React Native Bundler Bug?

[Stecken]

Description

I'm not sure what's going on. I spent the afternoon trying to figure out how to run a new React Native project at version 0.78.0. I simply created a new project using the following command:

npx @react-native-community/cli@17.0.0 init AwesomeProject --version 0.78.0

The project was created, and I was able to build it successfully. However, as soon as I ran the Metro bundler, the app displayed a black screen. I had to manually close the app and reopen it for anything to appear.

Steps to reproduce

1. First init a new project with npx @react-native-community/cli@17.0.0 init AwesomeProject --version 0.78.0
2. Run npm run android && npm run start
3. Await it to build, as soon as the app run close it, and open again manually.

React Native Version

0.78.0

Output of npx @react-native-community/cli info

System:
  OS: Linux 6.8 Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS 24.04.2 LTS (Noble Numbat)
  CPU: (4) x64 Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-6500 CPU @ 3.20GHz
  Memory: 11.77 GB / 31.28 GB
  Shell:
    version: 5.2.21
    path: /bin/bash
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 18.18.0
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v18.18.0/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 1.22.19
    path: /usr/bin/yarn
  npm:
    version: 10.8.3
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v18.18.0/bin/npm
  Watchman:
    version: 20231224.093142.0
    path: /usr/local/bin/watchman
SDKs:
  Android SDK:
    API Levels:
      - "26"
      - "27"
      - "28"
      - "29"
      - "30"
      - "31"
      - "32"
      - "33"
      - "34"
      - "35"
    Build Tools:
      - 28.0.3
      - 30.0.2
      - 30.0.3
      - 31.0.0
      - 32.0.0
      - 33.0.0
      - 33.0.1
      - 34.0.0
      - 35.0.0
      - 35.0.1
    System Images:
      - android-26 | Intel x86 Atom
      - android-26 | Intel x86 Atom_64
      - android-26 | Google APIs Intel x86 Atom_64
      - android-27 | Intel x86 Atom
      - android-27 | Intel x86 Atom_64
      - android-28 | Intel x86 Atom
      - android-28 | Intel x86 Atom_64
      - android-28 | Google Play Intel x86 Atom
      - android-28 | Google Play Intel x86 Atom_64
      - android-35 | Google APIs Intel x86_64 Atom
    Android NDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: Not Found
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 11.0.26
    path: /usr/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 3.2.3
    path: /usr/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli":
    installed: 15.0.1
    wanted: 15.0.1
  react:
    installed: 19.0.0
    wanted: 19.0.0
  react-native:
    installed: 0.78.0
    wanted: 0.78.0
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: Not found
  newArchEnabled: false

Screenshots and Videos

No response

[react-native-bot]

Warning

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• If your bug is build/upgrade related: a project using our Reproducer Template
• Otherwise send us a Pull Request with the RNTesterPlayground.js edited to reproduce your bug.

[dev-shubhambuccha]

Facing a similar issue on 0.71.8
The app crashes as soon as it opens.

[MikaelUW]

I having that same problem too.
The app didn't realy open, just a dark gray screen.

[dev-shubhambuccha]

Update: I tried turning off hermes and the app opens and works. But if i press R key to hard refresh app on metro it crashes but if i manually open it again its opens fine.

[migueldaipre]

I was unable to reproduce the problem by following the step-by-step instructions. Could you attach a video/screenshots of the problem?

[TanaDior]

This is a bug the community/cli defaults to 15.1 when creating a new project for react 19 as you can see in you logs and if you manually upgrade it to @latest or @18 if becomes incompatible as platform android and IOS is still at 17 n then Metro it running at .78 and two of it's core file is still on .77 which just creates CHAOS. These files are not ready for production it just feels like they are rushing stuffs and breaking everything

[yashseth391]

@TanaDior So till then , should i go for React native 0.76 ,, one more thing , previously i was doing personal projects .But now i am building a app for production so what would happen if at time react native latest version is 1.x.x or other and my version is 0.76 still .

[Stecken]

I was unable to reproduce the problem by following the step-by-step instructions. Could you attach a video/screenshots of the problem?

Yes, sorry for the delay, here it is. The first screenshot shows my terminal running Metro for the first time on the project, with everything working normally (on Metro).

The second screenshot is from my personal smartphone, an S24 Plus, and it demonstrates exactly what I was describing: the app is stuck on a gray screen. Therefore, from this point on, I need to manually close the app and reopen it for Metro to reload and load the app correctly.