Shopify's Journey: Migrating to React Native's New Architecture

Host

Welcome back to the podcast! Today, we're diving into a fascinating topic—migrating to React Native's New Architecture. And there's no better guest than our expert, who has deep insights on the successful migration done by Shopify!

Expert

Thanks for having me! It's exciting to talk about this transition, especially since it impacts how apps are built and maintained.

Host

Absolutely! So, can you give us a little background on what React Native's New Architecture is?

Expert

Sure! React Native is a framework for building mobile applications using JavaScript and React. The New Architecture enhances performance and offers better integration with native modules, allowing developers to create more responsive and efficient apps.

Host

That sounds like a significant improvement! But it must have been a challenge for Shopify to migrate their existing apps. What was the scale of this migration?

Expert

Indeed, it was quite the undertaking! Shopify migrated two major apps—Shopify Mobile and Shopify Point of Sale—each with a complex codebase, hundreds of screens, and various custom components. They had to ensure that millions of merchants could still use these apps seamlessly.

Host

So, how did Shopify manage to keep their development velocity while migrating? That sounds tricky!

Expert

Great question! They focused on three guiding principles. First, they aimed to minimize code changes initially. The idea was to implement the New Architecture with the least disruption possible and save optimization for later.

Host

That makes sense! And what were the other two principles?

Expert

The second principle was maintaining dual architecture compatibility. This allowed developers to test both the old and new architectures simultaneously, which is crucial for catching any potential issues. Lastly, they ensured that the new architecture’s performance and stability matched or exceeded that of the old one before going live.

Host

It sounds like a well-thought-out strategy. Were there any specific challenges they faced during this process?

Expert

Definitely! One common challenge was ensuring that the new architecture didn't introduce new bugs or disrupt existing features. Shopify had to identify and solve these migration issues at scale while still pushing out weekly updates.

Host

That sounds like a massive balancing act! What lessons did they learn that could help other teams considering a similar migration?

Expert

One key lesson was the importance of incremental changes. By breaking the migration into manageable steps, they could test each one thoroughly before moving to the next. This approach helped maintain stability and performance throughout the process.

Host

Such valuable insights! It sounds like Shopify's experience can really benefit other developers. Before we wrap up, do you have any final thoughts?

Expert

Absolutely! The key takeaway is that with careful planning and a focus on maintaining existing functionality, teams can successfully migrate to new architectures without sacrificing their delivery speed.

Host

Thank you so much for sharing your expertise with us today! This has been an enlightening conversation on React Native's New Architecture.

Expert

Thank you for having me! It's been a pleasure.

Host

And thank you to our listeners for tuning in! Until next time, keep innovating!