DEV Community

Cover image for 🔥 Why React Native + MicroPython = The Unexpected Duo That Will Change IoT Forever!
Yevhen Kozachenko 🇺🇦
Yevhen Kozachenko 🇺🇦

Posted on • Originally published at ekwoster.dev

🔥 Why React Native + MicroPython = The Unexpected Duo That Will Change IoT Forever!

#reactnative #micropython #iot #webdev

🔥 Why React Native + MicroPython = The Unexpected Duo That Will Change IoT Forever!

Ever wondered what happens when the sleek interface power of React Native meets the hardware-hacking flexibility of MicroPython? Spoiler alert: you get a cross-domain solution that bridges mobile and embedded development like never before.

If you’re a fullstack developer or hardware tinkerer stuck in the middle of disparate tools, this post is your Swiss army knife. Let’s deep dive into an unconventional yet game-changing architecture: Mobile to Microcontroller communication using React Native and MicroPython.

🤯 The Problem

IoT devices are cool—but controlling them is notoriously annoying. Usually, you end up writing:

  • Firmware in C (yikes)
  • A web dashboard on React
  • A server in Node.js or Python
  • And maybe some MQTT glue logic

You waste weeks building what seems like a simple connected thermostat.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could simply:

  • Write a mobile UI in React Native 📱
  • Control an ESP32 running MicroPython 🦎
  • Communicate directly via Wi-Fi with no middle server 😲

Yes, we’re doing just that. So buckle up.

🛠 What We'll Build

A React Native mobile app that can:

  • Scan and connect to a device (ESP32)
  • Send a command (turn on/off or blink an LED)
  • Get sensor data (e.g., temperature or humidity)

All this without MQTT, without cloud, without pain.

🔌 Hardware Setup

  • ESP32 Dev Board
  • DHT11 or DHT22 (for temp/humidity)
  • LED + Resistor (for output control)
  • Powered via USB or battery

Flash MicroPython firmware on your ESP32. Check official instructions.

✍️ MicroPython Code (ESP32 Firmware) 

# boot.py (runs on boot) import network import socket import machine from time import sleep led = machine.Pin(2, machine.Pin.OUT) # Set up Wi-Fi AP ap = network.WLAN(network.AP_IF) ap.active(True) ap.config(essid='ESP32-REACT', authmode=3, password='12345678') # HTTP Server to receive mobile commands def web_server(): s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM) s.bind(('0.0.0.0', 80)) s.listen(1) print('Listening on port 80...') while True: conn, addr = s.accept() print('Connection from', addr) request = conn.recv(1024) request = str(request) if '/led/on' in request: led.value(1) elif '/led/off' in request: led.value(0) response = "HTTP/1.1 200 OK\r\nContent-Type: text/plain\r\n\r\nOK" conn.send(response) conn.close() web_server()
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Once flashed, your ESP32 becomes a Wi-Fi hotspot that also runs a micro web server — your React Native mobile app can talk HTTP directly to it!

📱 React Native App (Expo FTW)

We’ll use Expo for simplicity (you can eject later for advanced native stuff).

npx create-expo-app esp32-controller cd esp32-controller npx expo start
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Install fetch polyfills:

npm install whatwg-fetch
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

App.js 

import React, { useState } from 'react'; import { View, Button, Text, StyleSheet } from 'react-native'; export default function App() { const [status, setStatus] = useState('Unknown'); const ESP_IP = 'http://192.168.4.1'; const sendCommand = async (command) => { try { const res = await fetch(`${ESP_IP}/led/${command}`); const text = await res.text(); setStatus(`LED ${command.toUpperCase()} - Response: ${text}`); } catch (err) { setStatus(`Failed to send: ${err.message}`); } }; return ( <View style={styles.container}> <Text style={styles.title}>ESP32 LED Controller</Text> <Button title="Turn ON" onPress={() => sendCommand('on')} /> <Button title="Turn OFF" onPress={() => sendCommand('off')} /> <Text style={styles.status}>{status}</Text> </View> ); } const styles = StyleSheet.create({ container: { flex: 1, justifyContent: 'center', alignItems: 'center' }, title: { fontSize: 24, marginBottom: 20 }, status: { marginTop: 20, fontSize: 16 } });
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Now connect your smartphone to the ESP32 Wi-Fi network, and test your app. Each button tap sends a command to the MicroPython web server — and turns that tiny LED on/off. Magic, right?

🔍 Why This Matters

This pattern unlocks a TON of potential:

  • 🚀 Rapid prototyping of IoT UIs
  • 🧠 Direct control without servers
  • 🔐 More secure (no cloud exposure)
  • 💰 Cheaper — no MQTT broker or backend hosting
  • 🧰 Developer-friendly (Node/React/Python stack)

⚙️ Extending the Pattern

Here are a few ideas:

  • Add Sensor endpoints /temp, /humidity
  • Add WebSocket for real-time updates
  • Build QR code pairing into the app
  • Use local storage to remember paired devices
  • Re-flash ESP remotely via OTA

👀 Final Thoughts

React Native and MicroPython may come from different universes: one rules the JavaScript-driven UI world, the other commands embedded devices in a lightweight interpreted Pythonic form. But together? They form a full-stack frontier for on-device edge computing.

This setup is perfect for startups, hobbyists, or professionals looking to build functional MVPs, control hardware directly, or even prototype custom hardware interfaces at lightning speed 🚀.

🔌 From mobile app to hardware signal — in under 100ms, with zero middleware. That’s a revolution.

📚 Resources

💡 Have you built something with RN + MicroPython? Drop a comment or DM me with your story!

👉 If you need this done – we offer fullstack development services.

Top comments (0)