I’ll be straight with you. I didn’t expect AI to creep this deep into the daily dev workflow. Not this soon, at least.
But here we are. I’ve got Copilot finishing React Native components before I finish typing the comment. That’s not exaggeration — it’s now routine.
React Native Already Changed the Game
Back in the day, mobile meant two stacks. Objective-C or Swift for iOS. Java (then Kotlin) for Android. Two teams. Double the bugs. Double the deadlines.
React Native dropped in, and suddenly, one codebase. One language. JS, JSX, platform-agnostic styling. For service providers like us offering React Native App Development Services, it cut down build times, helped startups move fast, and just made sense.
And now… AI co-pilots are pushing that even further.
The Workflow Now (Spoiler: It’s Different)
Here’s what I do now vs. a year ago.
Before:
- Think through screen layout
- Set up useState / useEffect
- Build UI
- Wire logic
- Add loader logic
- Validate inputs
- Handle API calls
- Write tests manually
Now:
- Type: // login form with validation
- Accept 80% of the AI’s suggestion
- Edit the 20% that’s awkward or unnecessary
- Done
The AI gives you the skeleton. You just skin it.
Where It Actually Saves Time
Here’s what I’ve found it helps with the most:
- Navigation stack setup (React Navigation boilerplate is tedious)
- Form validation (Yup + Formik setup gets old fast)
- Reusable UI (buttons, inputs, cards — all that basic stuff)
- API integration (fetch, axios config, retry logic)
It’s not writing your app. It’s clearing the clutter so you can.
But Let’s Be Real — It’s Not Perfect
It guesses wrong. A lot.
Sometimes it gives you lifecycle code that doesn’t even match the latest version of React Native. I’ve had it try to import deprecated methods more than once. It doesn’t always get platform-specific behavior either — for example, touch feedback differences between iOS and Android. You still have to know your stuff.
And don’t trust it with business logic. If your app has anything custom — payment flow, access control, or just unique UX — you’re better off coding that yourself.
The Human Role Is Still Critical
Honestly, I’ve become more of a code reviewer than a pure coder these days.
I still write from scratch, especially when it matters. But a lot of times, I’m shaping what the AI gives me. It’s like pair programming with a junior dev who works fast but doesn’t always understand the project.
Some people love it. Some devs hate it. I get it.
But when deadlines are tight, and the backlog’s getting heavy, that AI bump can be the difference between shipping and stalling.
For Agencies, It’s a Game-Changer
If you’re providing React Native App Development Services, AI tools change your delivery math.
Let’s say a simple MVP took four weeks before. Now? With solid prompts, good devs, and pre-built code snippets, two weeks is possible. That’s a serious edge in a competitive market.
We’re using AI for:
- Kickstarting feature branches
- Drafting unit tests
- Generating translation templates
- Even writing part of the README
It’s not always great, but it gets the ball rolling faster than before.
Some Quick Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Use it for scaffolding
- Build a prompt cheat sheet for your team
- Review every line before you merge
Don’t:
- Let it write your backend logic blindly
- Skip code reviews
- Assume it understands your app’s context
Final Thoughts
This isn’t autonomous development — not yet. But it’s a big leap from where we were two years ago.
React Native gave us platform flexibility. AI gives us workflow speed. Combined? You get more done. Simple as that.
I’m not here to hype AI as the future of dev. I’m saying it’s already part of it. Whether we like it or not.