I hear this semi-often, but I don't really get it. The base UI of Discord is pretty normal / looks just like every other chat app out there. Is it the ads for nitro and stuff like that were the issue?

Their current client stack is: Web: React Desktop: React + Electron Mobile: React Native + Native

Their commitment to React on so many platforms makes it easy to accumulate bloat. Their need to support lower-level features means they can't avoid native code altogether.

I wonder why they stick with it.

My guess is they don't want to add more hires just for this problem

Their 2018 commitment to RN: https://discord.com/blog/why-discord-is-sticking-with-react-...

Their 2025 complications with it: https://discord.com/blog/supercharging-discord-mobile-our-jo...