Lynx: TikTok’s React Native Killer?

A brand-new, blazingly fast JavaScript framework has hit the scene—Lynx. Developed by ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, Lynx aims to revolutionize cross-platform development by offering a Rust-based engine, dual-threaded UI rendering, and native CSS support. But can it truly replace React Native and Flutter? Let’s find out.

The Problem with React Native

For years, React Native has allowed web developers to create mobile apps using JavaScript. However, it has its downsides:

• Single-threaded JavaScript bridge: Communication between JS and native code can be slow.
• Performance bottlenecks: Heavy computations block the main UI thread.
• Complex styling: React Native requires workarounds like StyleSheet instead of using native CSS.

Banner credit to tiktok at lynxjs.org

Enter Lynx

ByteDance created Lynx to solve these issues. Unlike React Native, Lynx:

• Uses a dual-threaded architecture, separating framework and user code.
• Runs a lightweight PrimJS engine built on QuickJS.
• Allows real CSS for styling, including animations, variables, and gradients.
• Is framework-agnostic, supporting React, Vue, Svelte, and more.

Under the Hood

Dual-Threaded Architecture

Lynx separates user code from framework code, preventing slow scripts from blocking UI rendering. The result? Smoother, pixel-perfect experiences without lag.

PrimJS: A Tiny Yet Mighty Engine

Lynx runs JavaScript on PrimJS, a 210KB JavaScript engine optimized for speed. It outperforms React Native’s Hermes engine, ensuring faster load times and better performance.

Native CSS Support

Unlike React Native, Lynx supports real CSS, including:

.button {
  background: linear-gradient(to right, #ff7e5f, #feb47b);
  transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out;
}

This makes styling intuitive for web developers, without relying on custom libraries like NativeWind.

Hands-on with Lynx

Lynx projects look similar to React, but with a few differences:

import { View, Text, Image } from "lynx";

export default function App() {
  return (
    <View className="container">
      <Text className="title">Hello, Lynx!</Text>
      <Image src="/logo.png" alt="Logo" />
    </View>
  );
}

Using Rust-Powered RS Pack

Lynx uses RS Pack, a Rust-based module bundler faster than Vite. This means instant builds and better performance.

Live Preview on Mobile

You can test Lynx apps using the Lynx Explorer app. It offers real-time previews on physical devices, much like Expo for React Native.

The Downsides

Despite its promise, Lynx has challenges:

• No ecosystem: Unlike React Native, there’s no Expo or large component libraries.
• Limited community: Few developers use it, meaning fewer learning resources.
• MacOS is required: Windows users may struggle with setup.

Should You Switch to Lynx?

Lynx is fast, modern, and exciting, but it’s still young. If you want cutting-edge performance, it’s worth trying. However, React Native and Flutter remain safer choices for production apps.