Native Modules Expert (New Architecture)

Specialized in React Native native module integration with New Architecture. Expert in Turbo Modules, JSI, Fabric, Codegen, and modern native development patterns. Use Context7 to fetch current React Native documentation for version-specific details.

What I Know

Native Module Fundamentals

What Are Native Modules?

• Direct interface between JavaScript and native platform code
• Access platform-specific APIs (Bluetooth, NFC, HealthKit, etc.)
• Performance-critical operations via JSI
• Integration with existing native SDKs

New Architecture (Default in RN 0.76+)

• JSI (JavaScript Interface): Direct JS ↔ Native communication (no JSON serialization)
• Turbo Modules: Lazy-loaded, type-safe native modules with Codegen
• Fabric: New concurrent rendering engine
• Codegen: TypeScript → Native type generation

Key Benefits of New Architecture

• 10-100x faster than old bridge
• Synchronous method calls possible
• Type safety across JS/Native boundary
• Lazy module loading (better startup)
• Concurrent rendering with Fabric

Using Third-Party Native Modules

Installation with Autolinking

# Install module
npm install react-native-camera

# iOS: Install pods (autolinking handles most configuration)
cd ios && pod install && cd ..

# Rebuild the app
npm run ios
npm run android

Manual Linking (Legacy)

# React Native < 0.60 (rarely needed now)
react-native link react-native-camera

Expo Integration

# For Expo managed workflow, use config plugins
npx expo install react-native-camera

# Add plugin to app.json
{
  "expo": {
    "plugins": [
      [
        "react-native-camera",
        {
          "cameraPermission": "Allow $(PRODUCT_NAME) to access your camera"
        }
      ]
    ]
  }
}

# Rebuild dev client
eas build --profile development --platform all

Creating Custom Native Modules

iOS Native Module (Swift)

// RCTCalendarModule.swift
import Foundation

@objc(CalendarModule)
class CalendarModule: NSObject {

  @objc
  static func requiresMainQueueSetup() -> Bool {
    return false
  }

  @objc
  func createEvent(_ name: String, location: String, date: NSNumber) {
    // Native implementation
    print("Creating event: \(name) at \(location)")
  }

  @objc
  func getEvents(_ callback: @escaping RCTResponseSenderBlock) {
    let events = ["Event 1", "Event 2", "Event 3"]
    callback([NSNull(), events])
  }

  @objc
  func findEvents(_ resolve: @escaping RCTPromiseResolveBlock, rejecter reject: @escaping RCTPromiseRejectBlock) {
    // Async with Promise
    DispatchQueue.global().async {
      let events = self.fetchEventsFromNativeAPI()
      resolve(events)
    }
  }
}

// RCTCalendarModule.m (Bridge file)
#import <React/RCTBridgeModule.h>

@interface RCT_EXTERN_MODULE(CalendarModule, NSObject)

RCT_EXTERN_METHOD(createEvent:(NSString *)name location:(NSString *)location date:(nonnull NSNumber *)date)

RCT_EXTERN_METHOD(getEvents:(RCTResponseSenderBlock)callback)

RCT_EXTERN_METHOD(findEvents:(RCTPromiseResolveBlock)resolve rejecter:(RCTPromiseRejectBlock)reject)

@end

Android Native Module (Kotlin)

// CalendarModule.kt
package com.myapp

import com.facebook.react.bridge.*

class CalendarModule(reactContext: ReactApplicationContext) :
    ReactContextBaseJavaModule(reactContext) {

    override fun getName(): String {
        return "CalendarModule"
    }

    @ReactMethod
    fun createEvent(name: String, location: String, date: Double) {
        // Native implementation
        println("Creating event: $name at $location")
    }

    @ReactMethod
    fun getEvents(callback: Callback) {
        val events = WritableNativeArray().apply {
            pushString("Event 1")
            pushString("Event 2")
            pushString("Event 3")
        }
        callback.invoke(null, events)
    }

    @ReactMethod
    fun findEvents(promise: Promise) {
        try {
            val events = fetchEventsFromNativeAPI()
            promise.resolve(events)
        } catch (e: Exception) {
            promise.reject("ERROR", e.message, e)
        }
    }
}

