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From React Native Nightmares to .NET MAUI Success: Why I Abandoned React Native and Never Looked Back

September 13, 2025Bobby Jose10 min read
React Native
.NET MAUI
Mobile Development
Cross-Platform
C#
TypeScript
Framework Migration

A brutally honest account of why React Native 0.76+ broke my development workflow and how .NET MAUI saved my mobile project

The Promise vs. The Reality

When I started building the mobile app for Glucoplate, a nutrition tracking and meal planning platform, React Native seemed like the obvious choice:

The Promise:

  • Write once, run everywhere
  • Large community and ecosystem
  • Facebook's backing and "production-ready" claims
  • Familiar JavaScript/TypeScript development
  • Hot reloading for fast iteration

The Reality:

  • Critical build system failures in "stable" releases
  • Framework debugging instead of feature development
  • Wasted engineering hours on tooling issues
  • Unreliable development experience

The React Native Disaster: A Timeline

Day 1: The Setup

I started with React Native 0.82.0, following all the best practices:

npx react-native@latest init GlucoplateSimple

Initial setup looked promising:

  • TypeScript configuration
  • React Navigation v7 integration
  • Firebase authentication setup
  • Modern state management with Zustand

Day 2: The First Red Flag

Android builds started failing with cryptic native library errors:

java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError: dlopen failed:
library "libreact_featureflagsjni.so" not found

"No problem," I thought. "Just a configuration issue I'll figure out."

Looking back, this was probably my first mistake - assuming I could quickly diagnose and fix what might have been a complex React Native setup issue without deep framework knowledge.

Day 3-5: The Debugging Spiral

I tried everything the community suggested:

  1. Version Downgrades: Tested 0.81.1, 0.80.2, 0.82.0-rc.1

    • Result: Same crash across all versions

  2. Architecture Changes: Disabled New Architecture completely

    • Result: No improvement

  3. Clean Builds: Multiple gradle clean, cache clearing, node_modules deletion

    • Result: Build succeeded, app still crashed

  4. Library Replacements: Replaced MMKV with AsyncStorage

    • Result: Different error, same fundamental issue

  5. Native Code Fixes: Added missing MainApplication.kt, fixed registration

    • Result: Build improvements, but core crash persisted

Day 6: The Realization

After diving deep into the APK analysis, I discovered the brutal truth:

React Native's build system simply doesn't compile the required native libraries.

The APK contained:

  • libreactnative.so
  • libhermesvm.so
  • libreact_featureflagsjni.so (MISSING!)

This wasn't a configuration issue. This was either a fundamental framework bug affecting React Native's core feature flags system, or there was some critical setup step I was missing as a React Native newcomer.

The Breaking Point: Framework vs. Product Development

Here's what my git history looked like during the React Native phase:

8ea2fc5 Attempted React Native setup - Failed due to RN build issues
be874e4 feat: implement Firebase authentication for React Native app
68e7169 Initial commit: React Native 0.82.0 with basic navigation

Notice something? More commits about fixing React Native than building features.

I was spending 80% of my time fighting the framework instead of delivering value to users. As a React Native beginner, I couldn't tell if this was normal or if I was missing something fundamental. That's when I made the hard decision:

d7642ad Clean slate: Remove all React Native code, preserve documentation

Reason: React Native 0.76+ has critical build system bugs preventing
basic functionality. See docs/legacy-react-native/RN_FAILURE_ANALYSIS.md

Enter .NET MAUI: A Breath of Fresh Air

After the React Native disaster, I evaluated several alternatives:

FrameworkProsConsDecision
FlutterStable, great performanceDart learning curve, larger binariesMaybe
Native (Swift/Kotlin)Ultimate control2x development effortToo expensive
.NET MAUIC# expertise, Microsoft backingNewer frameworkCHOSEN

I chose .NET MAUI because:

  1. Familiar Territory: My backend is already .NET 9, so I had existing knowledge to lean on
  2. Shared Code: DTOs and business logic can be shared
  3. Enterprise Support: Microsoft's long-term commitment
  4. Mature Ecosystem: NuGet packages and tooling I already understood

.NET MAUI Implementation: Night and Day Difference

Setup Experience

dotnet new maui -n Glucoplate.Mobile
dotnet build
dotnet run

It just worked. No cryptic native library errors, no build system debugging, no version incompatibilities. Of course, this could partly be because I was more comfortable in the .NET ecosystem, but the difference in initial setup experience was night and day.

