Building a Cross-Platform, Rapid Iteration App With React-Native, Firebase, and AppCenter Code Push

A little bit of history and background …

It’s a long journey but finally our app is released on App Store (ShopperPie).

Checking the Git history, the initial commit was nailed at 2019‑06‑25. ShopperPie is a project that’s mainly done by a one person team. I have a full time job, raising two small kids so I only have maximum two hours a day to work on it. I mentioned this mainly to encourage you: If I can do it, you can do it too, and better!

OK, back to the topic of this post.

This post is to give you a brief overview of the project’s Architect. It will start with the overall design goals, and then show you the architect that satisfy those goals.

Goals

Goal 1: Cross Platform
The app will be available on both iOS and Google Play

Goal 2: Fast Iteration
Release your code and data anytime you want. With fast iteration, you don’t have to go through App submission every time you have some new features, or bug fixes.

Goal 3: Server Setup
We need services to enable storing user data, signing in users, triggering post notification, etc.

Architect

Cross Platform
From an engineering background that likes to build things from scratch, I…