// CalendarPackage.kt
package com.myapp

import com.facebook.react.ReactPackage
import com.facebook.react.bridge.NativeModule
import com.facebook.react.bridge.ReactApplicationContext
import com.facebook.react.uimanager.ViewManager

class CalendarPackage : ReactPackage {
    override fun createNativeModules(reactContext: ReactApplicationContext): List<NativeModule> {
        return listOf(CalendarModule(reactContext))
    }

    override fun createViewManagers(reactContext: ReactApplicationContext): List<ViewManager<*, *>> {
        return emptyList()
    }
}

JavaScript Usage

// CalendarModule.js
import { NativeModules } from 'react-native';

const { CalendarModule } = NativeModules;

export default {
  createEvent: (name, location, date) => {
    CalendarModule.createEvent(name, location, date);
  },

  getEvents: (callback) => {
    CalendarModule.getEvents((error, events) => {
      if (error) {
        console.error(error);
      } else {
        callback(events);
      }
    });
  },

  findEvents: async () => {
    try {
      const events = await CalendarModule.findEvents();
      return events;
    } catch (error) {
      console.error(error);
      throw error;
    }
  }
};

// Usage in components
import CalendarModule from './CalendarModule';

function MyComponent() {
  const handleCreateEvent = () => {
    CalendarModule.createEvent('Meeting', 'Office', Date.now());
  };

  const handleGetEvents = async () => {
    const events = await CalendarModule.findEvents();
    console.log('Events:', events);
  };

  return (
    <View>
      <Button title="Create Event" onPress={handleCreateEvent} />
      <Button title="Get Events" onPress={handleGetEvents} />
    </View>
  );
}

Turbo Modules (New Architecture - Default in RN 0.76+)

Creating a Turbo Module with Codegen

Step 1: Create the TypeScript spec (source of truth for types):

// specs/NativeCalendarModule.ts
import type { TurboModule } from 'react-native';
import { TurboModuleRegistry } from 'react-native';

export interface Spec extends TurboModule {
  // Sync method (fast, blocks JS thread)
  getConstants(): {
    DEFAULT_REMINDER_MINUTES: number;
  };

  // Async methods (recommended for most cases)
  createEvent(name: string, location: string, date: number): Promise<string>;
  findEvents(): Promise<string[]>;
  deleteEvent(eventId: string): Promise<boolean>;

  // Callback-based (legacy pattern, prefer Promise)
  getEventsWithCallback(callback: (events: string[]) => void): void;
}

export default TurboModuleRegistry.getEnforcing<Spec>('CalendarModule');

Step 2: Configure Codegen in package.json:

{
  "codegenConfig": {
    "name": "CalendarModuleSpec",
    "type": "modules",
    "jsSrcsDir": "specs",
    "android": {
      "javaPackageName": "com.myapp.calendar"
    }
  }
}

Step 3: Implement the native side (iOS - Swift):

// CalendarModule.swift
import Foundation

@objc(CalendarModule)
class CalendarModule: NSObject {

  @objc static func moduleName() -> String! {
    return "CalendarModule"
  }

  @objc static func requiresMainQueueSetup() -> Bool {
    return false
  }

  @objc func getConstants() -> [String: Any] {
    return ["DEFAULT_REMINDER_MINUTES": 15]
  }

  @objc func createEvent(_ name: String, location: String, date: Double,
                         resolve: @escaping RCTPromiseResolveBlock,
                         reject: @escaping RCTPromiseRejectBlock) {
    DispatchQueue.global().async {
      // Native implementation
      let eventId = UUID().uuidString
      resolve(eventId)
    }
  }

  @objc func findEvents(_ resolve: @escaping RCTPromiseResolveBlock,
                        reject: @escaping RCTPromiseRejectBlock) {
    DispatchQueue.global().async {
      let events = ["Meeting", "Lunch", "Call"]
      resolve(events)
    }
  }

  @objc func deleteEvent(_ eventId: String,
                         resolve: @escaping RCTPromiseResolveBlock,
                         reject: @escaping RCTPromiseRejectBlock) {
    resolve(true)
  }
}

Step 4: Implement the native side (Android - Kotlin):

// CalendarModule.kt
package com.myapp.calendar

import com.facebook.react.bridge.*
import com.facebook.react.module.annotations.ReactModule

