Developing React Native TV Apps with Giovanni Laquidara | Rocket Ship 046

I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Simon Grimm about TV app development with React Native. As a developer advocate at Amazon, I shared my experience working with React Native and explained how it can be used to develop TV apps.

In our conversation, I explored the unique challenges and considerations when developing for TV:

• 10-foot UI: Users are typically three meters away from the screen, significantly impacting design decisions.

• Navigation: It needs to be easy and seamless, focusing on simplicity and avoiding complex interactions.

• Remote control interaction: This differs significantly from mobile or web apps.

Based on my experience, I recommend:

1. Focusing heavily on readability and accessibility in TV app design.

2. Carefully handling fragmentation, focus management, and performance considerations.

3. Thorough testing on various platforms.

While TV apps often focus on streaming media, there are great opportunities for educational, fitness, and gaming apps. The developer experience is continually improving, and I anticipate AI services being integrated into TV apps in the future.

Deployment to app stores follows similar processes as mobile apps, which should be familiar to many developers.

This field is evolving rapidly, and I'm thrilled to be part of it. If you're curious about TV app development with React Native, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter. I'm always happy to discuss this fascinating area of technology!