Morrow

Are you ready for Expo SDK 50? 📱

Expo SDK 50 is coming soon, and we are thrilled to share some of the amazing new features that will make your app development easier and more fun.

In this blog post, Morrow's senior React Native Developer, Costas, gives you a brief overview of the features that we are most excited about, such as native fonts, expo-router, updates, improvements, and more.

Visit our website to read the blog. 🙌

Welcome to our Developer Spotlight series! This time, we spoke to Rafh, Morrow's React Native developer.

What's your favourite framework, and why?

"It depends on the project we're working on. For web apps, my favourite framework to use is NextJS. The first time I used it, I was really taken aback by how fast the final website was. If you use a caching library like SWR with it, even the data fetching feels instant, and managing states is a breeze. For mobile apps, I love how React Native feels so familiar with the tech stack I'm comfortable with, so instead of jumping from one tech to another, I have the luxury of becoming proficient with the language instead of knowing bits of it and forgetting if not used for a long time."

What's your favourite React Native library, and why?

"Right now, it's probably react-native-reanimated library. I'll be honest and say that I'm not the best with animations, but this library helps me every time we need those little interactions that bring out simple satisfactions. Not to mention how smooth the animation is. I haven't done animation-heavy apps yet, but so far, I never saw it below 60FPS, even without optimisations. I also enjoy watching YouTubers like Catalin Miron and William Candillon create beautiful animations using this very exemplary library."
‍
What's a must-have for any app developer?

"Knowing the basics is a must-have. I can't stress this point enough, as many fail to do that. Basics would be your foundation with any language you want to learn. JS, for example, is essential if you want to work with React Native and React. Without knowing these recipes, it can be daunting and frustrating whenever you hit a roadblock. Of course, this applies only to developers without much experience yet since you would probably become familiar with these technologies as you gain experience.

What advice would you give someone who's just started as a developer?

"Don't rush things; keep calm and learn the basics. Keep yourself up to date with the latest technologies. The community is awesome, and learning materials are readily available if you look for them, so continue to learn and improve!"
"Enjoy the process and be patient. I don't know about you, but when I was new to programming, I'd grab any solution that worked on Stack Overflow and be confused about why that code worked, and mine didn't. I felt like I was not built for app development. But as you gain experience, there will come a time when every snippet you come to, you'll feel like you can almost understand what the programmer was thinking at that moment, which, to me, is beautiful. Also, this job can be pretty stressful, so make sure to treat yourself once in a while!"

‍
Want to be featured and share your insights with other developers? Reach out to our Marketing Manager Monika: [email protected] or dm us! 🙌

For those new to the software development kit (SDK), incorporating environment variables in Expo can be challenging due to its intricate architecture. This involves several components, including Expo GO, custom Development Clients, EAS Build and EAS Update services. Coordinating environment variables across all these can be difficult, particularly when adding variants (stages) to the mix.

Fortunately, we've created a guide to help you navigate this complexity and streamline your project. This updated version covers the latest features and tools from Expo SDK v49.

Read the blog here:
https://www.themorrow.digital/blog/an-updated-developers-guide-to-taming-expos-environmental-variables-in-expo-sdk-v49?utm_campaign=blog&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

Happy New Year's Eve from all of us here at Morrow! 🌟

We wish you an app-solutely amazing 2024 filled with innovation, success, and epic tech adventures. 🥂

#2024

🎄✨ Merry Christmas from the Morrow Team! ✨🎄

May your day be filled with laughter, good food, and excellent company! Cheers! 🥂

As we approach 2024, the world of software development is buzzing with anticipation. New technologies, languages, and frameworks are on the horizon, promising to revolutionise how we code, not to mention the exciting new features and ideas in the tools we already use. 📱

In this blog post, Morrow's senior software engineer Costas shares what's new in app development in 2024.

Visit our website to read our blog. 🙌

#2024

Meet Levrx - a digital platform connecting patients, payers, providers and pharmacies.

The Levrx Platform streamlines by connecting payers, providers, pharmacies, and patients digitally. One prescription at a time, it enhances the healthcare experience, maximises savings, and supports the health and well-being of people.

Levrx approached Morrow after encountering an issue upgrading the app to Expo 48 - intermittent failure to install OTAs on Apple devices.

The primary goal was to implement updates addressing the issue and enabling the reliable installation of OTAs. Additionally, the project involved transitioning to 49 and refining dependencies to align with the update and industry best practices. The ultimate deliverable was an app update seamlessly working with Expo 49.

