You can also ignore React's built-in 'state' object and just store stuff directly in variables using MobX, which will force update components for you. That sai

You can also ignore React's built-in 'state' object and just store stuff directly in variables using MobX, which will force update components for you. That said, it is best used as you describe it: a store that holds all the application state and manages API requests, and then any time it updates, any components observing this store will be forceUpdated