclusion
React Native 0.79 may not introduce flashy new APIs, but its focus on speed, stability, and developer experience makes it a meaningful release. The improvements to Metro, the transition of JSC, and optimizations for Android and iOS workflows collectively ensure that React Native remains a top choice for cross-platform app development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main focus of React Native 0.79?
The primary focus is on performance improvements, better tooling, and simplifying the integration of native modules, rather than introducing new APIs.
How does Metro’s deferred hashing impact development?
Deferred hashing allows Metro to start over three times faster, reducing wait times during development and CI builds, especially for large projects.
What does the migration of JSC mean for developers?
JSC is now a community-maintained package, allowing for more frequent updates and a smaller React Native core. Hermes users are not affected.
How is Android app startup improved?
By shipping the JS bundle uncompressed in the APK, Android apps now launch faster, improving user experience and developer efficiency.
What changes have been made for iOS native modules?
Native modules can now be registered directly in the package.json file using a modulesProvider field, streamlining Swift and Objective-C integration.
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