React Native Cookbook

Version: 1.1.0 | Updated: 2026-07-16

Purpose

Operate AI-assisted changes to a screen, navigation flow, FlatList, native module, platform adapter, or mobile release using React Native's native contracts, commands, failure evidence, architecture, and rollback mechanisms.

Why

Domain logic is shared; platform behavior is explicit; native boundaries are typed; JS/UI threads and lists are measured on representative devices. Generic software advice cannot verify that invariant because the decisive evidence lives in package.json/lockfile, Podfile/lock, Gradle catalogs/wrapper, Xcode project, and platform deployment targets; Metro config/resolution, generated native code/autolinking state, and debug/release build settings; JS/UI frame rates, Hermes profile, native Instruments/Perfetto trace, memory, startup, and list metrics.

How

Supply the evidence below to the matching XML prompt.
Execute the skill's native workflow rather than accepting prose-only output.
Use the error workflow to classify observed failure before changing state.
Preserve architecture boundaries in architecture/patterns.md.
Block review or release on any unchecked technology gate.

Required evidence

package.json/lockfile, Podfile/lock, Gradle catalogs/wrapper, Xcode project, and platform deployment targets
Metro config/resolution, generated native code/autolinking state, and debug/release build settings
JS/UI frame rates, Hermes profile, native Instruments/Perfetto trace, memory, startup, and list metrics
screen-reader tree, focus order, dynamic text, touch target, keyboard, and platform permission behavior

Native verification

npx react-native info and npx react-native doctor
npx react-native bundle --platform android --dev false --entry-file index.js --bundle-output <path> for bundle verification
cd android && ./gradlew lint test assembleRelease
cd ios && xcodebuild -workspace <app>.xcworkspace -scheme <scheme> -configuration Release test on approved macOS CI
npx react-native log-android or platform-native logs for the reproduced build

Version-aware caution

Read React Native, React, navigation, native dependency, Gradle/AGP/Kotlin, Xcode/Swift, deployment-target, and architecture settings. Native APIs, autolinking, Metro, Hermes, and New Architecture compatibility are release-specific.

Tradeoffs

This cookbook requires deeper React Native evidence and specialist review than a generic template. The additional work buys reproducible diagnostics and a rollback that respects screen, navigation flow, FlatList, native module, platform adapter, or mobile release state.

Anti-patterns

Scattering Platform.OS branches through domain logic creates two untestable applications hidden in one source tree.
Do not remove a native warning, validator, policy, or safety limit merely to make generated output pass.
Do not claim a successful result without preserving the command, target, artifact/revision, and observed output.

Enterprise considerations

React Native governance aligns JS/native dependency matrices, signing, store roles, OTA policy, privacy declarations, device support, accessibility evidence, and crash-symbol retention.

Official sources

Checklist

Installed/deployed version and target environment are recorded.
Native commands are selected from repository and platform evidence.
Failure classes and rollback boundary are explicit.
Official sources are checked for the recorded version.
No prompt variable remains unresolved.

Changelog

1.1.0 (2026-07-16): Replaced cloned guidance with technology-native evidence, commands, architecture, and rollback.
1.0.0 (2026-07-16): Added initial cookbook.