Building React Native App for Vega OS

Featuring
Kewin Wereszczyński
Software Engineer
@
Callstack
Szymon Chmal
Software Developer
@
Callstack
Artur Morys-Magiera
Software Engineer
@
Callstack

This week’s stream was packed with React 19.2 updates, new experimental APIs, and a first deep dive into the brand-new Vega OS powered by React Native. From <Activity> to building TicTacToe on a fresh platform, here’s what went down.

React 19.2 updates

React 19.2 shipped with some exciting new features and experiments:

  • New <Activity> component → hides parts of the tree without unmounting (preserves state & effects)
  • useEffectEvent → a safer way to define event handlers inside effects
  • Small but important discussions about cacheSignal and Partial Pre-rendering

Why it matters: React 19.2 keeps pushing towards better performance, state preservation, and safer APIs. Expect more refinements as React 19 matures.

React State Management in 2025

One of the best posts this week dove into the future of React state management. With signals, cache layers, and new primitives like useEffectEvent, managing state in React is evolving quickly.

Why it matters: State management has always been one of React’s trickiest parts; these patterns aim to make it simpler, safer, and more predictable.

Vega OS

The biggest news of the week: Vega OS.

  • Built on React Native
  • Linux-based
  • Designed to power new types of devices

We spent the second half of the stream exploring Vega OS:

  • Setting up a project & tools
  • Running “Hello World”
  • And finally, @artus9033 taking on the challenge to build TicTacToe inside Vega OS

Why it matters: Vega OS could be a game-changer for React Native, showing how RN can expand beyond mobile into whole new platforms.

Final thoughts

Between React 19.2’s experiments, fresh state management ideas, and Vega OS making its debut, this week was very exciting.

Catch the full replay for demos, experiments, and a live coding session on Vega OS.

Insights

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