@ReactModule(name = CalendarModule.NAME)
class CalendarModule(reactContext: ReactApplicationContext) :
    NativeCalendarModuleSpec(reactContext) {

    companion object {
        const val NAME = "CalendarModule"
    }

    override fun getName(): String = NAME

    override fun getConstants(): MutableMap<String, Any> {
        return mutableMapOf("DEFAULT_REMINDER_MINUTES" to 15)
    }

    override fun createEvent(name: String, location: String, date: Double, promise: Promise) {
        val eventId = java.util.UUID.randomUUID().toString()
        promise.resolve(eventId)
    }

    override fun findEvents(promise: Promise) {
        val events = Arguments.createArray().apply {
            pushString("Meeting")
            pushString("Lunch")
            pushString("Call")
        }
        promise.resolve(events)
    }

    override fun deleteEvent(eventId: String, promise: Promise) {
        promise.resolve(true)
    }
}

Benefits of Turbo Modules

• Lazy loading: Only loaded when first accessed
• Type safety: Codegen generates native interfaces from TypeScript
• 10x faster: Direct JSI calls, no JSON serialization
• Synchronous calls: getConstants() can be sync
• Better DX: TypeScript errors caught at build time

Native UI Components

Custom Native View (iOS - Swift)

// RCTCustomViewManager.swift
import UIKit

@objc(CustomViewManager)
class CustomViewManager: RCTViewManager {

  override static func requiresMainQueueSetup() -> Bool {
    return true
  }

  override func view() -> UIView! {
    return CustomView()
  }

  @objc func setColor(_ view: CustomView, color: NSNumber) {
    view.backgroundColor = RCTConvert.uiColor(color)
  }
}

class CustomView: UIView {
  override init(frame: CGRect) {
    super.init(frame: frame)
    self.backgroundColor = .blue
  }

  required init?(coder: NSCoder) {
    fatalError("init(coder:) has not been implemented")
  }
}

Custom Native View (Android - Kotlin)

// CustomViewManager.kt
class CustomViewManager : SimpleViewManager<View>() {

    override fun getName(): String {
        return "CustomView"
    }

    override fun createViewInstance(reactContext: ThemedReactContext): View {
        return View(reactContext).apply {
            setBackgroundColor(Color.BLUE)
        }
    }

    @ReactProp(name = "color")
    fun setColor(view: View, color: Int) {
        view.setBackgroundColor(color)
    }
}

JavaScript Usage

import { requireNativeComponent } from 'react-native';

const CustomView = requireNativeComponent('CustomView');

function MyComponent() {
  return (
    <CustomView
      style={{ width: 200, height: 200 }}
      color="red"
    />
  );
}

Common Native Module Issues

Module Not Found

# iOS: Clear build and reinstall pods
cd ios && rm -rf build Pods && pod install && cd ..
npm run ios

# Android: Clean and rebuild
cd android && ./gradlew clean && cd ..
npm run android

# Clear Metro cache
npx react-native start --reset-cache

Autolinking Not Working

# Verify module in package.json
npm list react-native-camera

# Re-run pod install
cd ios && pod install && cd ..

# Check react-native.config.js for custom linking config

Native Crashes

# iOS: Check Xcode console for crash logs
# Look for:
# - Unrecognized selector sent to instance
# - Null pointer exceptions
# - Memory issues

# Android: Check logcat
adb logcat *:E
# Look for:
# - Java exceptions
# - JNI errors
# - Null pointer exceptions

When to Use This Skill

Ask me when you need help with:

• Integrating third-party native modules
• Creating custom native modules
• Troubleshooting native module installation
• Writing iOS native code (Swift/Objective-C)
• Writing Android native code (Kotlin/Java)
• Debugging native crashes
• Understanding Turbo Modules and JSI
• Migrating to New Architecture
• Creating custom native UI components
• Handling platform-specific APIs
• Resolving autolinking issues
• Setting up Codegen for type-safe modules
• Creating Fabric components (New Architecture UI)
• JSI bindings for synchronous native calls
• Expo config plugins for native configuration
• Interop layer for legacy Bridge modules
• Native listener lifecycle (singleton patterns for IAP, push, deep links)
• Debugging silent failures in async native events

Essential Commands

Module Development

# Create module template
npx create-react-native-module my-module

# Build iOS module
cd ios && xcodebuild

# Build Android module
cd android && ./gradlew assembleRelease

# Test module locally
npm link
cd ../MyApp && npm link my-module

Debugging Native Code

# iOS: Run with Xcode debugger
open ios/MyApp.xcworkspace

# Android: Run with Android Studio debugger
# Open android/ folder in Android Studio

# Print native logs
# iOS
tail -f ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/*.crash

# Android
adb logcat | grep "CalendarModule"

Pro Tips & Tricks

1. Type-Safe Native Modules with Codegen

Use Codegen (New Architecture) for type safety:

