react-native-community-cli/docs/dependencies.md

Dependency

A dependency is a JavaScript package that is listed under dependencies present in the project's package.json. It can also contain native, platform-specific files that should be linked.

For example, lodash is a dependency that doesn't have any native code to link. On the other hand, react-native-vector-icons is a dependency that contains not only native code, but also font assets that the CLI should link.

By default, CLI analyses the folder structure inside the dependency and looks for assets and native files to link. This simple heuristic works in most of the cases.

At the same time, a dependency can explicitly set its configuration in case CLI cannot infer it properly. A dependency can also define additional settings, such as a script to run after linking, in order to support some advanced use-cases.

How does it work?

A dependency can define the following react-native.config.js at the root:

module.exports = {
  dependency: {
    platforms: {
      ios: {
        project: './Custom.xcodeproj'
      }
    }
    assets: ['./assets']
  }
};

The above configuration informs CLI of the additional assets to link and about a custom project location.

Dependency interface

The following type describes the configuration of a dependency that can be set under dependency key inside react-native.config.js.

type DependencyConfigT = {
  platforms: {
    [key: string]: any,
  },
  assets: string[],
  hooks: {
    [key: string]: string,
  }
};

Note: This interface is subject to breaking changes. We may consider renaming some keys to simplify the configuration further. If you are going to use it, be prepared to update before we ship a stable 0.60.0 release.

platforms

A map of specific settings that can be set per platform. The exact shape is always defined by the package that provides given platform.

In most cases, as a library author, you should not need to define any of these.

The following settings are available on iOS and Android:

type DependencyParamsIOST = {
  project?: string,
  sharedLibraries?: string[],
};

type DependencyParamsAndroidT = {
  sourceDir?: string,
  manifestPath?: string,
  packageImportPath?: string,
  packageInstance?: string
};

platforms.ios.project

Custom path to .xcodeproj

platforms.ios.sharedLibraries

An array of shared iOS libraries to link with the dependency. E.g. libc++. This is mostly a requirement of the native code that a dependency ships with.

platforms.android.sourceDir

Path to a folder with source files.

platforms.android.manifestPath

Path to a custom AndroidManifest.xml

platforms.android.packageImportPath

Custom package import. For example: import com.acme.AwesomePackage;.

platforms.android.packageInstance

Custom syntax to instantiate a package. By default, it's a new AwesomePackage(). It can be useful when your package requires additional arguments while initializing.

For settings applicable on other platforms, please consult their respective documentation.

assets

An array of assets folders to glob for files to link.

hooks

A map where key is the name of a hook and value is the path to a file to execute.

For example, link command supports prelink and postlink hooks to run before and after linking is done.

These are the only ones supported by CLI at the moment. Depending on the packages used in your project, you may find other hooks supported to.

Note: This has nothing to do with React Hooks.

Migrating from rnpm configuration

The changes are mostly cosmetic so the migration should be pretty straight-forward.

Note: We read rnpm configuration to remain backwards-compatible. Dependency maintainers should update their configuration in the nearest future.

Changing the configuration

Properties were renamed. Look at the following example for the differences.

{
  "rnpm": {
    "ios": {},
    "android": {},
    "assets": ["./path-to-assets"],
    "hooks": {
      "prelink": "./path-to-a-postlink-hook"
    }
  }
}

to a react-native.config.js

module.exports = {
  dependency: {
    platforms: {
      ios: {},
      android: {},
    },
    assets: ['./path-to-assets'],
    hooks: {
      prelink: './path-to-a-postlink-hook'
    }
  }
};

Asking for params while linking has been removed

If your library needs it, do not upgrade over to the new config format.

If you want to ask users for additional settings, consider setting a custom postlink hook, just like react-native-code-push.