Hermes not disabled

[BloodyMonkey]

Description

I upgraded a project from 0.61.5 to 0.70.5.
I disabled hermes because of a conflict with debugging and use_native_modules.
BUT Android compilation seems to use hermes anyway.

Tasks like this are run
ReactAndroid:hermes-engine:buildCMakeRelease[x86_64][libhermes]
or
ReactAndroid:buildCMakeDebug[armeabi-v7a][fabricjni,hermes-executor-debug,etc]

Compilation failed and i suspect it's related.

See my problem here

I'm i missing something ?

Version

0.70.5

Output of npx react-native info

System:
OS: macOS 12.6
CPU: (8) arm64 Apple M1
Memory: 486.47 MB / 16.00 GB
Shell: 3.2.57 - /bin/bash
Binaries:
Node: 19.0.1 - /opt/homebrew/bin/node
Yarn: 1.22.19 - /opt/homebrew/bin/yarn
npm: 8.19.2 - /opt/homebrew/bin/npm
Watchman: 2022.09.12.00 - /usr/local/bin/watchman
Managers:
CocoaPods: 1.11.3 - /opt/homebrew/bin/pod
SDKs:
iOS SDK:
Platforms: DriverKit 21.4, iOS 16.0, macOS 12.3, tvOS 16.0, watchOS 9.0
Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
Android Studio: 2021.3 AI-213.7172.25.2113.9014738
Xcode: 14.0.1/14A400 - /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
Java: 11.0.17 - /Users/bil/.jenv/shims/javac
npmPackages:
@react-native-community/cli: Not Found
react: 18.1.0 => 18.1.0
react-native: 0.70.5 => 0.70.5
react-native-macos: Not Found

Steps to reproduce

Can't reproduce with a fresh project

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

android/build.gradle

// Top-level build file where you can add configuration options common to all sub-projects/modules.

buildscript {

    ext {
        minSdkVersion = 21
        targetSdkVersion = 31
        compileSdkVersion = 31
        buildToolsVersion = "31.0.0"
        supportLibVersion = "28.0.0"
        googlePlayServicesVersion = "16.0.0"
        googlePlayServicesVisionVersion = "16.2.0"
        // react-native-device-info dependency
        googlePlayServicesIidVersion = "16.0.1"
        kotlinVersion = "1.6.21"

        if (System.properties['os.arch'] == "aarch64") {
            // For M1 Users we need to use the NDK 24 which added support for aarch64
            ndkVersion = "25.1.8937393"
        } else {
            // Otherwise we default to the side-by-side NDK version from AGP.
            ndkVersion = "21.4.7075529"
        }
    }
    repositories {
        google()
        mavenCentral()
    }
    dependencies {
        classpath "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-gradle-plugin:1.6.0"

        classpath('com.android.tools.build:gradle:7.3.1')
        classpath("com.facebook.react:react-native-gradle-plugin")
        classpath("de.undercouch:gradle-download-task:5.0.1")
        
        classpath 'com.google.gms:google-services:4.3.14'
        classpath 'com.netflix.nebula:gradle-dependency-lock-plugin:5.0.4'
        classpath 'com.google.firebase:firebase-crashlytics-gradle:2.3.0'

        // NOTE: Do not place your application dependencies here; they belong
        // in the individual module build.gradle files
    }
}

allprojects {
    repositories {
        maven {
            // All of React Native (JS, Obj-C sources, Android binaries) is installed from npm
            url("$rootDir/../node_modules/react-native/android")
        }
        maven {
            // Android JSC is installed from npm
            url("$rootDir/../node_modules/jsc-android/dist")
        }
        mavenCentral {
            // We don't want to fetch react-native from Maven Central as there are
            // older versions over there.
            content {
                excludeGroup "com.facebook.react"
            }
        }
        google()
        maven { url 'https://www.jitpack.io' }

    }
}

subprojects {
    afterEvaluate { project ->
        if (project.hasProperty("android")) {
            android {
                compileSdkVersion 31
            }
        }
    }
}

app/build.gradle

apply plugin: "com.android.application"
apply from: project(':react-native-config').projectDir.getPath() + "/dotenv.gradle"
apply plugin: "nebula.dependency-lock"
apply plugin: 'com.google.gms.google-services'
apply plugin: 'com.google.firebase.crashlytics'

import com.android.build.OutputFile
import org.apache.tools.ant.taskdefs.condition.Os

