React Native 0.81 compatibility with @react-native-firebase v23.5.0 - Build errors

[incendies]

Issue

React Native 0.81.0/0.81.5 appears to have compatibility issues with @react-native-firebase v23.5.0, causing build failures.

Environment

• Expo SDK: 54.0.23
• React Native: 0.81.0 (also tried 0.81.5)
• React Native Firebase:
  • @react-native-firebase/app: ^23.5.0
  • @react-native-firebase/auth: ^23.5.0
  • @react-native-firebase/firestore: ^23.5.0
• Platform: iOS
• New Architecture: Enabled
• Node: v20.18.0

Error Details

When building with React Native 0.81, I'm encountering build errors in the native modules:

Errors observed:

1. Type errors in RNFBFirestore native modules:

   • "expected a type" errors
   • "type specifier missing" errors
   • Issues in RNFBFirestoreModule.mm and related files

2. Header file not found errors:

   • react/renderer/components/image/conversions.h file not found
   • Related to React Native 0.81's new header structure

3. Worklets compatibility:

   • react-native-worklets reports: "React Native version is not compatible with Worklets" for RN 0.82.0
   • This suggests RN 0.81 might also have compatibility issues with some packages

What I've tried

1. Updated Podfile with additional header search paths for React Native 0.81
2. Added Folly flags for codegen targets
3. Configured static frameworks for Firebase
4. Added header search paths for React-Core, React-Core-prebuilt, React-RCTImage, React-FabricImage

Questions

1. Is React Native 0.81 officially supported with Firebase v23.5.0?
2. Are there any known compatibility issues or workarounds?
3. What is the recommended React Native version for Firebase v23.5.0?
4. Should I downgrade to React Native 0.80.2 or wait for a Firebase update?

Additional Context

• Using Expo with npx expo prebuild
• New Architecture is required (RN 0.81+ only supports New Architecture)
• Static frameworks configured: use_frameworks! :linkage => :static

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[mikehardy]

I believe this is a duplicate of some issues open with regards to Expo and it's attempt to use the new react-native prebuilts on iOS

I believe you need to disable that

https://github.com/invertase/react-native-firebase/issues?q=is%3Aissue%20state%3Aopen%20expo%20build%20failure