upgrading-react-native

name: upgrading-react-nativedescription: Upgrades React Native apps to newer versions by applying rn-diff-purge template diffs, updating package.json dependencies, migrating native iOS and Android configuration, resolving CocoaPods and Gradle changes, and handling breaking API updates. Use when upgrading React Native, bumping RN version, updating from RN 0.x to 0.y, or migrating Expo SDK alongside a React Native upgrade.license: MITmetadata:   author: Callstack  tags: react-native, upgrade, upgrade-helper, npm, changelog, cocoapods, ios, android

Upgrading React Native

Overview

Covers the full React Native upgrade workflow: template diffs via Upgrade Helper, dependency updates, Expo SDK steps, and common pitfalls.

Typical Upgrade Sequence

1. Route: Choose the right upgrade path via upgrading-react-native.md
2. Diff: Fetch the canonical template diff using Upgrade Helper via upgrade-helper-core.md
3. Dependencies: Assess and update third-party packages via upgrading-dependencies.md
4. React: Align React version if upgraded via react.md
5. Expo (if applicable): Apply Expo SDK layer via expo-sdk-upgrade.md
6. Verify: Run post-upgrade checks via upgrade-verification.md

# Quick start: detect current version and fetch diff
npm pkg get dependencies.react-native --prefix "$APP_DIR"
npm view react-native dist-tags.latest

# Example: upgrading from 0.76.9 to 0.78.2
# 1. Fetch the template diff
curl -L -f -o /tmp/rn-diff.diff \
  "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/react-native-community/rn-diff-purge/diffs/diffs/0.76.9..0.78.2.diff" \
  && echo "Diff downloaded OK" || echo "ERROR: diff not found, check versions"
# 2. Review changed files
grep -n "^diff --git" /tmp/rn-diff.diff
# 3. Update package.json, apply native changes, then install + rebuild
npm install --prefix "$APP_DIR"
cd "$APP_DIR/ios" && pod install
# 4. Validate: both platforms must build successfully
npx react-native build-android --mode debug --no-packager
xcodebuild -workspace "$APP_DIR/ios/App.xcworkspace" -scheme App -sdk iphonesimulator build

When to Apply

Reference these guidelines when:

• Moving a React Native app to a newer version
• Reconciling native config changes from Upgrade Helper
• Validating release notes for breaking changes

Quick Reference

Problem → Skill Mapping