/**
 * The react.gradle file registers a task for each build variant (e.g. bundleDebugJsAndAssets
 * and bundleReleaseJsAndAssets).
 * These basically call `react-native bundle` with the correct arguments during the Android build
 * cycle. By default, bundleDebugJsAndAssets is skipped, as in debug/dev mode we prefer to load the
 * bundle directly from the development server. Below you can see all the possible configurations
 * and their defaults. If you decide to add a configuration block, make sure to add it before the
 * `apply from: "../../node_modules/react-native/react.gradle"` line.
 *
 * project.ext.react = [
 *   // the name of the generated asset file containing your JS bundle
 *   bundleAssetName: "index.android.bundle",
 *
 *   // the entry file for bundle generation. If none specified and
 *   // "index.android.js" exists, it will be used. Otherwise "index.js" is
 *   // default. Can be overridden with ENTRY_FILE environment variable.
 *   entryFile: "index.android.js",
 *
 *   // https://reactnative.dev/docs/performance#enable-the-ram-format
 *   bundleCommand: "ram-bundle",
 *
 *   // whether to bundle JS and assets in debug mode
 *   bundleInDebug: false,
 *
 *   // whether to bundle JS and assets in release mode
 *   bundleInRelease: true,
 *
 *   // whether to bundle JS and assets in another build variant (if configured).
 *   // See http://tools.android.com/tech-docs/new-build-system/user-guide#TOC-Build-Variants
 *   // The configuration property can be in the following formats
 *   //         'bundleIn${productFlavor}${buildType}'
 *   //         'bundleIn${buildType}'
 *   // bundleInFreeDebug: true,
 *   // bundleInPaidRelease: true,
 *   // bundleInBeta: true,
 *
 *   // whether to disable dev mode in custom build variants (by default only disabled in release)
 *   // for example: to disable dev mode in the staging build type (if configured)
 *   devDisabledInStaging: true,
 *   // The configuration property can be in the following formats
 *   //         'devDisabledIn${productFlavor}${buildType}'
 *   //         'devDisabledIn${buildType}'
 *
 *   // the root of your project, i.e. where "package.json" lives
 *   root: "../../",
 *
 *   // where to put the JS bundle asset in debug mode
 *   jsBundleDirDebug: "$buildDir/intermediates/assets/debug",
 *
 *   // where to put the JS bundle asset in release mode
 *   jsBundleDirRelease: "$buildDir/intermediates/assets/release",
 *
 *   // where to put drawable resources / React Native assets, e.g. the ones you use via
 *   // require('./image.png')), in debug mode
 *   resourcesDirDebug: "$buildDir/intermediates/res/merged/debug",
 *
 *   // where to put drawable resources / React Native assets, e.g. the ones you use via
 *   // require('./image.png')), in release mode
 *   resourcesDirRelease: "$buildDir/intermediates/res/merged/release",
 *
 *   // by default the gradle tasks are skipped if none of the JS files or assets change; this means
 *   // that we don't look at files in android/ or ios/ to determine whether the tasks are up to
 *   // date; if you have any other folders that you want to ignore for performance reasons (gradle
 *   // indexes the entire tree), add them here. Alternatively, if you have JS files in android/
 *   // for example, you might want to remove it from here.
 *   inputExcludes: ["android/**", "ios/**"],
 *
 *   // override which node gets called and with what additional arguments
 *   nodeExecutableAndArgs: ["node"],
 *
 *   // supply additional arguments to the packager
 *   extraPackagerArgs: []
 * ]
 */

project.ext.react = [
    enableHermes: false,  // clean and rebuild if changing
]

apply from: "../../node_modules/react-native/react.gradle"

/**
 * Set this to true to create two separate APKs instead of one:
 *   - An APK that only works on ARM devices
 *   - An APK that only works on x86 devices
 * The advantage is the size of the APK is reduced by about 4MB.
 * Upload all the APKs to the Play Store and people will download
 * the correct one based on the CPU architecture of their device.
 */
def enableSeparateBuildPerCPUArchitecture = false

/**
 * Run Proguard to shrink the Java bytecode in release builds.
 */
def enableProguardInReleaseBuilds = false

/**
 * The preferred build flavor of JavaScriptCore.
 *
 * For example, to use the international variant, you can use:
 * `def jscFlavor = 'org.webkit:android-jsc-intl:+'`
 *
 * The international variant includes ICU i18n library and necessary data
 * allowing to use e.g. `Date.toLocaleString` and `String.localeCompare` that
 * give correct results when using with locales other than en-US.  Note that
 * this variant is about 6MiB larger per architecture than default.
 */
def jscFlavor = 'org.webkit:android-jsc:+'

