OTA vs Server-Driven UI in React Native: When to Push Code, When to Push Configuration

What Is OTA for React Native?

Over-the-air (OTA) updates let you ship new JavaScript (and other bundle assets) straight to users’ devices without going through the App Store / Play Store review queue. Under the hood the app contains a tiny bootstrap binary that, on launch, checks a remote service for a newer JS bundle and swaps to it the next time the user opens the app. Popular implementations (see section 5) reuse the standard React Native update() life-cycle, so your existing RN code can load, retrieve, and apply an update with only a handful of lines.

Key idea: the server only delivers static assets that have already been compiled; no UI interpretation happens at runtime.

What Is Server-Driven UI (SDUI)?

In Server-Driven UI the server does not just deliver a compiled bundle— it describes the UI (layout, components, data bindings, navigation rules) in a JSON-like schema. A light-weight renderer inside the client interprets that schema on every launch:

  • UI building blocks – buttons, lists, etc.
  • Tokens & Values – colour, spacing, typography.
  • Spatial arrangement – how blocks are composed.
  • Logic – actions + rules evaluated at runtime.

Because the server can return different JSON per user, SDUI unlocks real-time experimentation (A/B tests), personalisation, and even completely new screens without shipping new code.

Advantages at a Glance

Criterion OTA SDUI
Shipping speed Minutes (after CI build) Seconds (config change)
Store review needed No (JS / assets only) No (UI + logic)
Offline support Full Partial (initial fetch)
Experimentation Feature-flags + new bundle Built-in via JSON
Main complexity CI/CD & signing Backend & schema

Where Each Approach Shines

When OTA is ideal

  • Bug-fixing JavaScript or assets quickly after release
  • Hot-patching security issues without waiting on stores
  • Maintaining complex animations or business logic that would be painful to express declaratively in JSON
  • Apps that must work offline (e.g. field-work, travel) where the entire bundle should be cached

When SDUI is superior

  • Content-heavy apps (news, e-commerce, promos) that change daily
  • Dynamic onboarding or paywalls driven by growth/marketing teams
  • Large surface-area apps that run many A/B tests simultaneously
  • Platforms that target multiple front-ends (Web, iOS, Android) but want one central UI definition and design-system tokens

Hybrid architectures are common: core screens delivered by OTA, marketing surfaces by SDUI.

Frameworks for Implementing OTA

Framework Highlights
Revopush Cloud alternative to CodePush • New Architecture ready • CDN delivery • Modern admin UI • CI/CD integrations
Expo Updates Drop-in expo-updates library • EAS channels for staged roll-outs • Works in bare or managed workflow

Frameworks for Server-Driven UI

Framework Tech Notes
Rise Tools Open-source kit & playground for RN SDUI
NativeBlocks Visual builder + runtime, feature-flagging built-in
Ensemble UI Instant pushes, A/B tests, open-source runtime
Skip ( SkipUI ) SwiftUI-compatible layer that runs on Android

Decision Matrix

Scenario Recommended Approach
Hourly-changing promo screen SDUI
Critical crash in checkout JS OTA hot-patch
Marketing paywall copy test SDUI (or OTA + remote config)
App must start in airplane mode OTA (pre-downloaded)
Team lacks backend resources OTA
Need pixel-perfect parity across web, iOS, Android SDUI with shared renderer

Conclusions

OTA updates are unbeatable for fast, safe delivery of JavaScript fixes and incremental features. Server-Driven UI unlocks real-time personalisation and content iteration but shifts complexity to the backend. Most teams combine both: OTA for core logic, SDUI for high-churn surfaces. Choose the technique that minimises time-to-user for each part of your app — and don’t hesitate to run them in parallel.

If you’re looking for a future-proof OTA platform, Revopush offers CodePush-compatible SDKs, CDN-accelerated delivery, and deep CI/CD integrations, helping you ship with confidence.

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