‍The result?

Since the beginning of Levrx's collaboration with Morrow, the app has undergone notable improvements, including more dependable installations on Apple devices, full support for Expo 49, and improved app performance.

As a result, the Levrx platform continues to thrive, connecting healthcare organisations and fostering a cohesive ecosystem that puts patient care and wellness first.

Make sure to check Levrx out!

In the world of software development, staying ahead of the curve is essential. As technology evolves at a rapid pace, developers are constantly seeking efficient and maintainable approaches to building robust applications. One such approach that has gained significant traction is Clean Architecture.

‍In this article, the reigning winner of both our AI Hackathons, Ivan, delves into the origins, core concepts, popularity, benefits, and drawbacks of Clean Architecture, making a case for its effectiveness in building sustainable software.

Visit our website to read the blog.

‍

Welcome to our Developer Spotlight series! This time we spoke to Eduardo, who first got into app development in 2023 because of his love of video games and interest in how they were made. Ed has worked on exciting projects, like Moropo, a testing platform, and MarketLaunch, a marketplace template for Swell.

What's your favourite framework?

"My favourite framework for app development is React Native/Expo.I don't see myself using other technologies like Xamarin or Ionic. React Native has come to set the basis and future for app development and has no competitor but "raw" native development. I love how it makes things easier, cuts development time drastically, and lets you get prototypes really fast. When someone asks me about app dev, I immediately think about React Native and Expo."

What's your favourite React Native library?

"Hmm, this is a tricky question because there are a lot! But my top libraries are:
- Wix's react-native-navigation for navigation is the easiest to use and well-designed.
- As an AR passionate, I now see Azesmway's react-native-unity as a must-have, completely replacing Viro and Sceneform."

What's a must-have for any app developer?

"After working with Moropo, I learned that an app developer must understand clean code and good practices and invest in a Mac; those machines pay for themselves.Eduardo's tip: Read the twelve-factor app methodology and clean code architecture."

What's your favourite app?

"This may sound unexpected, but I use the build-in Apple Notes app a lot. The continuity features are so powerful. I tried to replace it with Evernote, Notion etc, but I always find myself back in Notes. Never step away from simple apps, sometimes that's what you need."‍

What advice would you give someone who's just started as a developer?"

Newbies should never give up and understand that tech constantly evolves. Do not try to get the world on the first day. By practising, you'll master app development! Slow but solid steps, one at a time. It may sound repetitive, but that way, we learn."‍

Want to be featured and share your insights with fellow developers? Message us!

Meet TicketSource - a popular event ticketing platform that allows users to create, customise, and sell event tickets.

To enhance its services, TicketSource approached Morrow to redevelop their existing ticket-scanning app. The goal was to create a whole new cross-platform app built using the latest technologies integrated with third-party Bluetooth ticket scanners.

The collaboration between the two teams ensured that the app met the unique requirements of event organisers and provided an enhanced ticket-scanning experience.

TicketSource can now offer their customers a modern and efficient mobile app, strengthening their position as a leading provider of event management and ticketing solutions.

We're so proud to have been able to work on this great project! Make sure to check TicketSource out.

Welcome to our new series, "Developer Spotlight", where we chat with developers about their favourite frameworks, libraries, and apps and ask for advice for someone just starting out.

This time, we spoke to Costas, Morrow's senior developer. Costas has been the heart and soul of Morrow's team since 2019, and has worked on brilliant projects, like Ownable, SoleRetriever, Celestion's Horn Wizard and Kura. He's also written many great development tutorials, which you can find on our blog page! 🙌

What's your favourite framework?

"Expo with EAS services is my preferred framework. It's like React-Native on steroids, complete with batteries. It's the optimal choice for building React-Native applications quickly, easily, and reliably."

What's your favourite React Native library?

"React-Navigation is my favoured React-Native library. Its wide usage speaks volumes. It not only offers platform-specific components but is also highly customisable and extensible. With the latest Expo file-based router, it's even more user-friendly."

What's a must-have for any app developer?

"A proficient code editor or IDE is a must for any developer. I wouldn't write a single line of code without Webstorm and its Github Copilot extension. A good code editor/IDE should facilitate easy code review, refactoring, and navigation."‍

What's your favourite app and why?‍

"My favourite mobile application is Gmail, which is the base of my work/life organising. I'm not only waiting for external emails to reach my inbox but also email myself with tasks, to-do lists, ideas to explore, articles to read, and a ton of other things. All gathered up in my inbox for further processing."‍

What advice would you give someone who's just started as a developer?

