Sunday 16 December 2018

Ways to build dynamic mobile apps with React Native and WordPress

It’s really very much clear that anyone on earth who thinks about being an app developer transitioning right from a web developer thinks of learning SWIFT for iOS app development for sure. If not iPhone app developer, then Android development needs you to learn Javascript for creating apps for Android platform. 

Did you know that you don’t need to be experts in Java or Android to build cross-platform apps?

This blog article will definitely take you by surprise when you will come to know that building apps is so much easier than you think. No need to be proficient in different coding languages such as SWIFT or Javascript to create apps. Now, it’s possible to utilise WooCommerce by WordPress along with native app development process to give rise to a dynamic cross-platform app

Quite surprised and excited as well?

Without any further ado, let’s jump onto the steps and what the web developer need to consider to build apps with all the amazing features and functionalities. But, before that let’s have a look at how the apps in the earlier times looked like. 

How did earlier apps looked like and the advancements?

The apps we see today are quite very much different from what the apps in the earlier days looked like! 

If you know a little bit about the apps in the initial days, you must know that the apps looked like as if those were just the smartphone versions of the websites as if the desktop versions were squeezed to a small space thus, making the layout and navigation experiences beyond pathetic. If you know about the cons of the cross-platform apps, it would be worthy to mention here that the UI experiences in cross-platform apps are not as smooth as in the native apps.   

The apps we see today are really easy and effortless to use without having to struggle with the layout of the app or design or navigation and just every kind of movement in the app is so flawless. The designs are so modern and sleek and flat. No extras no fancy designs at all! Thus, if you know a web developer who wants to be an app developer as well, do tell them it’s possible as we are going to discuss below. React Native came to the scene in the year of 2015 when it came out of the favorite of the app developers- Javascript library which enabled the mobile app developers to create some really robust and dynamic apps within a matter of few days.

REST API released in 2016 lets you create apps same as websites:

In late 2016, WordPress released the much awaited REST API to its core, and the solutions opened the door to many new opportunities especially for every web developer out there who wanted to turn his face towards the app development world.  

If you already have a WordPress and WooCommerce site and want to keep exactly the same product and user profile on your site or in the first created application, this article is suitable for you!

Using Ubuntu with Apache and WordPress Development server:

WooCommerce when used with React Native can let any web developer create some really amazing apps that would bring joy on the faces of the app users for sure. 

Prerequisites of creating apps: 

● At least for beginner level you should be familiar with various WordPress APIs.

● You are familiar with React  basics.

● The WordPress development server should be ready. You may be using Ubuntu in Apache.

● You should be able to test it on Android or iOS using Expo.

Steps to take forward with development of mobile apps are as following:

We start building applications in the official documentation of React Native. To install globally, open the command prompt for the development environment after the installation node, create a response to the native application and restart it by entering the following command:

This creates a new React Native project that you can test through Expo.
Next, you need to install the Expo application on the mobile device you want to test. It works with iOS and Android.

After you install Expo, you can run the npm start development tool.

How to deal with cd react-native-woocommerce-store?
        
Next, scan the QR code from the Expo application or enter the URL you specified in the app search bar. This will run the baseline "Hello World" application on your mobile device. By editing App.js you can now change the current application of your mobile phone instantly.

You can also run an application using an emulator. Because of its shortness and precision, we suggest it run on real equipment. Then use the following command to install all packages that require your app.

Setting up a robust WordPress site:

This article describes how to create React Native, so we do not intend to discuss in detail how to create a WordPress site. Since Woocommerce REST API requires HTTPS, set HTTPS using Let's Encrypt. See the instructions in this article.

What are Constant Files?

To download items through the Woocommerce REST API, you must use the application keys. To do this, you can create a constans.js file.

Conclusion:

In this article, we gave an overview and hints on how is it possible for every web developer to create an app on the same lines as a WordPress website.