/**
 * Whether to enable the Hermes VM.
 *
 * This should be set on project.ext.react and that value will be read here. If it is not set
 * on project.ext.react, JavaScript will not be compiled to Hermes Bytecode
 * and the benefits of using Hermes will therefore be sharply reduced.
 */
def enableHermes = project.ext.react.get("enableHermes", false);

/**
 * Architectures to build native code for.
 */
def reactNativeArchitectures() {
    def value = project.getProperties().get("reactNativeArchitectures")
    return value ? value.split(",") : ["armeabi-v7a", "x86", "x86_64", "arm64-v8a"]
}

android {
    ndkVersion rootProject.ext.ndkVersion

    compileSdkVersion rootProject.ext.compileSdkVersion

    defaultConfig {
        applicationId "com.******.android"
        minSdkVersion rootProject.ext.minSdkVersion
        targetSdkVersion rootProject.ext.targetSdkVersion
        versionCode 1
        versionName "1.0"
        buildConfigField "boolean", "IS_NEW_ARCHITECTURE_ENABLED", isNewArchitectureEnabled().toString()
        missingDimensionStrategy 'react-native-camera', 'general'

        if (isNewArchitectureEnabled()) {
            // We configure the CMake build only if you decide to opt-in for the New Architecture.
            externalNativeBuild {
                cmake {
                    arguments "-DPROJECT_BUILD_DIR=$buildDir",
                        "-DREACT_ANDROID_DIR=$rootDir/../node_modules/react-native/ReactAndroid",
                        "-DREACT_ANDROID_BUILD_DIR=$rootDir/../node_modules/react-native/ReactAndroid/build",
                        "-DNODE_MODULES_DIR=$rootDir/../node_modules",
                        "-DANDROID_STL=c++_shared"
                }
            }
            if (!enableSeparateBuildPerCPUArchitecture) {
                ndk {
                    abiFilters (*reactNativeArchitectures())
                }
            }
        }
    }

    if (isNewArchitectureEnabled()) {
        // We configure the NDK build only if you decide to opt-in for the New Architecture.
        externalNativeBuild {
            cmake {
                path "$projectDir/src/main/jni/CMakeLists.txt"
            }
        }
        def reactAndroidProjectDir = project(':ReactAndroid').projectDir
        def packageReactNdkDebugLibs = tasks.register("packageReactNdkDebugLibs", Copy) {
            dependsOn(":ReactAndroid:packageReactNdkDebugLibsForBuck")
            from("$reactAndroidProjectDir/src/main/jni/prebuilt/lib")
            into("$buildDir/react-ndk/exported")
        }
        def packageReactNdkReleaseLibs = tasks.register("packageReactNdkReleaseLibs", Copy) {
            dependsOn(":ReactAndroid:packageReactNdkReleaseLibsForBuck")
            from("$reactAndroidProjectDir/src/main/jni/prebuilt/lib")
            into("$buildDir/react-ndk/exported")
        }
        afterEvaluate {
            // If you wish to add a custom TurboModule or component locally,
            // you should uncomment this line.
            // preBuild.dependsOn("generateCodegenArtifactsFromSchema")
            preDebugBuild.dependsOn(packageReactNdkDebugLibs)
            preReleaseBuild.dependsOn(packageReactNdkReleaseLibs)

            // Due to a bug inside AGP, we have to explicitly set a dependency
            // between configureCMakeDebug* tasks and the preBuild tasks.
            // This can be removed once this is solved: https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/207403732
            configureCMakeRelWithDebInfo.dependsOn(preReleaseBuild)
            configureCMakeDebug.dependsOn(preDebugBuild)
            reactNativeArchitectures().each { architecture ->
                tasks.findByName("configureCMakeDebug[${architecture}]")?.configure {
                    dependsOn("preDebugBuild")
                }
                tasks.findByName("configureCMakeRelWithDebInfo[${architecture}]")?.configure {
                    dependsOn("preReleaseBuild")
                }
            }
        }
    }

    splits {
        abi {
            reset()
            enable enableSeparateBuildPerCPUArchitecture
            universalApk false  // If true, also generate a universal APK
            include (*reactNativeArchitectures())
        }
    }
    signingConfigs {
        debug {
            storeFile file('debug.keystore')
            storePassword 'android'
            keyAlias 'androiddebugkey'
            keyPassword 'android'
        }
    }
    buildTypes {
        debug {
            signingConfig signingConfigs.debug
        }
        release {
            // Caution! In production, you need to generate your own keystore file.
            // see https://reactnative.dev/docs/signed-apk-android.
            signingConfig signingConfigs.debug
            minifyEnabled enableProguardInReleaseBuilds
            proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile("proguard-android.txt"), "proguard-rules.pro"
        }
    }

