Today, we're thrilled to announce the general availability of Ionic React, a groundbreaking native React version of Ionic Framework that empowers developers to build apps for iOS, Android, Desktop, and the web as Progressive Web Apps. With one code base, standard React development patterns, and seamless integration with the react-dom library and its vast ecosystem, Ionic React revolutionizes the world of swift app development.
The Journey Begins
For those who've followed Ionic since its early days, it may come as a surprise to hear that we're now supporting more than just Angular. But why did we make this move? When we started Ionic Framework, our mission was to empower web developers to build top-quality apps using their existing skills, focused on the massive ecosystem around the web platform and web technology.
Why React?
We envisioned building rich JavaScript-powered controls that could be distributed as simple HTML tags, allowing any web developer to assemble them into an incredible app. While we were ahead of our time in terms of browser capabilities, we jumped at the opportunity to support frontend frameworks like AngularJS. Fast-forward to 2019, and the frontend ecosystem has transformed dramatically. Developers now have access to a plethora of awesome frontend framework options, with React being one of the most popular and successful.
A New Vision
We revisited our original vision and realized that building a version of Ionic Framework for React made perfect sense. With several React fans joining the Ionic team over the years (and many super-fan converts!), there was a strong desire internally to see Ionic Framework support React as well. So, we embarked on a quest to build a native React version of Ionic Framework that would delight React developers.
React Native: A Different Approach
You might wonder why we built Ionic React when React already has a great mobile option with React Native. We asked ourselves the same question and decided not to invest in something that would be an apples-to-apples comparison with React Native. Instead, we wanted to focus on technology that solves problems others aren't solving.
The Power of DOM-Native
We realized that Ionic React brought something unique to the React ecosystem – a vision for building apps using standard react-dom and leveraging decades of existing work around the browser. With installs for react-dom compared to react-native, it's clear that most React development is happening in the browser or on top of the DOM (16x more, in fact!). This confirmed our belief that "web devs wanna web dev" and take advantage of their experience and existing library of functionality.
Progressive Web Apps: The Future
Developers are increasingly interested in Progressive Web Apps, especially in the enterprise. PWAs are an afterthought in the React Native ecosystem (and not officially supported). In contrast, Ionic Framework is one of the leading PWA solutions, offering some of the best performance for PWAs in the entire web ecosystem.
Building Bridges
We heard from developers who wanted to use Ionic React in their existing React Native apps by building more screens within a native WebView frame using Capacitor. This would enable traditional web developers to work alongside native and React Native dev teams, speeding up development and fostering collaboration.
A New Era for Swift App Development
This marks the beginning of a new era for swift app development with Ionic React. With its unique approach, seamless integration with react-dom, and powerful PWA support, Ionic React is poised to revolutionize the way developers build apps for iOS, Android, Desktop, and the web.
Not Your Father's Cordova
If your experience with web-focused mobile development platforms was with Cordova, we understand if you didn't have a great time. While Ionic still supports Cordova, new Ionic apps run on an all-new cross-platform engine called Capacitor that we built in-house. Capacitor takes modern JS and browser features, making it possible to deploy one app across multiple platforms.
The Future of Swift App Development
In conclusion, Ionic React is the perfect solution for developers looking to build swift apps using their existing React skills. With its unique approach, seamless integration with react-dom, and powerful PWA support, Ionic React is poised to revolutionize the way developers build apps for iOS, Android, Desktop, and the web.