How I’m learning React Native

I come from web dev, around 2–3 years of experience
Mostly React, Next.js, Node.js
Built websites, some small products, did a bit of freelance work in Spain and Azerbaijan

At some point I thought I want to build apps, not just websites,React Native felt like the most natural next step since I already knew React and JS, so I decided to start there instead of jumping straight into native iOS or Android

Right now my focus is simple, I’m building small but real things, basic app with auth, a few screens, navigation, some API calls, local storage, nothing super duper cool, just enough to understand how things actually work

A lot feels familiar coming from React, components, state, props, hooks, project structure but at the same time mobile has its own rules and that’s where I slow down and try to understand what’s different

I also use tools while learning, BlackBox helps a lot when wiring things together or checking patterns, Claude is useful for reasoning about logic, Antigravity is nice when experimenting or moving fast, I don’t blindly copy, I try to read and understand what I’m using (important!)

My plan is to get comfortable with React Native first, then later move into Swift and native iOS, I don’t see React Native as a shortcut, more like a bridge

Biggest thing I learned so far is that learning by building beats watching tutorials forever
Even if the app is messy, you learn way more by fixing your own mistakes

That’s basically my approach right now