085 - Valdi vs React Native, Uniwind v1, WebGPU, Game Dev & AI Engineering

Rocket Ship

This week’s episode is packed with performance breakthroughs, new UI tooling, graphics innovation, and my own deep dive into AI-assisted game development. We compare Valdi vs React Native, explore what Uniwind v1 means for the styling ecosystem, and look at how WebGPU is reshaping the future of graphics on mobile.

⚛️ React Native Radar:

• 🎉 Uniwind v1 released – a major milestone for fast Tailwind-style styling
• 🦸 Hero UI Native now running on top of Uniwind
• 🟣 Valdi – Snapchat’s cross-platform UI engine and how it compares to React Native
• ⚡ WebGPU demo from Evan Bacon – real GPU compute inside RN
• 🟠 Jelly Slider demo – slick, physics-driven UI interaction
• ✨ Expo Splash Screen transitions are coming
• 🔤 Animated Text API demo – smooth typography animations
• 🔗 Shared Element Transitions arriving in the New Architecture
• 🏆 Expo Awards pushed back

🧠 From My Projects:

• 📺 My 8-hour Wolt Clone video is now live
• 🎮 Highlights from last week’s React Native Godot livestream
• 🌾 Deep insights from building Tiny Harvest using AI engineering

🌪 Ecosystem Thoughts:

• Uniwind vs NativeWind — quick comparison and where each shines

🚀 Learn React Native: https://galaxies.dev/missions/zero-to-hero

🔥 Weekly Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@galaxies_dev

❤️ Socials

• https://x.com/schlimmson
• https://www.tiktok.com/@simongrimm_
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/simongr

👨‍💻 Apps

• Matrix Manager: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/matrix-manager-task-manager/id6739463021
• Quick Track: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/quick-track-calorie-counter/id1669892980
• Text to Voice AI: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/text-to-voice-ai-reader/id6739965632
• Healthy Food Swap: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/healthy-food-swap/id6743627410

🔗 Links

• Uniwind v1: https://www.reactnativecrossroads.com/posts/introducing-uniwind-the-fastest-tailwind-bindings-for-react-native
• HeroUI Native Beta: https://x.com/hero_ui/status/1985721976220966926
• Valdi: https://github.com/Snapchat/Valdi
• Evan GPU template: https://x.com/Baconbrix/status/1986562026714640767
• Jelly Slider: https://x.com/reczko_konrad/status/1986496404777205784
• npx testflight: https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/npx-testflight/
• Simons Wolt clone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYftPYZJsy8
• Simons Godot Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDcOXpRPprU
• State of Nativewind: https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1OwxWePNzmqGQ