Migrating From Bubble To React Native: Why It's Not As Scary As It Sounds

If you've built your app using Bubble, you've probably already run into one of its major limitations: you can't export the source code. Bubble is a powerful no-code platform, but it's a closed environment - great for prototyping or building MVPs quickly, not so great if you want full control over your codebase.

That said, migrating from Bubble to React Native may sound like a daunting, dramatic process. But in reality, it's quite manageable - especially if your app has a relatively simple structure (which is true for most Bubble-built apps).

What You Can Export from Bubble

While you can't export the source code, you can still reuse many of the core parts of your app, including:

• Assets: images, videos, audio, icons
• Color scheme and fonts
• Screen designs and layout ideas
• App structure and navigation logic
• Basic business logic (to be re-implemented manually)

These elements form a solid foundation for your new React Native app and can greatly reduce the development time.

Draft Plan: Migrating a Bubble App to React Native (with Expo)

Here's a step-by-step plan to make the migration as smooth as possible:

1. Evaluate Your Current App

• Count how many screens you have.
• Identify any complex flows or logic that may need special attention.
• Consider what features should be included in your MVP and what can be saved for later releases.

2. Export Assets

• Download all images, videos, audio, and other media used in the app.
• Extract fonts, icons, and design references to maintain consistency.

3. Set Up a New React Native Project

• Use Expo for fast development and easier device testing.
• Set your app name, bundle identifier, and signing credentials.

4. Build the App Infrastructure

• Implement navigation (e.g., using react-navigation).
• Develop a consistent theme (colours, fonts, spacing).
• Create common UI components: buttons, inputs, cards, notifications, etc.

5. Recreate Screens & Logic

• Rebuild each screen based on the Bubble UI.
• Connect the previously used APIs, or create new ones if needed.
• Re-implement the business logic, possibly improving it along the way.

6. Final Polish

• Test all screens thoroughly.
• Refine interactions, responsiveness, and accessibility.
• Prepare for deployment to the App Store / Google Play.

Final Thoughts

While you won't get a ZIP file full of ready-to-use code from Bubble, you're not starting from scratch either. Migrating your Bubble app to React Native is less about copying code and more about replicating your app's experience with a better tech stack.

With careful planning, asset reuse, and the right tools like Expo, you can transform your Bubble MVP into a production-ready mobile app - with full control over your code and endless room for growth.