React Native 0.83. 

Vega 2.0 includes React Native 0.83, bringing React 19, the React Compiler, and React Native DevTools to your Fire TV development workflow. 

The React Compiler handles memoization for you at build time. No more manual React.memo, useCallback, or keeping dependency arrays in sync across every tile and handler. Only what needs to re-render does, which means less CPU work and better app performance, especially on catalogue screens with dozens of tiles.

Hermes v1 improves how your code is compiled at build time and how it runs on the device. That helps with the work your TV app does all the time: parsing big catalogue JSON, sorting and filtering rows, and layout math.

You also get React Native DevTools for debugging, so when something is slow, you can see exactly why. Commonly used libraries like React Navigation, Reanimated, and Lottie have been updated for compatibility, and new CSS styling properties like boxShadow and outline give you more options for TV focus states. Explore the supported libraries to see what’s available. 

Still on React Native 0.72? We know jumping eleven releases is a significant upgrade. That's why we built tools and workflows to make the path forward easier; Vega already uses React Native’s new architecture, so the upgrade is simpler than you might expect. Read our blog Upgrade to React Native 0.83 on Vega OS for more guidance.

Go beyond React Native app with Vega native APIs

Sometimes the best performance means going beyond what React Native can do on its own. Vega 2.0 brings native APIs that give you access to capabilities beyond what React Native or WebView can offer. For example, you can use these APIs to add task scheduling and custom UI components to your React Native app. Add native functionality where your app needs it and continue building the rest of your experience in React Native.

Check out our blog on how to Enhance your React Native App with Vega native APIs and explore the available sample apps on hybrid UI and integrating native APIs

^{Our native tooling and AI-powered development capabilities for native APIs are available in early access and will continue to evolve based on developer feedback.}

Amazon Devices Builder Tools (ADBT) for AI

Earlier this year, we introduced Amazon Devices Builder Tools (ADBT) for AI to help developers build faster, test and debug Fire TV apps using their preferred AI coding agents. ADBT for AI provides Amazon device specific knowledge including Vega and workflows to assist with development tasks as you build your Fire TV app.

We continue to launch more Skills and MCP based workflows within ADBT, including workflows for migrating Java and Kotlin apps from Fire OS to React Native for Vega, EMBER catalogue, Launcher, Live TV integrations, support to debug performance issues with React Native DevTools, and accessibility workflows.  

For an existing Vega app, use ADBT for AI to generate a plan for upgrading from React Native 0.72 to 0.83. Based on initial partner testing, developers reported that AI-assisted code migration can be completed in less than one day¹, excluding testing. 

If you already develop apps for Fire TV using Java or Kotlin on Fire OS, you can use ADBT for AI. In early partner pilots, developers reported that ADBT helped accelerate migration from a Fire OS app to an initial working Vega app from months to within a week, reduce the time to a working Amazon feature integration from weeks to days, and shorten performance and crash debugging from days to hours.²  You can review the generated guidance, update your app, and test the changes in your project.

Visit the Amazon Devices Builder Tools documentation to setup within your preferred AI coding agent and try supported workflows in your app.

DevAssistant. Your documentation AI partner

DevAssistant answers Vega questions directly in the developer documentation portal, using official docs as its source. We've also shipped a set of updates based on developer feedback: a domain selector to focus responses on Vega, chat history, page-level context for more relevant answers, search overviews, and support for languages localization, so you spend less time searching docs and more time writing code. 

API stability

Vega 2.0 introduces a well-defined API surface that stays consistent between minor SDK releases. Breaking changes are saved for the major release, which ships once a year. That means you can adopt minor updates with confidence, no unexpected API changes, no rework, and plan for major upgrades on your own timeline.

Going forward, expect one major annual release with minor releases on a regular cadence. Your APIs stay stable across minor releases, giving you a clear timeline to plan upgrades and stay current with the latest SDK improvements.

Update your existing Vega app

If you already have a Vega app, download the Vega 2.0 SDK and review the release notes to plan your update.

For apps using React Native 0.72, we recommend migrating to React Native 0.83 to take advantage of the updated framework, the React Compiler, Hermes v1, and React Native DevTools. Use ADBT for AI to create a migration plan for your app, then build and test your changes with the updated SDK.

If your app requires additional capabilities, such as task scheduling or custom UI components, review the Vega native APIs. You can evaluate these capabilities alongside your framework upgrade.

Get started with Vega 2.0

New to Vega? Visit the tutorial that walks you through setting up your development environment and building your first Vega app.

Download the Vega 2.0 SDK and review the release notes to explore what’s available in Vega 2.0. For AI-assisted development, visit the Amazon Devices Builder Tools documentation. Explore our sample apps on GitHub.

Build more performant apps, build faster, and build with confidence. We can't wait to see what you build with Vega 2.0.