Streamlining State Management in React Native Apps
As a developer, you’ve likely encountered the complexity of managing state across multiple components with different ancestries. Passing props to each component can quickly become a tangled mess. This is where state management libraries come in – to help you tame the chaos.
The Quest for the Perfect State Management Library
While libraries like Redux aim to solve this problem, they’re not without their flaws. The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Factors like app size, goals, and shared state all influence your choice of state management library. In this article, we’ll explore three lesser-known options – React Context API, Hookstate, and Easy-Peasy – to help you make an informed decision for your React Native apps.
Prerequisites
Before diving in, ensure you have:
- Working knowledge of React and React Native
- Node.js, npm, or Yarn installed on your machine
- XCode or Android Studio installed on your machine
- The necessary dependencies outlined in the React Native docs
Setting Up a Demo App
To demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of each library, I’ve set up a demo app on GitHub. Clone the repo, install the dependencies, and explore the branches for each library.
Managing State with React Context API
The Context API is a worthy contender, despite not being a standalone library. In the context-example branch, you’ll find a context object created using createContext from React. This object is then exported and used in the App.js file.
Pros and Cons of React Context API
- Ideal for small projects
- Doesn’t impact bundle size
- Updating large objects can get messy quickly
- May be unsuitable for large projects due to the need for multiple Providers
Hookstate: A Flexible Approach
Hookstate takes a different approach to state management, making it suitable for both small and relatively large applications. In the hookstate-example branch, you’ll find a global state created using createState and useState. Hookstate’s strength lies in its easy APIs and performant nature.
Pros and Cons of Hookstate
- Easy APIs
- Performant
- Fully typed system
- Not as well-known, with a smaller community (around 3,000 weekly downloads on npm)
Easy-Peasy: An Abstraction of Redux
Easy-Peasy is an abstraction of Redux, offering an easy API while retaining the benefits of Redux. In the easy-peasy-example branch, you’ll find a global store created using createStore. Easy-Peasy shines with its fully reactive nature and support for Redux Dev tools.
Pros and Cons of Easy-Peasy
- Fully reactive
- Built on Redux, with added benefits
- Easy APIs
- Increased bundle size, which may be a concern for some
In Summary
Each library has its strengths and weaknesses. The React Context API is ideal for small projects, while Hookstate and Easy-Peasy are better suited for larger applications. Hookstate offers easy APIs and performance, while Easy-Peasy builds upon Redux’s foundation.
Honorable Mentions
Other notable state management libraries include Mobx and Recoil.
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