ACA Group unites the React Native Belgium community
The Belgian React Native community is back! On Thursday, December 5, ACA Group hosted the very first React Native Belgium meetup at their brand-new office in Antwerp. With around thirty enthusiastic participants, engaging talks, and a vibrant atmosphere, the event was a resounding success.
Reviving the React Native community 🚀
"The React Native community in Belgium had been dormant for years, but with this first meetup in Antwerp, we’ve brought it back to life", says Jeffrey Vanelderen, who organized the event together with ACA colleague Jana Mineur. "The goal of this meetup is to bring people together, share knowledge about new developments, and spark inspiration for personal projects. It’s also a great opportunity to network with peers and get a pulse on what’s happening in the IT world."
Inspiring talks
The evening began with an informal reception where participants enjoyed pizza 🍕 and drinks. ACA Group then kicked off the night with two compelling talks:
Talk 1: Accessibility in React Native apps
Joren Vos, Mobile Solution Engineer at ACA Group for over 10 years, discussed accessibility in React Native apps. Drawing on his experience with projects at De Lijn, he shared insights on building accessible apps that are user-friendly for everyone, including people with disabilities.
“As a developer, it’s crucial to always consider accessibility”, says Jeffrey. “Many people rely on screen readers and additional component explanations in apps, and Joren provided practical tips on implementing these features.”
Talk 2: Latest updates in React Native architecture
Tim Claes, a seasoned Mobile and Web Engineer with over 15 years of experience, explored the latest updates in React Native’s architecture. He discussed improved performance and the impact of upgrades on existing projects.
“Tim addressed questions we developers often have”, adds Jeffrey. “For example: Is it worthwhile to upgrade our projects? What are the risks? How does it impact our code?”
The talks were well-received by the audience. “The participants were extremely enthusiastic” says Jeffrey. “We saw this excitement even beforehand, as registrations came in quickly, proving the community is still very much alive.”
Looking ahead to more successful React Native meetups!
After the talks, there was time for networking. With drinks in hand, participants exchanged ideas and experiences. “A meetup like this is about more than just sharing technical knowledge”, emphasizes Jeffrey. “It’s also about building connections within the community.”
The organizers are already looking forward to the next edition. “We’ve received interest from other companies wanting to host the next event”, says Jeffrey. “Hopefully, we can keep the community active with a new meetup in the spring of 2025.”
With this successful kickoff, React Native Belgium has established itself as a platform for knowledge-sharing and collaboration in the Belgian tech scene. We are looking forward to the next meetup!