React Europe 2018
This latest edition of the React Europe took place on May 17 and 18, 2018 in Paris. Each year, this conference selects speakers from all over the world (but mainly from the US) to invite them to present their projects, and share their opinions on the present and future state of the React JS ecosystem. I would like to share with you here my opinion on the conferences I attended. The goal is to describe them in order to guide your viewing choices and allow you to discover those that will interest you the most.
A look back at the React Europe 2018 talks
Keynote, Ken Wheeler (@ken_wheeler)
If there was a keynote, it had to be this one. Ken has incredible energy, places the right valve when it matters and totally conveys his enthusiasm for the new features of React.
Look if:
- You want a light talk that changes from pure tech (but remains tech);
- You like the US of m\*therf\*ckin A;
- You need a quick update on the state of React
Don't look if:
- you don't like to laugh;
- you are super up to date on React and don't want to be presented with things that you already know.
The case for Whimsy, Josh Comeau (@joshwcomeau)
Josh takes over from Ken with a presentation of his work on React animations. With beautiful demos, it really raises awareness of the use of animations to enhance a UI and improve the UX in general. All demos are available on GitHub and some are technically well-developed, which makes them great React projects.
Look if:
- you want to discover avenues for UI/UX improvement;
- you are looking for solutions to animate your application.
Don't look if:
- you are not design sensitive (go do back-end);
- you don't want to watch a talk that's too technical.
Bridging React Native back to its roots, Vincent Riemer (@vincentriemer)
Vincent reviews react-native-web, a “native” approach to web development in React. Then he introduces his solution, react-native-dom. He hopes to make it popular to the point that it will be (one day) the reference solution for building web applications with React.
Look if:
- react-native interests you;
- you are interested in cross-platform development solutions.
Don't look if:
- you are looking for solutions that can be used now.
Up and running with Universal Components, Kurtis Kemple & Samantha Bretous (@samanthabretous) (@kurtiskemple)
Kurtis and Samantha present their approach to universal components, that is to say components that can be used on all platforms (web, mobile and even sketch). They explain why this is a great approach for bookstores as well as the benefits, risks and limitations.
Look if:
- you do cross-platform development;
- you have a designer side/you want to collaborate better with the designers of your projects;
- you would like to know more about this approach for open source libraries.
Don't look if:
- you prefer very technical conferences.
The fun or runtime type systems (or: “Funtime type systems”), Michel Weststrate (@mweststrate)
This React Europe conference was a great introduction to the runtime type system, this type checking which is done at runtime and which therefore allows things that are impossible in static typing (for example, validating the structure of a REST payload). Some very nice overviews of how to do this with flow-runtime and typescript.
Look if:
- you are interested in typing;
- you are doing typing and want to go further.
Don't look if:
- typing doesn’t interest you at all :)
A year of CodeSandbox, Ives van Hoorne (@compuives)
Ives, the author of codesandbox.io, gives feedback on his excellent online editor.
Look if:
- you want to learn a little more about codesandbox.io or appreciate the feedback;
- you are looking for inspiration for personal projects.
Don't look if:
- you are looking for solutions to your professional problems.
Immutable application architecture, Lee Byron (@leeb)
Lee gives us an excellent talk on an architecture based on immutability. A talk that echoes that of 2015 on immutable.js, it offers us elements of solutions for building robust, stable, composable and scalable applications.
Look if:
- you are interested in application architecture;
- you are looking for solutions to make your applications more robust and maintainable.
Using lit APIs to make dope games with Expo, Evan Bacon (@baconbrix)
Evan has developed an incredible number of games in react-native and published on Expo. He explains his approach to us, why react-native is a good solution for mobile gaming and gives us some interesting demos, particularly with VR.
Look if:
- you are curious to see what it is possible to do in 3D with react-native;
- you plan to develop mobile video games.
To conclude, I wanted to thank the entire React Europe team (speakers, volunteers, organizers, etc.) for these two incredible days! Well-thought-out timing, alternating speeches and coffee breaks, which allow you to take the time to meet and discuss with lots of people (even the speakers, who are open and accessible!). This event is one of those from which we emerge with a big boost of energy and motivation, which fills our heads with project ideas and leaves us enthusiastic about the future of the ecosystem.