"I have two pieces of advice. First, maintain an enjoyable pet project that allows you to experiment and learn new things. Second, engage in an "analogue" hobby like arts, athletics, or cooking to take breaks from the screen. Be aware of burnout; it's just around the corner."

Want to be featured and share your insights with other developers? Contact us!

Welcome to our Spotlight series! This time we spoke to Gray, Morrow's developer. Gray joined our talented team in 2021, and has contributed to numerous impressive projects, including Hexsos. 📱

What's your favourite framework, and why?

"It might sound biased as this is the framework I use at work, but I think React Native is a game changer and my current favourite. It's really neat that you can develop an app for iOS, Android, and even Web now in one codebase. On top of that, learning it is easy if you already use React for Web apps."

What's your favourite React Native library, and why?

"My current favourite is a gem. It's called . It might be overwhelming to learn because it's a different way of styling your components, and it's a relatively new library, so there's not a lot of reference currently. When you get the gist of it, it will be very helpful. I can't wait to see what the developer community will contribute to this library in the future."

What's a must-have for any app developer?

"One of the must-have traits of a developer is patience. There are times when errors or bugs can be really tricky, and tracing down their cause is tedious. So you need a lot of patience in order to fix them."

What advice would you give someone who's just started as a developer?

"My only advice to someone who has just started developing is to learn from people, especially your co-workers. Join and interact with forums relevant to your programming language. That's how I came across this gem, Morrow."

Want to be featured and share your insights with other developers? Contact us! 🙌

Expo is a cornerstone in mobile development, offering a flexible framework that streamlines the process, expedites the development cycle, and empowers developers to craft top-tier, cross-platform applications using JavaScript and React. Amidst the dynamic terrain of mobile application development, the Expo team diligently updates its SDK quarterly. Integrating the SDK into your app transcends being a mere option; it's imperative. But what makes it essential to stay up-to-date with the cutting-edge advancements from the Expo team?

Visit our website to read Costas' new blog.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic idea but a tangible force reshaping industries and our interactions with technology. App development, a pivotal element of this digital revolution, is experiencing a profound transformation through AI.

AI is becoming the driving force behind the next generation of software. Traditional, labour-intensive coding tasks no longer bind developers; instead, they harness AI to automate, optimise, and innovate.

In this blog post, Chatty explores how AI is streamlining the development process, empowering developers with new tools, and ultimately changing how we interact with and benefit from mobile and web applications.

Read the blog here:
https://www.themorrow.digital/blog/the-ai-revolution-how-artificial-intelligence-is-reshaping-the-process-of-app-development?utm_campaign=ai-revolution&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

Thanks to the success of our previous AI Hackathon, we decided to give our developers a day off client work to get creative with OpenAI's API once again.

We offered a prize for the winner and invited Sole Retriever's CTO, Cole Townsend, to judge the projects. As always, our developers did not disappoint and came up with some exciting ideas.

Here's the summary of Morrow's AI Hackathon 2.0:
https://www.themorrow.digital/blog/morrow-ai-hackathon-2-0-summary?utm_campaign=ai-hackathon-2.0&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

Which project was your favourite? 👀

The founders of Ettos, Gianni and Adriana, approached Morrow to develop a digital platform to simplify tracking material origin and ESG claims for brands and suppliers alike.

Ettos digital platform allows users to track their garment's journey from start to finish with the use of digital product passports, providing transparency and traceability in the fashion industry, building brand trust, and simplifying complex data.

The platform has already substantially impacted fashion supply chains and is set to make a lasting difference. We can't wait to see what the future holds for this exciting project!

Read the case study here:
https://www.themorrow.digital/ettos?utm_campaign=ettos&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

Morrow created a mobile app for a health tech company. The team detected and fixed bugs, resolved OTA installation problems on Apple devices, revamped dependencies, and upgraded the app to Expo 49.

Thank you, Brendan, for you kind words! 🙌

Read the full client review here:
https://clutch.co/profile/morrow?check_logged_in=1 -2258809

Happy STEM Day!

At Morrow, we're celebrating the endless possibilities of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) today and every day!

