React Native App Crashes On Android With Re.Pack & Debugger

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React Native App Crashes on Android with Re.Pack & Debugger

Hey guys, have you ever encountered the frustrating issue of your React Native app crashing on Android when you try to use the debugger? I recently ran into this, and it turned out to be a tricky situation involving Re.Pack, the build system I was using, and the React Native debugger. Let's dive into what happened and how we can troubleshoot this. I'll share my experience, the steps to reproduce the issue, and hopefully, we'll find some solutions together.

The Bug: React Native Debugger Crashing the App

So, here's the deal. I was working on a new React Native project. I set everything up using bun (which is a fast JavaScript runtime, and is amazing!), and the re.pack bundler. I got the Android app running, no problem, but the moment I tried to open the React Native debugger, BAM! The app crashed. This happened consistently, both in the Android emulator and on my physical Android device. It's like the debugger and the app just couldn't play nice together. This is a pretty common problem in the React Native world, it's really frustrating, especially when you're trying to debug your app and figure out what's going on.

I started the project with the following commands:

bun run android
bun start

Then I opened the app on Android and tried to use the React Native debugger, and the app would crash immediately after.

I also found a similar issue on GitHub at this link, which made me realize I wasn't alone in this. This helped me to understand that the issue was happening, and to know what to look for when trying to solve this problem. I was able to find the solution. Let's break down the system info to see what's what.

Debugging Steps:

  1. Build the app: I initially set up the app using the command bun run android. This command compiles the project and prepares it for running on the Android emulator or device.
  2. Start the development server: I then ran bun start. This launches the development server, which is crucial for features like live reloading and the debugger.
  3. Run the app and open the debugger: I opened the React Native debugger by opening the developer menu. I selected Open Debugger, and the app crashed instantly.

This behavior really hindered the debugging process, so I needed to find a solution to get the debugger working again. Let's look at the system information I have.

System Information: What's Under the Hood?

To get a better handle on the situation, I gathered some system information. This is always a good practice, because it gives you context and helps you pinpoint potential causes. Here's a summary of my setup:

  • Operating System: macOS 26.1. This tells us the host environment where the development is happening.
  • CPU: 14-core Apple M4 Pro. Nice and powerful. It's good to know the hardware capabilities.
  • Memory: 48GB, with 6.99 GB in use. Enough RAM to keep things running smoothly.
  • Node.js: version 22.21.1. This is the version of Node.js I'm using, which is a key part of the JavaScript ecosystem.
  • npm: version 10.9.4. This is the package manager I'm using. It is vital for project dependencies.
  • React Native: versions 0.81.5. This shows which version of React Native is installed. The specific version is important for compatibility.
  • Re.Pack: version 5.2.2. The specific version is important because it is what is causing the problem.
  • Android SDK: Multiple API levels and Build Tools. This is the Android SDK, including the API levels and build tools, used for the project.

This information helps a lot when figuring out what might be causing the crash. Looking at the versions of React Native, Re.Pack, and other dependencies is a good starting point. Often, compatibility issues between different versions of these tools can cause problems like this.

Why System Info Matters:

  • Dependency Conflicts: Version mismatches between React Native, Re.Pack, and other libraries can lead to crashes. The system info helps to identify those incompatibilities.
  • Environment-Specific Issues: Some issues are specific to certain operating systems or hardware. System info helps to narrow down the problem.
  • Troubleshooting: When you're asking for help, providing this info makes it easier for others to understand your setup and offer relevant solutions.

Understanding your system info helps in tracking down the root cause of the crashes.

Reproduction: How to Make the Crash Happen

To help others (and myself) reproduce the issue, I've outlined the exact steps to make the crash happen. You can try this yourself to see if you get the same result.

Steps to Reproduce the Issue:

  1. Project Setup: Start by cloning the project from this GitHub repository: https://github.com/vickylance/salesrep_tracker.
  2. Install Dependencies: Make sure you have all the necessary dependencies installed. Use bun install or the package manager of your choice to do this.
  3. Run Android: Execute bun run android to build and run the Android app.
  4. Start the Metro Bundler: In a separate terminal, run bun start to start the Metro bundler.
  5. Open the App: Open the app on either an Android emulator or a physical device.
  6. Open Developer Menu: In the running app, open the developer menu (usually by shaking the device or using a menu option).
  7. Open DevTools: From the developer menu, select the option to open the React Native Debugger (usually