Performance Checklist

Performance Checklist

Before launching or shipping a major update to your React Native application, running through a structured performance checklist helps catch issues before they reach real users.

Startup Performance

• Hermes is enabled and verified active
• Non-critical initialization is deferred using InteractionManager
• Splash screen is hidden only once the app is genuinely interactive

List and Scrolling Performance

• FlatList used instead of ScrollView for large datasets
• Stable keyExtractor provided for all lists
• List item components wrapped in React.memo where appropriate
• getItemLayout provided for fixed-height list items

Image Performance

• Images sized appropriately for their display dimensions
• FastImage or equivalent caching solution used for remote images
• User-uploaded images compressed before upload

Re-render Optimization

• React DevTools Profiler used to check for excessive re-renders
• useMemo and useCallback applied to genuinely expensive operations
• Context providers split appropriately to avoid broad re-renders

Memory and Resource Cleanup

• All event listeners and subscriptions cleaned up in useEffect
• Timers and intervals properly cleared on unmount
• App tested for memory leaks during extended usage sessions

Bundle and Build Optimization

• Bundle size analyzed and unnecessary dependencies removed
• Android App Bundle (AAB) used instead of universal APK

Production Monitoring

• Performance monitoring tool integrated (Firebase Performance or Sentry)
• Crash and performance alerts configured for the team

Device Testing

• App tested on both Android and iOS across multiple device tiers
• Performance verified on real, lower-end hardware, not just simulators

Conclusion

Running through this comprehensive performance checklist before each major release helps ensure your React Native application delivers a consistently smooth and reliable experience across the full range of devices your users rely on.