Architecture That Makes Sense

// Clean dependency injection
builder.Services.AddSingleton<IAuthenticationService, FirebaseAuthenticationService>();
builder.Services.AddHttpClient<IApiService, ApiService>();

// Shared DTOs with backend
public class MealDto
{
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public List<IngredientDto> Ingredients { get; set; }
}

// Platform-specific services when needed
#if ANDROID
    builder.Services.AddSingleton<IPlatformService, AndroidPlatformService>();
#elif IOS
    builder.Services.AddSingleton<IPlatformService, IosPlatformService>();
#endif

Firebase Integration: REST API > Native SDKs

Instead of wrestling with native Firebase SDKs that have limited MAUI support, I used Firebase's REST API:

public async Task<AuthResult> SignInWithEmailAsync(string email, string password)
{
    var request = new
    {
        email,
        password,
        returnSecureToken = true
    };

    var response = await _httpClient.PostAsJsonAsync(
        $"https://identitytoolkit.googleapis.com/v1/accounts:signInWithPassword?key={_apiKey}",
        request);

    // Clean, predictable, testable
    return await response.Content.ReadFromJsonAsync<AuthResult>();
}

Benefits:

  • Works across all MAUI platforms
  • No native binding issues
  • Official Firebase endpoints
  • Easy to test and mock
  • No dependency on third-party packages

The Results: Productivity Restored

React Native Phase (Days 1-6)

Lines of business logic: ~200
Lines of build configuration: ~500
Framework debugging hours: 40+
Working features: 0

.NET MAUI Phase (Days 1-3)

Lines of business logic: ~2000
Lines of build configuration: ~50
Framework debugging hours: 0
Working features: Complete authentication system

What I Built in 3 Days with MAUI

  1. Complete Authentication System

    • Email/password sign up/sign in
    • Firebase REST API integration
    • Secure token storage
    • Auto-refresh mechanism
    • Cross-platform secure storage

  2. Robust Architecture

    • MVVM with CommunityToolkit
    • Dependency injection
    • Centralized JSON serialization
    • Platform-specific services

  3. Production-Ready Features

    • Error handling and user feedback
    • Offline token persistence
    • Background token refresh
    • User state management

All without a single framework-related bug or build issue.

Technical Deep Dive: What Made MAUI Better

1. Mature Build System

MAUI leverages MSBuild, which has decades of battle-testing:

<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
    <PropertyGroup>
        <TargetFrameworks>net9.0-android;net9.0-ios</TargetFrameworks>
        <UseMaui>true</UseMaui>
    </PropertyGroup>
</Project>

No Gradle/Xcode integration issues, no missing native libraries, no build system mysteries.

2. Type Safety Everywhere

C# provides compile-time safety that JavaScript can't match:

// This catches errors at compile time, not runtime
public async Task<AuthResult> SignIn(string email, string password)
{
    if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(email)) // Compiler helps here
        throw new ArgumentException(nameof(email));

    return await _authService.SignInAsync(email, password);
}

3. Shared Business Logic

My DTOs and models are shared with the .NET backend:

// In Shared project - used by both mobile and backend
public class UserProfileDto
{
    public string UserId { get; set; }
    public string Email { get; set; }
    public NutritionGoals Goals { get; set; }
}

4. Enterprise-Grade Tooling

  • Visual Studio/VS Code integration
  • NuGet package management
  • Azure DevOps CI/CD
  • Application Insights monitoring

The Harsh Truth About React Native

Why RN 0.76+ Is Broken

The core issue is React Native's build system fragmentation:

  1. New Architecture Transition: The move to Fabric/TurboModules broke fundamental systems
  2. CMake Integration: Native library compilation is unreliable
  3. Version Chaos: "Stable" releases have critical bugs
  4. Ecosystem Lag: Third-party packages can't keep up with breaking changes

The Cost of "Free" Frameworks

React Native seemed free, but the hidden costs were enormous:

  • Developer Time: 40+ hours debugging instead of building features
  • Opportunity Cost: Delayed product delivery
  • Team Morale: Frustrating development experience
  • Technical Debt: Workarounds and hacks accumulate

Migration Strategy: From RN to MAUI

If you're considering a similar migration, here's my approach:

1. Preserve What Worked

# I saved all RN documentation and analysis
git mv src/ docs/legacy-react-native/

2. Start Fresh

Don't try to port RN code directly. Rebuild with MAUI patterns:

// MAUI way - much cleaner
[ObservableProperty]
private string email = string.Empty;

[ObservableProperty]
private bool isLoading;

