[iOS] Failed building app with Hermes enabled

Explanation of the problem

React Native is a popular framework for building mobile applications for both iOS and Android platforms. Hermes, on the other hand, is a JavaScript engine that was introduced in React Native version 0.60 as an alternative to the default JavaScript engine, called JavaScriptCore. Hermes is designed to improve the performance of React Native applications, particularly for Android devices.

In this case, the person reporting the bug has encountered an issue with Hermes when using React Native version 0.64 on an iOS device. Specifically, they are encountering an error message during the compilation process that includes a long code block.

The compilation process is an important step in building React Native applications, during which the source code is transformed into executable code that can be run on a mobile device. The error message that the person is seeing likely indicates that there is an issue with the code itself, such as a syntax error, an invalid reference to a variable or function, or an incompatibility between different modules or libraries used in the application.

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Problem solution for [iOS] Failed building app with Hermes enabled

It seems like you are experiencing an issue related to React-Native and Hermes, which is a new JavaScript engine optimized for mobile apps. Based on the information you provided, it seems like you were able to fix the React-Core Double conversion link issue by adding the DoubleConversion.framework library under “Link Binary with Libraries” of the React-Core project under Pods.

Another solution you found suggests enabling Hermes in your podfile, which could help fix the problem. You would need to change the “hermes_enabled” flag to true and then install the pods.

The issue at hand is a common one in software engineering: managing dependencies. When developing a project, it is often necessary to use external libraries and packages to facilitate development, but this can quickly lead to a tangled web of dependencies that can be difficult to manage. This is particularly true when dealing with large, complex projects that have many moving parts. The proposed solution to this issue is the use of package managers, which are tools that help developers manage dependencies and ensure that their projects are built with the correct versions of each dependency.

Other popular problems with React

Problem: Virtual DOM performance issues

One of the most common problems with React is related to performance issues with the virtual DOM. The virtual DOM is a mechanism that React uses to update the view in response to changes in the underlying data. When the state of a component changes, React will first update the virtual DOM, and then update the actual DOM. This process can be slow, particularly if the component has a large number of child elements.

Solution:

To solve this problem, developers can use techniques such as shouldComponentUpdate, which allows components to control when they should re-render, or use the React.memo higher-order component, which only re-renders a component when its props change. Additionally, developers can use the React DevTools extension to identify and optimize components that are causing performance bottlenecks.

Problem: Managing state and props

Another common problem with React is related to managing state and props. React components can have both state and props, which are used to store and pass data between components. However, when a large number of components need to share and update data, it can become difficult to manage and maintain the flow of data.

Solution:

To solve this problem, developers can use a centralized state management library such as Redux or MobX. These libraries allow developers to store all of the application’s state in a single place, and provide a mechanism for updating and sharing that state across all components. Additionally, developers can use the useContext and useReducer hooks to manage state within a component tree.

Problem: Handling Forms

React forms can also be a source of pain for developers, as they require a lot of boilerplate code to handle changes and validation. Forms can be tricky to handle because they often involve multiple inputs, which need to be controlled and updated correctly.

Solution:

To solve this problem, developers can use libraries such as Formik and react-hook-form to handle forms in React. These libraries provide simple APIs for controlling form inputs and handling validation. Additionally, developers can use the useState and useEffect hooks to handle form input changes and validation manually.

A brief introduction to React

React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces. It was developed by Facebook and is now maintained by a community of developers. React allows developers to build reusable UI components, which can be composed to create complex user interfaces. React uses a virtual DOM (Document Object Model) to improve performance by limiting the amount of changes that need to be made to the actual DOM. The virtual DOM is a lightweight representation of the actual DOM and it allows React to compare the current state of the virtual DOM with the previous state, and make only the necessary changes to the actual DOM.

React follows a component-based architecture, where the user interface is broken down into small, self-contained components that can be easily reused and composed to create more complex UI. React components can have both state and props, which are used to store and pass data between components. React also provides a mechanism for handling events, such as user clicks, through the use of event handlers. React also provides a set of lifecycle methods that developers can use to control when a component is created, updated, and destroyed. This allows developers to control the behavior of their components and optimize performance.

Most popular use cases for React

1. Building reusable UI components React allows developers to build reusable UI components that can be composed to create complex user interfaces. Each component is self-contained and can manage its own state and props. This allows developers to easily reuse and maintain their code.
2. Dynamic User Interfaces React uses a virtual DOM to improve performance by limiting the amount of changes that need to be made to the actual DOM. This allows developers to build dynamic user interfaces that can efficiently update in response to changes in the underlying data.
3. Building complex web applications React can be used to build complex web applications that require efficient updating of dynamic data. React also provides a set of lifecycle methods that developers can use to control when a component is created, updated, and destroyed. This allows developers to control the behavior of their components and optimize performance.

class Counter extends React.Component {
  constructor(props) {
    super(props);
    this.state = { count: 0 };
  }

  handleClick = () => {
    this.setState({ count: this.state.count + 1 });
  }

  render() {
    return (
      <div>
        <p>Count: {this.state.count}</p>
        <button onClick={this.handleClick}>
          Increment
        </button>
      </div>
    );
  }
}