Error Building the app in release mode "main.jsbundle does not exist"

[MohammedWaheeb]

Description

We are building a react native application and we are facing this issue sometimes, without any changes building can work or fail

`▸ Running script 'Bundle React Native code and images'
the transform cache was reset.

❌ error: File /Users/runner/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/-eulgfyrcmjmgohfphedrvfvwygma/Build/Products/Release-iphoneos/***.app/main.jsbundle does not exist. This must be a bug with React Native, please report it here: https://github.com/facebook/react-native/issues

▸ Generating '**********.app.dSYM'
** BUILD FAILED **

The following build commands failed:
PhaseScriptExecution Bundle\ React\ Native\ code\ and\ images /Users/runner/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/-eulgfyrcmjmgohfphedrvfvwygma/Build/Intermediates.noindex/**********.build/Release-iphoneos/.build/Script-00DD1BFF1BD5951E806B06BC.sh
(1 failure)
##[error]Error: /usr/bin/xcodebuild failed with return code: 65`

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React Native Version

0.71.6

Output of npx react-native info

System:
OS: macOS 12.6.4
CPU: (3) x64 Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-1650 v2 @ 3.50GHz
Memory: 5.16 GB / 14.00 GB
Shell: 3.2.57 - /bin/bash
Binaries:
Node: 16.16.0 - ~/hostedtoolcache/node/16.16.0/x64/bin/node
Yarn: 1.22.19 - ~/.yarn/bin/yarn
npm: 8.11.0 - ~/hostedtoolcache/node/16.16.0/x64/bin/npm
Watchman: Not Found
Managers:
CocoaPods: 1.12.0 - /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/3.0.0/bin/pod
SDKs:
iOS SDK:
Platforms: DriverKit 22.2, iOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, tvOS 16.1, watchOS 9.1
Android SDK:
API Levels: 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 33, 33
Build Tools: 27.0.0, 27.0.1, 27.0.2, 27.0.3, 28.0.0, 28.0.1, 28.0.2, 28.0.3, 29.0.0, 29.0.1, 29.0.2, 29.0.3, 30.0.0, 30.0.1, 30.0.2, 30.0.3, 31.0.0, 32.0.0, 33.0.0, 33.0.1, 33.0.2
Android NDK: 25.2.9519653
IDEs:
Android Studio: Not Found
Xcode: 14.2/14C18 - /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
Java: 1.8.0_362 - /usr/bin/javac
npmPackages:
@react-native-community/cli: Not Found
react: 18.2.0 => 18.2.0
react-native: 0.71.6 => 0.71.6
react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
react-native: Not Found

Steps to reproduce

Build the app, in an azure pipeline enviroemnt, and its not stable on my local machine, I get

Snack, code example, screenshot, or link to a repository

npx react-native run-ios --configuration Release

[blakef]

I can't reproduce it using these steps:

npx react-native@latest init RN0716 --version 0.71.6
cd RN0716/ios
bundle install && bundle exec pod install
npx react-native run-ios --configuration Release

[github-actions]

This issue is waiting for author's feedback since 24 days. Please provide the requested feedback or this will be closed in 7 days.

[segebee]

I had this same issue

Realized it was because I changed the index.js file to index.tsx

Discovered this error by adding the below to package.json

"build:ios": "react-native bundle --entry-file='index.js' --bundle-output='./ios/main.jsbundle' --dev=false --platform='ios'"

and running yarn build:ios or npm run build:ios

[github-actions]

This issue is waiting for author's feedback since 24 days. Please provide the requested feedback or this will be closed in 7 days.

[github-actions]

This issue was closed because it has been stalled for 7 days with no activity.

[viettranbhtech]

I had to update export NODE_BINARY=/usr/local/bin/node in ios/.xcode.env and it worked.
My project had same issue after upgrading to new RN 0.71.7

[sportakal]

I had to update export NODE_BINARY=/usr/local/bin/node in ios/.xcode.env and it worked. My project had same issue after upgrading to new RN 0.71.7

Thanks for resolution. It works for me with a minor difference.

My node binary was /opt/homebrew/bin/node. I found it run command -v nodein terminal.

Hope helps to other.

[usedlife]

I solved it with this:
#34768 (comment)

background with me:
I use nvm to manage the node version, and the system default node version is very low (<12).

When packaging mainbundle.js, /bin/sh uses the default node version, resulting in a syntax error exception.

The key to the solution is to use the correct node version when packaging.

[usedlife]

I solved it with this: #34768 (comment)

background with me: I use nvm to manage the node version, and the system default node version is very low (<12).

When packaging mainbundle.js, /bin/sh uses the default node version, resulting in a syntax error exception.

The key to the solution is to use the correct node version when packaging.

And the official documentation has given the hint:

https://reactnative.dev/docs/environment-setup?guide=native#optional-configuring-your-environment

[ajayranga]

Hi same issue after updating react-native to 0.72.4 from 0.70.5.
Able to fix it by build:ios command but I need to run the build:ios command every time before creating ios archive.
Which was not default behavior.
Please let know if there is any other fix for this.

