Super App Development

Our super-app-showcase is a repository demonstrating how to structure a super app when working with Re.Pack and Module Federation to achieve the best business results. It highlights various solutions and best practices developers can employ to tackle challenges and streamline the super app development process. 

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The super-app-showcase comprises:

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• the host app, which is the main container for the micro-frontends
• the shell app, which functions like a blueprint of the host app with shared dependencies
• a few mini apps, each dedicated to a single service booking, shopping, dashboard, and news – the latter being stored in a separate repository. 

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You can learn more about the architecture and the intricacies of the template from the case study published on our blog.

Adopting a super app can significantly reduce maintenance time by enabling code modularity, smaller codebases, better scalability, and improved testing. The exact time saved depends on the app's size, complexity, and development efficiency will be extended by the time dealing with shared dependencies. 

To ensure safety when executing code from remote sources, RePack is equipped with the ability to code-sign the bundles via CodeSigningPlugin. When you create a production build, RePack will output a file with tokens for every remote bundle created. Upon downloading the mini app, RePack will verify the integrity of each bundle, ensuring that it wasn’t tampered with. It’s worth noting that the downloaded code will be evaluated within the same JavaScript execution context, which means it has full possibility to inspect how data flows throughout the whole app at runtime. You’re expected to have full trust over the code added by your contractors.

To efficiently transition to a super app-related architecture, analyze the current app to identify components suitable for mini apps. Develop a phased migration plan, first focusing on low-risk or easily separated components. Ensure the team is well-trained by providing resources and workshops on super app concepts and best practices. Throughout the process, monitor progress and address challenges to maintain a smooth and non-disruptive transition.

Micro frontends are a modular frontend architecture for the web, while mini apps are small and often self-contained applications within a super app, typically for mobile platforms. They are related but not the same. Mini apps embrace the concept of micro frontends within them. You can think about mini apps as micro-frontends for mobile apps.

Alternatives include Play Feature Delivery for Android, and WebView for iOS. If your app is not constrained by the size or team velocity issues, you can also go with regular app development. We focus on Re.Pack because this approach allows you to enjoy the most benefits compared to other tools, for example, the ability to reuse features across apps, smaller JS bundle size, OTA updates, time and cost-effective development experience, and potential to leverage third-party contributors.

When creating a cross-platform super app with React Native, Re.Pack is the only solution that enables you to achieve that. It allows you to leverage Module Federation for code sharing and modular architecture. Beyond Re.Pack, any React Native library that fits your specific requirements and use cases should be compatible with your super app, enabling you to build a powerful, feature-rich, and well-integrated application. 

Check out the “Building a super app from scratch” section in our Step-by-Step Guide to Super App Development that should provide you with a basic understanding, or go ahead and have a look at our super-app-showcase that provides a more robust example of the super-app inside a monorepo.