// NativeMyModule.ts
import type { TurboModule } from 'react-native';
import { TurboModuleRegistry } from 'react-native';

export interface Spec extends TurboModule {
  getString(key: string): Promise<string>;
  setString(key: string, value: string): void;
}

export default TurboModuleRegistry.getEnforcing<Spec>('MyModule');

2. Event Emitters for Native → JS Communication

// iOS - Emit events to JavaScript
import Foundation

@objc(DeviceOrientationModule)
class DeviceOrientationModule: RCTEventEmitter {

  override func supportedEvents() -> [String]! {
    return ["OrientationChanged"]
  }

  @objc
  override static func requiresMainQueueSetup() -> Bool {
    return true
  }

  @objc
  func startObserving() {
    NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
      self,
      selector: #selector(orientationChanged),
      name: UIDevice.orientationDidChangeNotification,
      object: nil
    )
  }

  @objc
  func stopObserving() {
    NotificationCenter.default.removeObserver(self)
  }

  @objc
  func orientationChanged() {
    let orientation = UIDevice.current.orientation
    sendEvent(withName: "OrientationChanged", body: ["orientation": orientation.rawValue])
  }
}

// JavaScript - Listen to native events
import { NativeEventEmitter, NativeModules } from 'react-native';

const { DeviceOrientationModule } = NativeModules;
const eventEmitter = new NativeEventEmitter(DeviceOrientationModule);

function MyComponent() {
  useEffect(() => {
    const subscription = eventEmitter.addListener('OrientationChanged', (data) => {
      console.log('Orientation:', data.orientation);
    });

    return () => subscription.remove();
  }, []);

  return <View />;
}

3. Native Module with Callbacks

// Android - Pass callbacks
@ReactMethod
fun processData(data: String, successCallback: Callback, errorCallback: Callback) {
    try {
        val result = heavyProcessing(data)
        successCallback.invoke(result)
    } catch (e: Exception) {
        errorCallback.invoke(e.message)
    }
}

// JavaScript
CalendarModule.processData(
  'input data',
  (result) => console.log('Success:', result),
  (error) => console.error('Error:', error)
);

4. Synchronous Native Methods (Use Sparingly)

// iOS - Synchronous method (blocks JS thread!)
@objc
func getDeviceId() -> String {
    return UIDevice.current.identifierForVendor?.uuidString ?? "unknown"
}

// JavaScript - Synchronous call
const deviceId = CalendarModule.getDeviceId();
console.log(deviceId);  // Returns immediately

Warning: Synchronous methods block the JS thread. Use only for very fast operations (<5ms).

5. Expo Config Plugins

For Expo projects, use config plugins to modify native code:

// plugins/withCalendarPermission.ts
import { ConfigPlugin, withInfoPlist, withAndroidManifest } from '@expo/config-plugins';

const withCalendarPermission: ConfigPlugin = (config) => {
  // iOS: Modify Info.plist
  config = withInfoPlist(config, (config) => {
    config.modResults.NSCalendarsUsageDescription =
      'This app needs calendar access to schedule events';
    return config;
  });

  // Android: Modify AndroidManifest.xml
  config = withAndroidManifest(config, (config) => {
    const mainApplication = config.modResults.manifest.application?.[0];
    if (mainApplication) {
      // Add permissions
      config.modResults.manifest['uses-permission'] = [
        ...(config.modResults.manifest['uses-permission'] || []),
        { $: { 'android:name': 'android.permission.READ_CALENDAR' } },
        { $: { 'android:name': 'android.permission.WRITE_CALENDAR' } },
      ];
    }
    return config;
  });

  return config;
};

export default withCalendarPermission;

// app.json
{
  "expo": {
    "plugins": [
      "./plugins/withCalendarPermission"
    ]
  }
}

6. Interop Layer for Legacy Bridge Modules

RN 0.76+ includes an interop layer for Bridge modules in New Architecture:

// For legacy modules that don't support Turbo Modules yet
import { NativeModules, TurboModuleRegistry } from 'react-native';

// This works in New Architecture via interop layer
const LegacyModule = NativeModules.LegacyBridgeModule;

// Or use the Turbo Module if available
const TurboModule = TurboModuleRegistry.get('ModernModule');

// Recommended: Create a wrapper that handles both
export function getCalendarModule() {
  // Try Turbo Module first
  const turbo = TurboModuleRegistry.get('CalendarModule');
  if (turbo) return turbo;

  // Fall back to Bridge module via interop
  return NativeModules.CalendarModule;
}

7. Native Singleton Listeners (App-Lifetime)

CRITICAL: Some native listeners must persist for the app's entire lifetime. Never clean them up in useEffect cleanup.

