• React Native 0.72 release introduces highly requested Metro symlink support, improving monorepo compatibility. • Beta package exports enable modern npm package APIs, aligning React Native with the broader JavaScript ecosystem. • Metro config changes require updating metro.config.js to enable symlinks or package exports via unstable flags. • Symlink support is beta now, slated for default enablement in the next 0.73 release. • Package exports support is beta, with plans for stable rollout after community feedback and testing. • The update also includes better error handling and other developer experience improvements highlighted by community survey.

Article Summaries:

  • React Native 0.72 has been released, adding several developer‑experience improvements and beta features that address community feedback. The update introduces beta support for symlinks in Metro, enabling seamless use of monorepos and pnpm, and beta support for package exports, aligning React Native with modern npm package conventions. A new metro.config.js format is required for 0.73, with a warning in 0.72 if not updated. The release also removes redbox errors for invalid style properties, improves Hermes error messages for undefined calls, and refines CLI output with clearer wording and reduced stack traces. These changes aim to streamline development workflows and prepare for future stable rollouts.

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