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Show HN: NativeVision, helping React Native devs to build XR apps for any device

49 points by cjcassar 3y ago

Hello everyone, We've discovered an open source library named Viro that hadn't been updated in over two years. We've revitalized the library, enabling the creation of XR apps on the latest iOS and Android platforms. Our goal is to transform NativeVision into a versatile library that can be used across various XR devices, including Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest. Our aim is to make it easy for React developers to start working on XR projects using React Native or Expo, much like how they would for iOS or Android apps. If you have any feedback please share as it helps a lot!

bilalq 3y ago
Always exciting to see abandoned OSS projects get new life breathed into them. One of the biggest issues around React Native's ecosystem is how quickly some libs get abandoned. Props to you all for reviving this.
- cjcassar 3y ago
  Agreed! The goal here is to make it easier for react native engineers to build on any XR (AR or VR) device. Even the new ones being released.
- pzo 3y ago
  there is as well BabylonReactNative -> I think it's developed by microsoft?. But only iOS and Android but looks well supported and maintained. https://github.com/BabylonJS/BabylonReactNative https://github.com/BabylonJS/BabylonReactNative https://github.com/BabylonJS/BabylonNative https://github.com/BabylonJS/BabylonNative
kristianp 3y ago
What's the difference between XR and AR? It's the first time I've seen XR used.
- refulgentis 3y ago
  It means VR and AR in one device (i.e. reality can be completely occluded if desired)
  - cjcassar 3y ago
    Yes thank you for clarifying, this is what we mean!
- nwienert 3y ago
  Many will say otherwise but the most accurate answer is that it’s short for “Xtreme Reality” - for example, if you look at a car, it will add flames to the side. Look at your dad - bleached blonde tips. Stuff like that.
  - mellosouls 3y ago
    That's not the most accurate answer, though perhaps it has some usage in that sense; it's not what it means in the context here.
  - dangrover 3y ago
    Also, other characters in XR have predilection to say stuff like "You can't make it spicy enough for me!" and “Holy moly, Stromboli!”
- mellosouls 3y ago
  XR is short for the umbrella term "eXtended Reality", though I suspect (without proof) the latter started as a backronym, with the X perhaps originally meaning the traditional placeholder "whatever" for "Augmented", "Virtual", "Mixed" etc, which "Extended Reality" encompasses. Eg. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_reality https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_reality
  - cjcassar 3y ago
    Yes, exactly the above. Except it doesn’t replace Spatial computing conveniently
doublerebel 3y ago
Great to see more open cross-platform efforts to help with reactive development in XR. When I started building for Hololens (2016), I had to architect such a thing nearly from scratch. How does this compare to existing efforts? such as: - Babylon React Native (supported by Microsoft) - VisionOS support being added to React Native (supported by Callstack)
- cjcassar 3y ago
  Both very good projects The overarching goal for us is to foster a comprehensive ecosystem around the NativeVision framework. This would not only simplify the development process for non-gaming XR projects but also enhance the scalability and adaptability of these applications. The idea is akin to how Vercel supports Next.js, offering various tools and integrations to streamline development and deployment processes.
  - jimmySixDOF 3y ago
    React-Three-Fiber is quite popular too and has an active development community more around 3D less XR but not impossible and people are working on it. Triplex is an R3F editor I have not looked at lately but was adding features last time I did. Good luck with this I think everything Immersive Web is going to just get more important as the optics we have access to keep getting better faster stronger cheaper !
    - cjcassar 3y ago
      Thanks and agreed!
cwbuilds 3y ago
This is awesome. Any plans to add Apple Vision Pro?
- cjcassar 3y ago
  Yes, this is on our roadmap for release by early March! After which we will add openXR support for the other major devices.
ilaksh 3y ago
Nice. But I thought Apple Vision Pro was not an XR device but instead "spatial computing". /s
- cjcassar 3y ago
  Their marketing team wants us to call it this. Let’s just pretend SP is under the XR umbrella ;)
bmikaili 3y ago
Did ViroReact get revived? I really wanted to use it because Unity‘s dev experience sucks hard, but last I checked it was abandoned.
- cjcassar 3y ago
  Yes! We’re reviving it and pushing forward with building an ecosystem of tools around it.
  - bmikaili 3y ago
    Is that going to be open source? Would love to contribute, was thinking myself that this is a niche that desperately needs to be filled.
    - cjcassar 3y ago
      Yes it is open source! Check out our full github on the link about to explore some of the other tools we're building
galuggus 3y ago
Great work! Will this work in Expo without ejecting?
- cjcassar 3y ago
  We have an Expo starter kit that isn't perfect but does work. Let me know if you experience any ejecting: https://github.com/NativeVision/expo-viro-starter-kit https://github.com/NativeVision/expo-viro-starter-kit
cjcassar 3y ago
If anyone wants to DM about how we can improve , please email me here: christopherjcassar@gmail.com

