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PowerSync SDK for React Native

PowerSync is a sync engine for building local-first apps with instantly-responsive UI/UX and simplified state transfer. Syncs between SQLite on the client-side and Postgres, MongoDB or MySQL on the server-side.

This package (packages/react-native) is the PowerSync SDK for React Native clients. It is an extension of packages/common.

See a summary of features here.

Installation

Install Package​

npx expo install @powersync/react-native

Install Peer Dependency: SQLite​

By default, this SDK requires @journeyapps/react-native-quick-sqlite as a peer dependency. Alternatively, you can install OP-SQLite from the PowerSync OP-SQLite package (currently in alpha).

Install it in your app with:

npx expo install @journeyapps/react-native-quick-sqlite

Install Polyfills​

  • Polyfills are required for watched queries using the Async Iterator response format.

Babel Plugins: Watched Queries​

Watched queries can be used with either a callback response or Async Iterator response.

Watched queries using the Async Iterator response format require support for Async Iterators.

Expo apps currently require polyfill and Babel plugins in order to use this functionality.

npx expo install @azure/core-asynciterator-polyfill

Make sure to import the polyfill early in your application

// App.js
import '@azure/core-asynciterator-polyfill';

Install the async generator Babel plugin

pnpm add -D @babel/plugin-transform-async-generator-functions

Add the Babel plugin to your babel.config.js file

module.exports = function (api) {
 return {
   presets: [...],
   plugins: [
     // ... Other plugins
     '@babel/plugin-transform-async-generator-functions'
   ]
 };
};

Expo EAS config (optional)​

If you are using this library in an Expo project and encounter issues with multiple versions of SQLite3, the conflict might be due to expo-updates also depending on SQLite. To resolve this, you can configure Expo to use the third-party SQLite pod.

Update your ios/Podfile.properties.json to include the following configuration:

{
  "expo.updates.useThirdPartySQLitePod": "true"
}

Metro config (optional)​

When using a bare React Native app without a framework like Expo, the @powersync/react-native package does not work well with inline requires.

If you see the following error message

Super expression must either be null or a function

then you will need to add this to your metro.config.js:

const config = {
  transformer: {
    getTransformOptions: async () => ({
      transform: {
        inlineRequires: {
          blockList: {
            [require.resolve('@powersync/react-native')]: true
          }
        }
      }
    })
  }
};

Native Projects

This package uses native libraries. Create native Android and iOS projects (if not created already) by running:

npx expo run:android
# OR
npx expo run:ios

Getting Started

Our SDK reference contains everything you need to know to get started implementing PowerSync in your project.

Changelog

A changelog for this SDK is available here.

API Reference

The full API reference for this SDK can be found here.

Examples

For example projects built with PowerSync and React Native, see our Demo Apps / Example Projects gallery. Most of these projects can also be found in the demos/ directory.

Found a bug or need help?

  • Join our Discord server where you can browse topics from our community, ask questions, share feedback, or just say hello :)
  • Please open a GitHub issue when you come across a bug.
  • Have feedback or an idea? Submit an idea via our public roadmap or schedule a chat with someone from our product team.