[wwalser]

> Goal is a finance tech app, although I probably just need a pretty front end…

Sounds like an interesting, ambitious project, I wish you the best :).

For building a finance app, you're completely right to build just a pretty front end. Since you can't trust the client, most everything of substance is going to be done on the backend.

> write to database

You want to send messages to a backend which are validated for sanity and safety then written to a database. What you're after is very likely a simple http client. Documentation is here: https://facebook.github.io/react-native/docs/network.html

> Usernames/passwords

You want an authentication screen that submits to a backend for validation. The backend creates a session which can be managed in a myriad of different ways. Making decisions about exactly how this works is context dependent. You can manage credentialing, tokens, authentication and authorization, someone else can manage it for you, you may oAuth with a platform that you're building on top of etc.

> Accept payments

If people are paying you for a product or service, Stripe. If people are transferring money to you for financial services, planning or management, they will expect to be able to send ACH/wire transfers without a fee associated. I don't have a foot in this world so I don't really know what direction to point.

> its gotta look and feel good

This can be done w/ RN but (obviously) RN isn't required. If you're more comfortable with the native language of the two platforms (Java & Objective-C or Swift) it may be a more productive use of your time to go that direction.

Unsolicited start-up advice: Don't go out of your way to learn new technology while building a company. There are plenty of "hard parts". Intentionally adding to the litany of hurdles to overcome is a very bad idea.

> Any tutorials you recommend?

Given your past experience, I recommend you work through a single simple tutorial (the Facebook one will do) then start trying to build your app. No reason to solve someone else's made up problems when building your own thing will naturally present plenty of problems.

> Reflux

If you mean "Reflux", I don't know what that is and I'm pretty deep in that world. Probably unnecessary.

If you mean "Redux", it's a very popular, extremely simple state management library. I recommend you try going without it and pick it up if you think it will help later on. Redux solves a specific set of problems that most small applications don't have.

[mkirklions]

Thank you for the detail.

>You can manage credentialing, tokens, authentication and authorization, someone else can manage it for you, you may oAuth with a platform that you're building on top of etc.

Is there a Stripe of passwords/credentials?

Or something I can google to understand how to get started?

[leesalminen]

If you’re on a LAMP stack, I assume you’ll use a PHP framework? If so, they will have libraries available that can handle auth for you. Laravel is the big php framework these days. Lots of libraries and tutorials available.

On the payment side of things, Stripe isn’t the only option available. The pro is that it has the fastest Onboarding workflow and a super slick api. The con is that you pay for it.

If you are margin conscious or your business revolves primarily around payments you can do better.

If that is the case for you, build with stripe through MVP stage but keep in mind you may want to swap out one day while building.

I’ve seen some niche businesses save 1% over stripe. That doesn’t apply to everyone but is frequently overlooked.