React Native Upgrade Helper: Your Best Friend for Upgrades
Discover how the Upgrade Helper makes updating React Native projects easier by showing exactly what changed between versions.
If you've ever worked with React Native, you know that upgrading the framework version can be a nightmare. Native configuration files, dependencies, breaking changes... It's easy to get lost.
The Problem
When you run npx react-native upgrade, things don't always work as expected. Merge conflicts, manually modified files, and the uncertainty of knowing exactly what changed between versions.
The Solution: Upgrade Helper
The React Native Upgrade Helper is a community tool that shows a visual diff between two React Native versions.
How It Works
- Go to upgrade-helper.netlify.app
- Select your project's current version
- Select the target version
- See exactly which files changed and what needs to be modified
Why I Use It
- Clear visualization: See side-by-side what changed in each file
- Helpful comments: Some diffs include notes explaining why the change was made
- No surprises: You know exactly what to expect before starting
- Complete history: Works for any version combination
Pro Tip
Before upgrading, I always:
- Open the Upgrade Helper and analyze all changes
- Create a separate branch for the upgrade
- Apply changes file by file, testing incrementally
- Run tests and verify the app on both iOS and Android
Useful Links
The Upgrade Helper transformed my React Native updates from a dreaded task to a controlled and predictable process. Highly recommended for any React Native developer!