Registry / devops / react-native-cli

react-native-cli

library2.0.1jsnpmunverified

The `react-native-cli` npm package, specifically version 2.0.1 (last updated in 2017), served as the legacy command-line interface for bootstrapping and managing React Native projects. It was designed for global installation, enabling users to create new applications with `react-native init`. However, this package has been superseded; modern React Native development strongly advocates for using `npx react-native` instead. This `npx` approach dynamically fetches and executes the project-local CLI tools (primarily `@react-native-community/cli` or the `react-native` package itself), which ensures compatibility with the specific React Native framework version used in a given project, mitigating issues associated with outdated global CLI installations. The version numbers like v0.85.x seen in recent changelogs refer to the core `react-native` framework package, not this `react-native-cli` wrapper, which has effectively been abandoned.

devops

npm install react-native-cli

github ↗package ↗

INSTALL

IMPORT

SIG · REACT-NATIVE-CLI

react-native-cli

devopsjavascriptv2.0.1

Install

—

Import

—

Disk

—

Pass rate

0/ 6

Env Coverage0 / 6

glibc

18–22

musl

18–22

Install & Compatibility

Where this runs

tested against v? · npm install

Install × environment matrix

Each cell = how many times install + import succeeded across repeated harness runs. Partial = flaky.
glibc = Debian/Ubuntu slim · musl = Alpine Linux

musl

node 18–226 runs

build_error

glibc

node 18–226 runs

build_error

Code

Verified usage

Verified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.

react-native

✓ npx react-native init MyProject

✗ npm install -g react-native-cli; react-native init MyProject

The `react-native-cli` npm package (v2.0.1) provides the global `react-native` command, but modern React Native development strongly recommends using `npx react-native` to ensure using the project-local or latest available CLI tools and avoid global installation issues. This package is not intended for programmatic JavaScript/TypeScript imports.

init

✓ npx react-native init MyProject --template react-native-template-typescript

✗ react-native init MyProject

The `init` subcommand creates a new React Native project. Using `npx` dynamically fetches the latest CLI tools, bypassing the outdated global `react-native-cli` package. No programmatic import for `init` exists.

start

✓ npx react-native start

✗ react-native start

The `start` subcommand launches the Metro bundler. It's typically run from within a React Native project directory, often via `npm run` scripts, ensuring the correct version of the bundler is used. This is a CLI command, not a JavaScript import.

Shows how to create and run React Native projects using the recommended `npx` command, emphasizing the deprecation of the global `react-native-cli` npm package.

// Modern recommended approach using npx to create and manage React Native projects: console.log("// Step 1: Create a new React Native project (recommended)"); console.log("$ npx react-native@latest init AwesomeProject"); console.log("// This command dynamically fetches the necessary CLI tools and template."); console.log("// It does not require a global 'react-native-cli' installation."); console.log(""); console.log("// Step 2: Navigate into your new project directory"); console.log("$ cd AwesomeProject"); console.log(""); console.log("// Step 3: Start the development server (Metro Bundler)"); console.log("$ npx react-native start"); console.log(""); console.log("// Step 4: Run the application on a target platform (e.g., iOS simulator)"); console.log("$ npx react-native run-ios"); console.log(""); console.log("// Legacy approach (not recommended due to package abandonment and potential compatibility issues):"); console.log("// $ npm install -g react-native-cli@2.0.1"); console.log("// $ react-native init DeprecatedProject"); console.log("// This legacy package can cause compatibility issues with newer React Native versions.");

react-native --version

Debug

Known issues

deprecatedThe `react-native-cli` npm package (version 2.0.1, last released in 2017) is effectively abandoned and no longer the recommended way to interact with React Native CLI features. Global installation can lead to significant compatibility issues with newer React Native framework versions.

fix

Always use `npx react-native <command>` (e.g., `npx react-native init MyProject`) to ensure you're using the project-local or latest available CLI tools, instead of relying on a globally installed `react-native-cli`.

affects: >=2.0.1

gotchaThe version numbers like `0.85.x` seen in recent release notes refer to the `react-native` *framework* package, not the `react-native-cli` npm package which remains at `2.0.1` and is outdated.

fix

Understand that `react-native-cli` is a legacy wrapper, and its version does not directly reflect the `react-native` framework version it can interact with. Always check the `react-native` package version within your project.

affects: all

gotchaWhen using local development tools like Sinopia with `react-native-cli`, 'Module version mismatch' errors can occur if Node.js versions change between package installations.

fix

For Sinopia specifically, uninstall and reinstall (`npm uninstall -g sinopia && npm install -g sinopia`). For general `react-native-cli` usage, the best fix is to migrate to `npx react-native`.

affects: >=2.0.1

Errors

Common errors & fixes

Sinopia crashes with "Module version mismatch"

Incompatible Node.js version used for installing global packages like Sinopia.

fix

Uninstall and reinstall `sinopia` globally (`npm uninstall -g sinopia && npm install -g sinopia`). If after upgrading Node.js (e.g., to Node 4), you may also need to reinstall npm (`npm uninstall -g npm && nvm install npm`).

command not found: react-native

The global `react-native-cli` package is not installed, or your PATH environment variable is not correctly configured to find globally installed npm executables.

fix

The recommended solution is to use `npx react-native <command>` directly (e.g., `npx react-native init MyProject`), which does not require a global installation of `react-native-cli`. If you absolutely need the global `react-native` command for legacy reasons, ensure `npm install -g react-native-cli` was run successfully and your shell's PATH includes npm's global bin directory.

Upgrade

Version history

2.0.1latest on npm

Audit

Dependencies

react-nativerequiredThe CLI orchestrates the installation and interaction with the core React Native framework package.

Agent activity

4 hits · last 30 days

node

Resources

githubhttps://github.com/facebook/react-native ↗

packagehttps://www.npmjs.com/package/react-native-cli ↗