Project Report: Build a Full Stack React Native App
Prepared by: Ayoub Oubouh
Date: April 18, 2025
1. Introduction
The "Build a Full Stack React Native App" project is a comprehensive mobile application
development initiative that combines React Native for the frontend with a Node.js backend
(or Firebase) to create a fully functional cross-platform app. This project enhances skills in
full-stack development, API integration, state management, and deployment strategies.
Objectives:
• Develop a cross-platform mobile app (iOS & Android) using React Native.
• Build a scalable backend with Node.js, Express, and MongoDB (or Firebase).
• Implement user authentication (JWT or Firebase Auth).
• Ensure real-time data synchronization between frontend and backend.
• Deploy the app for testing and production.
2. Technologies Used
Frontend (React Native)
• React Native – Core framework for mobile app development.
• React Navigation – For seamless screen transitions.
• State Management – Redux Toolkit or Context API.
• UI Components – NativeBase, React Native Paper, or custom designs.
• Axios/Fetch – For API communication.
Backend (Server & Database)
• Node.js & Express – Backend server setup.
• MongoDB (NoSQL) / PostgreSQL (SQL) – Database management.
• Firebase (Optional) – For authentication and real-time database.
• JWT (JSON Web Tokens) – Secure user authentication.
Development & Deployment Tools
• Expo – For rapid prototyping and testing.
• Postman/Insomnia – API testing.
• Git & GitHub – Version control.
• Heroku/AWS/Firebase – Backend deployment.
• Google Play Store / Apple App Store – App deployment.
3. Project Implementation
Phase 1: Setup & Initialization
Frontend Setup:
• Initialize React Native project:
npx react-native init FullStackApp
• Install dependencies (Navigation, Axios, Redux).
Backend Setup:
• Create a Node.js server:
npm init -y
npm install express mongoose cors jsonwebtoken bcrypt
• Set up MongoDB Atlas (or Firebase Firestore).
Phase 2: Frontend Development
Screens & Navigation:
• Login, Signup, Dashboard, Profile.
• Stack & Tab Navigation.
State Management:
• Redux for global state (user auth, API data).
API Integration:
• Fetch data from backend using Axios.
Phase 3: Backend Development
RESTful API Endpoints:
• POST /auth/login – User login.
• POST /auth/register – User registration.
• GET /api/data – Fetch app data.
Database Models:
• User, Post, or any required schema.
Authentication Middleware:
• JWT token validation for protected routes.
Phase 4: Testing & Debugging
Frontend Testing:
• Test on iOS (Xcode) & Android (Android Studio).
• Debug using React Native Debugger.
Backend Testing:
• API testing via Postman.
• Error handling (404, 500 responses).
Phase 5: Deployment
Backend Deployment:
• Hosted on Heroku or AWS.
Frontend Deployment:
• Android: Google Play Store.
• iOS: Apple App Store (requires Apple Developer account).
• Alternative: Expo App Store for testing.
4. Challenges & Solutions
Challenge Solution
Cross-platform UI inconsistencies Used platform-specific styling and tested
on both devices.
Slow API responses Optimized database queries and added
loading spinners.
JWT token expiration issues Implemented token refresh logic.
Database connection failures Used Mongoose connection retries.
5. Conclusion
This project successfully demonstrates end-to-end mobile app development, covering:
✅ React Native frontend development.
✅ Node.js + MongoDB backend setup.
✅ JWT Authentication for security.
✅ Deployment on cloud platforms.
Future Improvements
• Add real-time chat (Socket.io).
• Implement offline mode (Redux Persist).
• Enhance UI with animations (Lottie, Reanimated).
Prepared by: Ayoub Oubouh
Date: April 18, 2025
