Extending React Native To The Next Platform

Chien notes that React Native already supports iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS, while some community platforms had fallen behind. He argues that JSI, TurboModules, and Fabric could make out-of-tree platforms easier to build and maintain.

Chien explores whether React Native could draw its interface with Skia, as Flutter does, instead of relying on native views. His proof of concept targets only views, images, and text, avoids interaction and animation, and aims to work across platforms without patching React Native.

The prototype combines a Skia app host with a React Native instance, using libuv for its event loop and JSI to create the JavaScript runtime. Chien uses Buck for React Native and prebuilt Skia libraries generated with GN and Ninja. He adds TurboModules, including placeholder modules, so JavaScript can find the platform APIs it expects.

Chien describes setting up Fabric’s scheduler, component registry, and mounting manager, then mapping Shadow View properties and Yoga-computed layout metrics to Skia drawing commands. The demo renders a background, the React logo, and text reading “React Native loves Skia.”

The prototype lacks networking and WebSocket support, updates for changed view properties, input handling, hit testing, and animation. Chien also says Skia needs a layer system and compositor, and cautions that performance must be measured rather than inferred from Skia’s use.