Rocket Ship 088 - 2025 in React Native: The Good, the Overhyped, and the Lessons Learned
2025 is coming to an end - and instead of another release recap, this episode takes a step back.
In this year-in-review, I reflect on what actually mattered in React Native in 2025:
the shifts that changed how we build apps, what was overhyped, what quietly became important, and the lessons I’m taking into 2026.
This is a calm, opinionated look at the year - from the perspective of someone building apps, teaching developers, and navigating a fast-moving ecosystem.
🧭 Topics in this episode
🔍 The big picture
- What kind of year 2025 really was for React Native
- Stability vs innovation: where the ecosystem landed
- Why this year felt different from previous “big” RN years
⚛️ What actually mattered in 2025
- Changes that genuinely affected day-to-day development
- Where complexity moved (and where it didn’t)
- What turned out to be worth learning - and what wasn’t
📉 Overhyped vs underhyped
- Things that got more attention than they deserved
- Tools and ideas that quietly proved their value
- How hype cycles affected developer decision-making
🧠 Personal lessons from the year
- What I underestimated
- Mistakes I wouldn’t repeat
- How my approach to building, teaching, and content changed
🔮 Looking ahead to 2026
- What I’m doubling down on
- What I’m deliberately saying “no” to
- Areas I’m curious about - but still skeptical
💬 Join the conversation
What was your biggest takeaway from 2025?
What do you want to leave behind - and what are you taking into 2026?
Let me know on X / LinkedIn or in the YouTube comments.
Thanks for listening - and see you in 2026 👋