49 points by cjcassar 3y ago

bilalq 3y ago

Always exciting to see abandoned OSS projects get new life breathed into them. One of the biggest issues around React Native's ecosystem is how quickly some libs get abandoned. Props to you all for reviving this.

cjcassar 3y ago
Agreed! The goal here is to make it easier for react native engineers to build on any XR (AR or VR) device. Even the new ones being released.
pzo 3y ago
there is as well BabylonReactNative -> I think it's developed by microsoft?. But only iOS and Android but looks well supported and maintained. https://github.com/BabylonJS/BabylonReactNative https://github.com/BabylonJS/BabylonReactNative https://github.com/BabylonJS/BabylonNative https://github.com/BabylonJS/BabylonNative

kristianp 3y ago

What's the difference between XR and AR? It's the first time I've seen XR used.

refulgentis 3y ago
It means VR and AR in one device (i.e. reality can be completely occluded if desired)
- cjcassar 3y ago
  Yes thank you for clarifying, this is what we mean!
nwienert 3y ago
Many will say otherwise but the most accurate answer is that it’s short for “Xtreme Reality” - for example, if you look at a car, it will add flames to the side. Look at your dad - bleached blonde tips. Stuff like that.
- mellosouls 3y ago
  That's not the most accurate answer, though perhaps it has some usage in that sense; it's not what it means in the context here.
- dangrover 3y ago
  Also, other characters in XR have predilection to say stuff like "You can't make it spicy enough for me!" and “Holy moly, Stromboli!”
mellosouls 3y ago
XR is short for the umbrella term "eXtended Reality", though I suspect (without proof) the latter started as a backronym, with the X perhaps originally meaning the traditional placeholder "whatever" for "Augmented", "Virtual", "Mixed" etc, which "Extended Reality" encompasses. Eg. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_reality https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_reality
- cjcassar 3y ago
  Yes, exactly the above. Except it doesn’t replace Spatial computing conveniently

doublerebel 3y ago

Great to see more open cross-platform efforts to help with reactive development in XR. When I started building for Hololens (2016), I had to architect such a thing nearly from scratch. How does this compare to existing efforts? such as: - Babylon React Native (supported by Microsoft) - VisionOS support being added to React Native (supported by Callstack)

cjcassar 3y ago
Both very good projects The overarching goal for us is to foster a comprehensive ecosystem around the NativeVision framework. This would not only simplify the development process for non-gaming XR projects but also enhance the scalability and adaptability of these applications. The idea is akin to how Vercel supports Next.js, offering various tools and integrations to streamline development and deployment processes.
- jimmySixDOF 3y ago
  React-Three-Fiber is quite popular too and has an active development community more around 3D less XR but not impossible and people are working on it. Triplex is an R3F editor I have not looked at lately but was adding features last time I did. Good luck with this I think everything Immersive Web is going to just get more important as the optics we have access to keep getting better faster stronger cheaper !
  - cjcassar 3y ago
    Thanks and agreed!

cwbuilds 3y ago

This is awesome. Any plans to add Apple Vision Pro?

cjcassar 3y ago
Yes, this is on our roadmap for release by early March! After which we will add openXR support for the other major devices.

ilaksh 3y ago

Nice. But I thought Apple Vision Pro was not an XR device but instead "spatial computing". /s

cjcassar 3y ago
Their marketing team wants us to call it this. Let’s just pretend SP is under the XR umbrella ;)

bmikaili 3y ago

Did ViroReact get revived? I really wanted to use it because Unity‘s dev experience sucks hard, but last I checked it was abandoned.

cjcassar 3y ago
Yes! We’re reviving it and pushing forward with building an ecosystem of tools around it.
- bmikaili 3y ago
  Is that going to be open source? Would love to contribute, was thinking myself that this is a niche that desperately needs to be filled.
  - cjcassar 3y ago
    Yes it is open source! Check out our full github on the link about to explore some of the other tools we're building

galuggus 3y ago

Great work! Will this work in Expo without ejecting?

cjcassar 3y ago
We have an Expo starter kit that isn't perfect but does work. Let me know if you experience any ejecting: https://github.com/NativeVision/expo-viro-starter-kit https://github.com/NativeVision/expo-viro-starter-kit

cjcassar 3y ago

If anyone wants to DM about how we can improve , please email me here: christopherjcassar@gmail.com