From Basic to Full-Stack: My React Native Journey Continues

previous article : https://peerlist.io/shivank100/articles/react-to-react-native
After my initial foray into React Native with a simple search/filter app and minimalist app, I've taken a significant leap forward by building a full-stack Form Builder application. This project has not only deepened my understanding of React Native but also introduced me to the complexities of building a production-ready mobile application.

The Project: Form Builder Mobile App

My second React Native project is a comprehensive form builder that allows users to create, manage, and collect responses to custom forms. Think of it as a mobile-first Google Forms alternative. The app supports multiple question types (Text, Checkbox, and Grid), image uploads, and response collection.

Key Technical Learnings

1. Authentication & State Management

Unlike my first project, this one required user authentication. I learned to:

• - Implement JWT-based authentication

• - Use AsyncStorage for persistent login

• - Handle secure token management

• - Manage global auth state
  

2. Navigation Evolution

From my basic understanding of navigation, I progressed to:

const Stack = createStackNavigator();

export default function AppNavigator() {

  return (

    <NavigationContainer>

      <Stack.Navigator>

        <Stack.Screen name="Auth" component={AuthScreen} />

        <Stack.Screen name="Home" component={HomeScreen} />

        {/* More screens */}

      </Stack.Navigator>

    </NavigationContainer>

  );

}

3. UI Component Libraries

While my first project used basic styling, this one leveraged React Native Paper:

• - Pre-built components saved development time

• - Consistent theming across the app

• - Better user experience with material design

4. Backend Integration

The biggest leap from my first project was building a full backend:

• - Express.js server with TypeScript

• - MongoDB for data persistence

• - RESTful API design

• - Proper error handling
  

Challenges & Solutions

1. Image Handling: Unlike web, mobile image handling required special consideration:

const selectImage = async () => {

  const result = await ImagePicker.launchImageLibrary({

    mediaType: 'photo',

    quality: 0.8,

  });

 //rest of my code

};

2. Form State Management: Complex form state required careful planning:

const [form, setForm] = useState({

  title: '',

  questions: [],

  responses: [],

});

3. Response Collection: Implementing real-time form submission and response collection was challenging but rewarding.

Technical Growth

Comparing this project to my first React Native app shows significant progress:

First Project:

• - Basic UI components

• - Single screen

• - Local state management

• - No backend integration

Current Project:

• - Complex UI with multiple question types

• - Multi-screen navigation

• - Full authentication flow

• - Backend API integration

• - Image upload capability

• - Response management

Key Takeaways

1. TypeScript Integration: Using TypeScript from the start made the codebase more maintainable:

interface Question {

  id: string;

  type: 'text' | 'checkbox' | 'grid';

  title: string;

  required: boolean;

}

2. Component Organization: Better structure for reusable components:

src/

├── components/

│ ├── FormBuilder/

│ └── common/

├── screens/

└── services/

3. API Integration: Learned to properly structure API calls and handle responses:

const api = axios.create({

  baseURL: API_URL,

  headers: {

    'Content-Type': 'application/json',

  },

});

Looking Forward

This project has given me confidence in building full-stack mobile applications. The jump from a simple search filter to a complete form builder with backend integration shows significant progress in my React Native journey.

Next steps include:

- Implementing link sharing feature

- Exploring native module integration

- Performance optimization

The transition from web to mobile development continues to be exciting, with each project bringing new challenges and learning opportunities. If you're on a similar journey, remember that complexity is best tackled one feature at a time.

Frontend github : https://github.com/shivankkunwar/formGenius-native2

backend : https://github.com/shivankkunwar/FormGenius-backend


Demo:

I'm actively seeking SDE 1 positions!
Check out my portfolio showcasing my projects and skills: https://portfolio-shivank.vercel.app.
If you know of any opportunities, please feel free to reach out or share!