From Native to React Native: Lessons in video performance with Eugene Verichev
At Zalando, we believe that the most impactful engineering happens at the intersection of complex problem-solving and seamless user experience. Eugene Verichev, Software Engineer, recently shared his expertise on React Native and what keeps him motivated after a decade in the industry.
Here is what Eugene had to say about his journey and his recent talk at the React Universe meetup, 'Building a video experience with React Native: Lessons from early adoption.'
Technical innovation: Migrating to React Native
Eugene presented a major milestone for our tech team: the year-long journey of migrating our video component from native to React Native.
The transition was a deep dive into design choices, navigating trade-offs, and a heavy focus on performance optimisation. For those looking to follow a similar path, Eugene highlighted three essential lessons:
- Never skip the research phase. Critical design choices must be grounded in thorough investigations and spike projects to ensure long-term viability.
- Measure everything you can - data is your compass. Reliable measurements provide the directionality and control needed to navigate nuanced challenges.
- React Native has matured into a robust platform, so trust the ecosystem. It is more than capable of handling sophisticated video components and those vital last-mile optimisations.
A decade of engineering: What drives Eugene?
With over a decade of experience in Android engineering, Eugene views his career as a continuous journey of learning and adaptation.
"While I am driven by technically challenging projects, I've learned that complex engineering is only half the equation," Eugene explains. "I find immense value in engaging deeply with my team and aligning our work directly with customer needs. For me, honing the soft skills required to translate technical rigour into a seamless, user-centric product is what makes the IT industry so engaging.”
Why retail? Why Zalando?
Having worked at other global retail players, Eugene found a unique proposition within the retail space at Zalando. He views the company as a "crossroads" where cutting-edge innovation meets the daily lives of millions of customers.
According to Eugene, what makes Zalando stand out is the balance:
"It requires cutting-edge innovation to drive growth, but that complex engineering is always aimed at directly improving the customer's daily life. This balance is what makes the company unique and rewarding to work in."
Watch Eugene’s talk here: