React Universe Briefing

Chludziński describes React Compiler, formerly called React Forget, as a project in development for about three years and already used in Meta products such as Instagram Web and the Oculus Store. He says it delivered a further 20% performance improvement in Meta’s optimized codebase. The compiler automates memoization and can remove manual optimizations such as useCallback, useMemo, and component memoization; it works with React 19, with ways to use it with React 18.

Chludziński says most React 19 features had already appeared in Next.js Server Components or React’s canary channel. He highlights the move of those features into the release candidate as a sign they were becoming ready for wider use. He also notes that Next.js 15 released an RC using React 19 RC.

Chludziński says React Native’s New Architecture had officially entered beta, and that it would be enabled by default in React Native 0.75. He points to a merged change in the main repository and says Meta already uses the architecture internally. He also reports that the React Native core team recommends using a framework, specifically Expo, instead of Create React Native App.

Chludziński turns to newer package registries, saying npm’s age is beginning to show after about 14 years as a foundation for open source. He describes JSR, created by Node and Deno creator Ryan Dahl, as supporting TypeScript natively, using ECMAScript modules, and working across runtimes while remaining compatible with npm. He also introduces VLT, created by npm creator Isaac Z. Schlueter.

Chludziński says Callstack is organizing React Universe Conf 2024 as a successor to React Native EU, with both React Native and React topics. He estimates the program will be about 70% React Native and 30% other React subjects. He names Kent C. Dodds and Evan Bacon among the planned speakers.