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Setting up the 2026 Environment

React Native 2026: Bridgeless Architecture & JSI

Modern Environment Setup

To build Bridgeless apps, you need more than just Node.js. You need the C++ toolchain.

Requirements:

  1. Node.js 22+
  2. CMake: The build system for C++.
  3. NDK (Android) and Xcode (iOS): Essential for compiling native code.
  4. Hermes Engine: Enabled by default in 2026.

We will use npx react-native init with the New Architecture flag forced to true.