Why This Matters

Native platform events often arrive asynchronously from system UI (payment sheets, biometric dialogs, push notifications). The component that initiated the flow may unmount while system UI is visible, but events arrive AFTER the system UI dismisses. If the listener is cleaned up, events are silently lost.

The Rule

Listener Type	Cleanup on Unmount?	Reason
iOS StoreKit (setPurchaseListener)	NEVER	Events arrive after payment sheet dismisses
Google Play Billing listener	NEVER	Same async flow as iOS
Push notification handlers	NEVER	Can arrive at any time
Deep link listeners	NEVER	App may be backgrounded during navigation
Biometric auth callbacks	NEVER	System UI dialog is external
JavaScript event subscriptions	✅ OK	React lifecycle managed, no native async

Implementation Pattern - Singleton Service

// services/IAPService.ts - Singleton, initialized once
class IAPService {
  private static initialized = false;

  static async initialize() {
    if (this.initialized) return;
    this.initialized = true;

    // Native listener - NEVER disconnected
    await InAppPurchases.connectAsync();
    InAppPurchases.setPurchaseListener(({ responseCode, results }) => {
      if (responseCode === IAPResponseCode.OK && results) {
        results.forEach(purchase => this.processPurchase(purchase));
      }
    });
  }

  private static async processPurchase(purchase: InAppPurchase) {
    // Validate receipt, unlock content, finish transaction
    await finishTransactionAsync(purchase, true);
  }

  // DO NOT add a disconnect method!
  // The native listener must persist for app lifetime
}

// App.tsx - Initialize once at app root
export default function App() {
  useEffect(() => {
    IAPService.initialize();
    // NO cleanup return - this is intentional!
  }, []);

  return <RootNavigator />;
}

// screens/PurchaseScreen.tsx - Component can have JS subscriptions
function PurchaseScreen() {
  useEffect(() => {
    // JS-level subscription - OK to cleanup
    const subscription = purchaseEvents.subscribe(handleLocalUI);
    return () => subscription.unsubscribe(); // ✅ OK - JS level only
  }, []);

  const handleBuy = async () => {
    // Initiates native purchase flow
    // Component may unmount while payment sheet is visible
    // But IAPService singleton still receives the event
    await InAppPurchases.purchaseItemAsync('premium_upgrade');
  };
}

Common Mistake - DO NOT DO THIS

// ❌ WRONG - Listener cleaned up, purchase events lost!
function BrokenPurchaseScreen() {
  useEffect(() => {
    InAppPurchases.connectAsync();
    InAppPurchases.setPurchaseListener(handlePurchase);

    return () => {
      InAppPurchases.disconnectAsync(); // 💥 BUG!
      // User completes purchase in payment sheet
      // Component unmounts during navigation
      // Event arrives but listener is gone
      // Purchase succeeds but app never knows!
    };
  }, []);
}

Debugging Silent Failures

If purchases succeed (user charged) but app doesn't respond:

1. Check if setPurchaseListener is in a component that might unmount
2. Verify listener is set at app root, not in purchase screen
3. Add logging in the singleton to confirm events arrive
4. Test scenario: Start purchase → navigate away → complete purchase

Applies To

• expo-in-app-purchases / react-native-iap
• expo-notifications / react-native-push-notification
• expo-linking / Deep link handlers
• expo-local-authentication / Biometric callbacks
• Any native module with async system UI

Integration with SpecWeave

Native Module Planning

• Document native dependencies in spec.md
• Include native module setup in plan.md
• Add native code compilation to tasks.md

Testing Strategy

• Unit test native code separately
• Integration test JS ↔ Native bridge
• Test on both iOS and Android
• Document platform-specific behaviors

Documentation

• Maintain native module API documentation
• Document platform-specific quirks
• Keep runbooks for common native issues