    // applicationVariants are e.g. debug, release
    applicationVariants.all { variant ->
        variant.outputs.each { output ->
            // For each separate APK per architecture, set a unique version code as described here:
            // https://developer.android.com/studio/build/configure-apk-splits.html
            // Example: versionCode 1 will generate 1001 for armeabi-v7a, 1002 for x86, etc.
            def versionCodes = ["armeabi-v7a": 1, "x86": 2, "arm64-v8a": 3, "x86_64": 4]
            def abi = output.getFilter(OutputFile.ABI)
            if (abi != null) {  // null for the universal-debug, universal-release variants
                output.versionCodeOverride =
                        defaultConfig.versionCode * 1000 + versionCodes.get(abi)
            }

        }
    }
}

dependencies {
    implementation fileTree(dir: "libs", include: ["*.jar"])

    //noinspection GradleDynamicVersion
    implementation project(':react-native-camera')
    implementation(project(':react-native-geolocation-service'))
    implementation project(':react-native-reanimated')
    implementation project(':react-native-gesture-handler')
    implementation project(':@react-native-async-storage_async-storage')
    implementation project(':react-native-datetimepicker')
    implementation project(':react-native-linear-gradient')
    implementation project(':react-native-orientation')
    implementation project(':react-native-i18n')
    implementation project(':react-native-biometrics')
    implementation project(':react-native-vector-icons')
    implementation project(':react-native-splash-screen')
    implementation project(':react-native-sensitive-info')
    implementation project(':react-native-webview')
    implementation project(':react-native-device-info')
    implementation project(':lottie-react-native')
    implementation project(':@react-native-community_blur')
    implementation project(':rn-fetch-blob')
    implementation project(':react-native-svg')
    implementation 'com.mikhaellopez:circularprogressbar:3.1.0'
    implementation("jp.wasabeef:blurry:4.0.1")
    implementation project(':react-native-pdf')
    implementation project(':react-native-config')
    implementation(project(':react-native-maps'))
    implementation(project(':react-native-google-places'))
    implementation fileTree(dir: "libs", include: ["*.jar"])
    implementation "com.android.support:appcompat-v7:28.0.0"
    implementation 'androidx.appcompat:appcompat:1.1.0-rc01'
    implementation 'androidx.swiperefreshlayout:swiperefreshlayout:1.1.0-alpha02'
    implementation "com.facebook.react:react-native:+"  // From node_modules
    implementation 'com.android.support:multidex:1.0.3'

    // implementation 'de.idnow.sdk:idnow-android-5.1.8@aar'
    implementation 'com.squareup.retrofit:retrofit:1.9.0'
    implementation 'com.squareup.okhttp3:okhttp:3.12.1'
    implementation 'com.android.support:support-v4:28.0.0'
    implementation 'com.android.support:support-annotations:26.1.0'
    implementation 'com.googlecode.libphonenumber:libphonenumber:8.4.2'
    implementation 'io.sentry:sentry-android:1.7.16'
    implementation "androidx.constraintlayout:constraintlayout:1.1.3"
    implementation 'me.relex:circleindicator:2.1.6'

    //debugImplementation 'com.squareup.leakcanary:leakcanary-android:2.0'

    implementation 'com.google.code.gson:gson:2.7'
    implementation('com.crashlytics.sdk.android:crashlytics:2.9.9') {
     transitive = true
    }
    // Firebase dependencies
    //implementation "com.google.android.gms:play-services-flags:16.0.0"
    //implementation 'me.leolin:ShortcutBadger:1.1.21@aar'

    // For animated GIF support
    implementation 'com.facebook.fresco:animated-gif:1.10.0'

    implementation "androidx.swiperefreshlayout:swiperefreshlayout:1.0.0"

    debugImplementation("com.facebook.flipper:flipper:${FLIPPER_VERSION}") {
        exclude group:'com.facebook.fbjni'
    }

    debugImplementation("com.facebook.flipper:flipper-network-plugin:${FLIPPER_VERSION}") {
        exclude group:'com.facebook.flipper'
        exclude group:'com.squareup.okhttp3', module:'okhttp'
    }

    debugImplementation("com.facebook.flipper:flipper-fresco-plugin:${FLIPPER_VERSION}") {
        exclude group:'com.facebook.flipper'
    }

