Building a React Native app inside Lovable gives developers a powerful combination: Lovable’s AI-assisted speed and React Native’s flexible, cross-platform mobile framework. But shipping mobile apps requires more than generating screens—you need a clean project structure that’s scalable, predictable, and easy for teams to maintain. A good structure reduces bugs, improves readability, speeds up development, and keeps Lovable’s AI performing at its best.

Here’s how to structure your React Native project inside Lovable so it stays organized, scalable, and easy to extend.

Keep a Clear and Predictable Folder Structure

A well-defined folder layout is essential, especially when Lovable is generating or updating code. Clear structure helps the AI understand where files belong and reduces the risk of misplaced components or conflicting logic.

A common, proven layout looks like this:

/src
  /components
  /screens
  /navigation
  /hooks
  /services
  /context
  /utils
  /styles
  App.tsx

This structure separates concerns cleanly. Components stay reusable, screens remain easy to navigate, and shared logic sits in predictable places. Lovable works best when your project follows recognizable patterns.

Separate Reusable Components from Screens

React Native projects often become messy when components and screens blend together. Use Lovable to generate small, reusable components inside /components and keep full pages or flows in /screens.

Examples:

• ButtonPrimary.tsx → goes in /components
• LoginScreen.tsx → goes in /screens

This separation makes updates easier. When using Select & Edit in Lovable, you’ll get more accurate changes because the AI understands whether it should modify a screen layout or a reusable element.

Use Services for API and Backend Logic

If your app uses Supabase, Firebase, a custom API, or a Lovable-generated backend, place all network logic in a /services folder. This keeps API calls away from UI components and prevents duplication.

Example services:

• authService.ts
• userService.ts
• productService.ts

When Lovable updates your screens, it doesn’t need to touch API logic—creating cleaner, more stable updates.

Centralize App State With Context or Zustand

Mobile apps quickly grow complex. Authentication, user profiles, theme preferences, and cached data all require shared state.

Place shared state utilities under /context or /store (if using Zustand).

Lovable excels when the global architecture is clear. A clean state structure helps the AI avoid introducing conflicting state logic inside individual components.

Keep Navigation organized

Navigation is the backbone of every mobile app. Organize it cleanly under /navigation.

Typical setup:

/navigation
  AppNavigator.tsx
  AuthNavigator.tsx
  MainNavigator.tsx

Lovable can modify or extend navigation easily when routes follow a predictable pattern. If screens follow logical naming conventions (e.g., HomeScreen, ProfileScreen), the AI rarely makes mistakes when wiring routes.

Store Utility Functions and Constants Separately

Avoid embedding utility logic directly into screens. A /utils folder helps keep your screens lighter and easier for Lovable to interpret.

Good examples of utility files:

• formatCurrency.ts
• validateEmail.ts
• theme.ts

The cleaner your utilities are organized, the more accurate Lovable’s updates become.

Style Consistently With a Theme System

React Native styling can become inconsistent quickly. Store shared styles or theme variables inside /styles or /theme.

Examples:

• Colors
  -Spacing
  -Typography
• Shadows
• Border radii

Give Lovable clear instructions such as:
“Use theme.primaryColor for all primary buttons.”
This ensures stylistic consistency across auto-generated components.

Write Clear Prompts for Stable Updates

Because Lovable actively modifies your codebase, your prompts matter.

Follow these best practices:

• Refer to files by name: “Update LoginScreen.tsx”
• Give context reminders: “This is inside the Auth flow.”
• Keep updates focused: “Replace the header component only.”
• Standardize naming conventions for components

The clearer your instructions, the more reliably Lovable maintains your structure.

Keep Your GitHub Repo Clean and Synced

Lovable integrates with GitHub, so commit regularly and keep your branches organized.

A clean Git repo ensures:

• Smoother AI updates
• Easier rollbacks
• Better team collaboration
• Less confusion during refactors

Use feature branches when experimenting with flows or screens so Lovable can iterate safely without breaking production code.

Conclusion

Structuring a React Native project inside Lovable doesn’t require reinventing the wheel—it simply requires clarity, consistency, and separation of concerns. By organizing your components, screens, services, navigation, and utilities in predictable patterns, you give both your team and Lovable’s AI a strong foundation to build on.

With the right structure, Lovable becomes not just a builder, but an accelerator—helping you create mobile apps faster, cleaner, and with fewer integration headaches. A well-organized codebase ensures your app scales smoothly as you add features, onboard collaborators, and polish the user experience.