As a cutting-edge app development agency, we know that STEM is the driving force behind innovation. Our team of tech enthusiasts are constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

Today, we salute the incredible minds that have paved the way for progress and inspired future STEM leaders. 💪🌍

Morrow updated a mobile app for a health tech company. The team detected and fixed bugs, resolved OTA installation problems on Apple devices, revamped dependencies, and upgraded the app to Expo 49.

Thank you, Brendan, for you kind words! 🙌

Read the full client review here:
https://clutch.co/profile/morrow?check_logged_in=1 -2258809

Happy Halloween from the Morrow team!🎃

Wishing you a spook-tacular day full of sweet treats and an app-solutely amazing time!

The mobile app realm has seen its fair share of metamorphosis in the ever-evolving landscape of design trends and user experience principles. Different from their desktop counterparts, mobile interfaces demanded fresh approaches and innovative solutions. One such innovation that has gained prominence is the concept of the "bottom sheet."

In this article, Ivan explores a design paradigm that has recently redefined how we interact with mobile apps:
https://www.themorrow.digital/blog/an-introduction-to-react-native-bottom-sheet?utm_campaign=bottom-sheet&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

We're starting a new series, "Developer Spotlight", where we chat with developers about their favourite frameworks, libraries, and apps and ask for advice for someone just starting out.

This month, we spoke to Petko, one of Morrow's amazing devs. 🌟

What's your favourite framework?

"I really love React Native for Web as my go-to framework because it seamlessly blends the familiarity of React Native with web development. It's fantastic for code reuse, meaning I can use the same codebase for web and mobile projects. Plus, I get to stick to a single language (JavaScript or TypeScript) and leverage the incredible support from the React community."

What's your favourite React Native library?

"React-native-reanimated is my absolute favourite React Native library because it revolutionises animations in mobile app development. It delivers unparalleled smoothness and precision, enabling the creation of stunning and complex animations that rival native apps. Its robust gesture recognition capabilities make it a must-have for crafting immersive and interactive user experiences."

What's a must-have for any app developer?

"Knowing Android, iOS, and web development is essential for app developers because it expands their capabilities to develop for multiple platforms, reaching a broader user base. It allows developers to fine-tune user experiences, leverage platform-specific strengths, and tackle issues efficiently, ensuring their apps excel in a competitive and diverse ecosystem."

What's your favourite app?

My favourite app is MyFitnessPal. It helps me stick to my health goals by tracking my weight and food. It's easy to add a specific food item by scanning the barcode, which then finds it in the database. I can also see how my weight fluctuated during the years I've used it and how I progressed.

What advice would you give someone who's just started as a developer?

"Build your own app to practice. Creating an app related to your hobbies can be a rewarding journey. Identify a specific problem or need within your hobby or interest that your app can address. Start with a simple and focused project to avoid overwhelming yourself. Continuously learn and seek feedback, not only from other developers but also from potential users within your hobby community. Remember, the key is to stay motivated, stay patient, and enjoy the process of bringing your passion to life through coding."

Want to share your insights and be featured on our social media and website? Comment below, and we'll contact you!

We're delighted to announce that Alex has been promoted to Head of Delivery! His ability to manage complex projects, bring teams together, and drive outstanding results over the last two years has been impressive! With this well-deserved promotion, Alex will make an even more significant impact on our organisation, clients, and the industry. Congratulations, Alex! 🥂

Read more about Alex's promotion on Business Leader.

Morrow promotes Alex Evans to Head of Delivery - Business Leader News Morrow, part of the OddVentures family, has announced the elevation of Alex Evans from the role of Project Manager to Head of Delivery.

Have you ever wished you could update your mobile app without the hassle of submitting it to the App Store or Google Play Store? If so, you might want to check out Expo. Expo has a feature that allows you to deliver Over-The-Air (OTA) Updates to your mobile app. You can use this feature to quickly fix bugs or add new features to your app without waiting for the App Store review process.

However, using the default behaviour may not always be the best option for a project. Expo provides the expo-updates package, which allows you to control how and when your app checks for updates. But this requires some extra work.

That's where the expo-ota-manager comes to the rescue. It is a simple package that allows you to easily manage the Over-The-Air (OTA) updates of your app without having to worry about the details of the expo-updates package.

In this blog post, Morrow's senior developer, Costas, introduces you to the expo-ota-manager:
https://www.themorrow.digital/blog/how-expo-ota-manager-can-save-you-time-and-hassle-with-ota-updates?utm_campaign=ota-manager-post&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social