    if (enableHermes) {
        //noinspection GradleDynamicVersion
        implementation("com.facebook.react:hermes-engine:+") { // From node_modules
            exclude group:'com.facebook.fbjni'
        }
    } else {
        implementation jscFlavor
    }
}

if (isNewArchitectureEnabled()) {
    // If new architecture is enabled, we let you build RN from source
    // Otherwise we fallback to a prebuilt .aar bundled in the NPM package.
    // This will be applied to all the imported transtitive dependency.
    configurations.all {
        resolutionStrategy.dependencySubstitution {
            substitute(module("com.facebook.react:react-native"))
                    .using(project(":ReactAndroid"))
                    .because("On New Architecture we're building React Native from source")
            substitute(module("com.facebook.react:hermes-engine"))
                    .using(project(":ReactAndroid:hermes-engine"))
                    .because("On New Architecture we're building Hermes from source")
        }
    }
}

// Run this once to be able to run the application with BUCK
// puts all compile dependencies into folder libs for BUCK to use
task copyDownloadableDepsToLibs(type: Copy) {
    from configurations.implementation
    into 'libs'
}

apply from: file("../../node_modules/@react-native-community/cli-platform-android/native_modules.gradle"); applyNativeModulesAppBuildGradle(project)

def isNewArchitectureEnabled() {
    // To opt-in for the New Architecture, you can either:
    // - Set `newArchEnabled` to true inside the `gradle.properties` file
    // - Invoke gradle with `-newArchEnabled=true`
    // - Set an environment variable `ORG_GRADLE_PROJECT_newArchEnabled=true`
    return project.hasProperty("newArchEnabled") && project.newArchEnabled == "true"
}

[Rami41895]

i had the same issues and i debugged it by changing :

• react native version from 0.70.5 to 0.70.0
• ndkVersion in buildgradle file : from "21.4.7075529" to "23.2.8568313"
• enbaling Hermes and the new arch
• enter to jni folder in android/app/src/main/jni ane run this command "cmake -G "your visual studio version" -A x64 (expl ==> cmake -G "Visual Studio 17 2022" -A x64 )
• cleaning project and gradlew (./gradlew clean)
• run your project

note*** : you should set up your system environment to your path by adding cmake , mingw64 and MinGW

[BloodyMonkey]

Like i said, I don't want to enable Hermes.

[Rami41895]

aah okey so you can enable/disable it manually by replacing flags[:hermes_enabled] with true or false and clean your project before you run it

[BloodyMonkey]

Lol you don't even read my question.
Plus, flags[:hermes_enabled] is for iOS

[cortinico]

BUT Android compilation seems to use hermes anyway.

That's happening because you're using the New Architecture.
For the New Architecture, we have to build React Native from source.
Even if you're using JSC, there is a module inside React Native which needs Hermes. That's why you're building it. You won't be using Hermes at runtime thouhg.

In 0.71 we fixed this so you won't be building Hermes at all

[LoserAntbear]

@cortinico
Having the same issue, although it is stuck on the buildCMakeDebug process endlessly ( I've been waiting for more than 1 hour) and it hinders the build process. Is it possible to disable the step somehow in 0.70.5?

[cortinico]

Is it possible to disable the step somehow in 0.70.5?

As of now for Windows users experiencing extremely long build time like you, the easiest is to either:

• Try 0.71.0-rc2
• Disable the New Architecture on 0.70.5

[LoserAntbear]

Is it possible to disable the step somehow in 0.70.5?

As of now, the easiest is to either:

• Try 0.71.0-rc2
• Disable the New Architecture on 0.70.5

Thanks! I was able to finally produce a build, leaving only one architecture instead of two in the reactNativeArchitectures gradle property and running the build within android studio itself.

It seems that running build script using react-native cli is less performant for some reasons.

[cortinico]

I forgot to mention that this page contains several tips on how to speedup your build:
https://reactnative.dev/docs/next/build-speed

[LoserAntbear]

I forgot to mention that this page contains several tips on how to speedup your build: https://reactnative.dev/docs/next/build-speed

It was the first thing a came back to when trying to tackle the issue. Still I have to understand why cli run from VSCode/detached terminal is performing worse than android studio launch.

It could be some system resources distribution, but still.

[cortinico]

Still I have to understand why cli run from VSCode/detached terminal is performing worse than android studio launch.

That's because Android Studio lets you pick an Architecture (on the menu on the side) and passes that information to the build system. For the CLI you'll have to use --active-arch-only or other flags suggested in the page.