[amorimcode]

I need to run
react-native bundle --entry-file='index.js' --bundle-output='./ios/main.jsbundle' --dev=false --platform='ios'

everytime im creating archive, please some tips?

[segebee]

It solved our issue... but I do not know if we still do that for every build

I need to run react-native bundle --entry-file='index.js' --bundle-output='./ios/main.jsbundle' --dev=false --platform='ios'

everytime im creating archive, please some tips?

[usedlife]

I need to run react-native bundle --entry-file='index.js' --bundle-output='./ios/main.jsbundle' --dev=false --platform='ios'

everytime im creating archive, please some tips?

react-native repo will automatically bundle when create iOS archive

[ItaloVCosta]

After I forced Xcode to use the same Node.js version as my project, this issue stopped happening. To force the Node.js version, I simply set the default version to the correct one using the command:

nvm alias default 12.22.12

[segebee]

After I forced Xcode to use the same Node.js version as my project, this issue stopped happening. To force the Node.js version, I simply set the default version to the correct one using the command:

nvm alias default 12.22.12

thanks for sharing

[khawarzaman001]

export PATH=/opt/homebrew/bin:$PATH
export NODE_BINARY=node
../node_modules/react-native/scripts/react-native-xcode.sh

Add the following lines in build phases under "Bundle React Native Code and Images"
Hope it will remove the error :)

[edcity-charlie]

export PATH=/opt/homebrew/bin:$PATH export NODE_BINARY=node ../node_modules/react-native/scripts/react-native-xcode.sh

Add the following lines in build phases under "Bundle React Native Code and Images" Hope it will remove the error :)

Thanks for sharing, it works in my trial.
My project is an expo project and native build with XCode.
My XCode version is Version 15.2 (15C500b)
My expo version is 49

[roancoetzee]

Posting my experiece since it might help someone else.
react-native: 0.70.15
xcode: 15.1

I had a look at the script responsible for building the main.jsbundle at node_modules/react-native/scripts/react-native-xcode.sh.
The script was failling on this line "$HERMES_CLI_PATH" -emit-binary $EXTRA_COMPILER_ARGS -out "$DEST/main.jsbundle" "$BUNDLE_FILE".

To get to this line USE_HERMES would need to be anything but false. Since we haven't swapped over to hermes yet and we explicitly set hermes_enabled => false in our PODS file, I expected that USE_HERMES would be false. However when I echoed USE_HERMES, it resulted in being empty. This meant that the check if [[ $USE_HERMES == false ]] would fail and the code for a hermes enabled environment would be run, which is not what we want.

I haven't figure out why USE_HERMES is not being set but as temp workaround I am setting it manually in Bundle React Native code and images like below.

If anyone knows why USE_HERMES is not getting set let me know.

[tux2nicolae]

@roancoetzee you won't believe it, but you already helped someone (10h from your comment).

Thank you, for pointing it out! Just noticed the same thing even on the latest react native version (0.73.5).

p.s if you find out why it wasn't set, please share with us as well :)

[VitDev17]

@roancoetzee You are super on point here! Can you explain to us how you came to this solution? What was the debugging process?
Thank you a lot my man!

[roancoetzee]

@VitDev17 Glad it helped. Debugging wise it wasn't anything special. In xcode you can view the build logs by doing
View -> Navigator -> Reports or cmd + 9

The error appeared under the Run custom shell script 'Bundle React Native code and images' job in the right panel which pointed me in the direction of the script. There I played around with the script by using echos to figure out what was going on.

[e3bmo3ty]

Posting my experiece since it might help someone else. react-native: 0.70.15 xcode: 15.1

I had a look at the script responsible for building the main.jsbundle at node_modules/react-native/scripts/react-native-xcode.sh. The script was failling on this line "$HERMES_CLI_PATH" -emit-binary $EXTRA_COMPILER_ARGS -out "$DEST/main.jsbundle" "$BUNDLE_FILE".

To get to this line USE_HERMES would need to be anything but false. Since we haven't swapped over to hermes yet and we explicitly set hermes_enabled => false in our PODS file, I expected that USE_HERMES would be false. However when I echoed USE_HERMES, it resulted in being empty. This meant that the check if [[ $USE_HERMES == false ]] would fail and the code for a hermes enabled environment would be run, which is not what we want.

I haven't figure out why USE_HERMES is not being set but as temp workaround I am setting it manually in Bundle React Native code and images like below.

If anyone knows why USE_HERMES is not getting set let me know.

@roancoetzee thanks, after hours of debugging this is the only solution works for me

[duirron]

I solved it with this: #34768 (comment)

background with me: I use nvm to manage the node version, and the system default node version is very low (<12).

When packaging mainbundle.js, /bin/sh uses the default node version, resulting in a syntax error exception.

The key to the solution is to use the correct node version when packaging.

this help-me with error "Make sure you're running a packager server or have included a .jsbundle file in your application bundle." Thank you man.

[React-RN-Pratik]

export PATH=/opt/homebrew/bin:$PATH export NODE_BINARY=node ../node_modules/react-native/scripts/react-native-xcode.sh

Add the following lines in build phases under "Bundle React Native Code and Images" Hope it will remove the error :)

I appreciate your response, as it is very useful for my React-Native version 0.63.4.