[RelayCommand]
private async Task SignIn()
{
    IsLoading = true;
    var result = await _authService.SignInAsync(Email, Password);
    IsLoading = false;
}

3. API-First Approach

Design services that work with any UI framework:

public interface IAuthenticationService
{
    Task<AuthResult> SignInAsync(string email, string password);
    Task<bool> IsAuthenticatedAsync();
    event EventHandler<AuthStateChangedEventArgs> AuthStateChanged;
}

Lessons Learned: Framework Selection in 2024

Red Flags to Watch For

  • Version Chaos: Major versions with breaking changes every few months
  • Build System Complexity: Multiple interconnected build tools
  • Native Binding Dependencies: Heavy reliance on third-party native bridges
  • Community Solutions for Framework Bugs: When basic functionality requires workarounds

Green Flags That Matter

  • Stable Build System: Consistent, reliable compilation
  • Enterprise Backing: Long-term support and roadmap
  • Mature Tooling: Established development environment
  • Clear Upgrade Path: Predictable migration between versions

The .NET MAUI Advantage: Why It's My Current Choice

Technical Benefits

  1. Single Codebase: True cross-platform with platform-specific customization
  2. Performance: Compiled code vs. interpreted JavaScript
  3. Ecosystem Integration: Seamless .NET package ecosystem
  4. Debugging: Full debugging support across platforms

Business Benefits

  1. Faster Development: More time building features, less time fixing frameworks
  2. Team Efficiency: Shared knowledge between mobile and backend teams
  3. Lower Risk: Microsoft's enterprise commitment reduces abandonment risk
  4. Better Quality: Compile-time error catching prevents runtime crashes

What's Coming Next

My MAUI roadmap includes:

  • Real-time sync with SignalR
  • Native platform features (HealthKit, Google Fit)
  • Custom UI controls with handlers
  • Advanced analytics with Application Insights

Final Thoughts: Choosing Battles Wisely

As developers, we face this choice constantly: fight the framework or build the product.

React Native forced me to become a framework expert when I wanted to be a product builder. .NET MAUI let me get back to what matters: delivering value to users.

For Teams Considering React Native

  • Avoid versions 0.76+ until critical bugs are fixed
  • Budget extra time for framework debugging
  • Have a backup plan for when builds break

For Teams Considering .NET MAUI

  • Start with a simple project to validate your use case
  • Leverage existing .NET knowledge on your team
  • Use REST APIs instead of native SDK bindings when possible

The Real Lesson: Know Your Strengths

Don't underestimate familiarity. My existing C# and .NET knowledge made MAUI feel natural, while React Native's ecosystem was completely foreign to me. What seemed like framework issues might have been knowledge gaps.

Beware frameworks in heavy transition. React Native's new architecture promises better performance but comes with significant instability during the transition period - especially challenging for newcomers.

Consider your learning curve. When you're already fighting unfamiliar concepts, adding build system problems becomes overwhelming.

React Native promised "learn once, write anywhere." For me, as a beginner, it became "debug everywhere, learn nothing."

With .NET MAUI, I finally got to focus on writing business logic instead of fighting build systems. Maybe some of this was my inexperience with React Native. Maybe it was my C# background making MAUI easier. But after the switch, I felt like I was building a product again, not just wrestling with tools.

My takeaway isn't that React Native is universally bad or MAUI is universally better. As a new mobile developer, I learned that picking a framework that aligns with your existing knowledge can make the difference between productive development and endless frustration.

Appendix: Technical Specifications

React Native Configuration (Failed)

{
  "react-native": "0.82.0-rc.1",
  "react": "19.1.1",
  "@react-navigation/native": "^7.0.0",
  "zustand": "^5.0.0",
  "react-native-mmkv": "^3.0.0"
}

.NET MAUI Configuration (Success)

<PackageReference Include="CommunityToolkit.Maui" Version="12.2.0" />
<PackageReference Include="CommunityToolkit.Mvvm" Version="8.4.0" />
<PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Http" Version="9.0.9" />
<PackageReference Include="System.IdentityModel.Tokens.Jwt" Version="8.14.0" />

Development Environment

  • OS: macOS 14.6 (Apple Silicon)
  • IDE: Visual Studio Code + C# DevKit
  • Android: API 34, Android Studio Koala
  • iOS: Xcode 15.4, iOS 17 Simulator
  • .NET: 9.0.0

This post reflects my personal experience as a developer new to mobile frameworks. Your mileage may vary, especially if you have deep React Native expertise. The goal is to share honest lessons learned, not to declare framework wars.