Bringing mobile apps into Virtual Reality doesn't require learning a completely new language. Since Meta Quest runs on Horizon OS (an Android fork), your existing React Native code compiles almost out of the box. However, "it compiles" doesn't mean "it belongs." VR replaces small touchscreens with large floating panels, controllers, and thumbsticks—shattering traditional mobile layout and input assumptions.

In this introductory-level session, we will demystify VR development for React Native developers. Drawing from a real-world flagship case study, we will explore the practical engineering reality of spatial ports, mapping out hidden pitfalls from OS-level text input bugs to thumbstick scroll leaks.

You will leave this talk understanding:
1. How Horizon OS relates to traditional Android development.
2. How to handle spatial input models (thumbstick scrolling vs touch gestures).
3. Core strategies for adapting 2D layouts for distant viewing panels.