react / react/react-native

[Build from source] React Native 0.81.4 Cannot build from source when following the doc

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Description

Description

Following this doc to build from source for React Native. But cannot run yarn android. I think I missed something from the docs?
package.json:

{
  "name": "AwesomeProject",
  "version": "0.0.1",
  "private": true,
  "scripts": {
    "android": "react-native run-android",
    "ios": "react-native run-ios",
    "lint": "eslint .",
    "start": "react-native start",
    "test": "jest"
  },
  "dependencies": {
    "react": "19.1.0",
    "react-native": "facebook/react-native#0.81.4",
    "@react-native/new-app-screen": "0.81.4",
    "react-native-safe-area-context": "^5.5.2"
  },
  "devDependencies": {
    "@babel/core": "^7.25.2",
    "@babel/preset-env": "^7.25.3",
    "@babel/runtime": "^7.25.0",
    "@react-native-community/cli": "20.0.0",
    "@react-native-community/cli-platform-android": "20.0.0",
    "@react-native-community/cli-platform-ios": "20.0.0",
    "@react-native/babel-preset": "0.81.4",
    "@react-native/eslint-config": "0.81.4",
    "@react-native/metro-config": "0.81.4",
    "@react-native/typescript-config": "0.81.4",
    "@types/jest": "^29.5.13",
    "@types/react": "^19.1.0",
    "@types/react-test-renderer": "^19.1.0",
    "eslint": "^8.19.0",
    "jest": "^29.6.3",
    "prettier": "2.8.8",
    "react-test-renderer": "19.1.0",
    "typescript": "^5.8.3"
  },
  "engines": {
    "node": ">=20"
  }
}

settings.gradle

pluginManagement { includeBuild("../node_modules/@react-native/gradle-plugin") }
plugins { id("com.facebook.react.settings") }
extensions.configure(com.facebook.react.ReactSettingsExtension){ ex -> ex.autolinkLibrariesFromCommand() }
rootProject.name = 'AwesomeProject'
include ':app'
includeBuild('../node_modules/@react-native/gradle-plugin')
includeBuild('../node_modules/react-native') {
  dependencySubstitution {
    substitute(module("com.facebook.react:react-android")).using(project(":packages:react-native:ReactAndroid"))
    substitute(module("com.facebook.react:react-native")).using(project(":packages:react-native:ReactAndroid"))
    substitute(module("com.facebook.react:hermes-android")).using(project(":packages:react-native:ReactAndroid:hermes-engine"))
    substitute(module("com.facebook.react:hermes-engine")).using(project(":packages:react-native:ReactAndroid:hermes-engine"))
  }
}
Steps to reproduce
  1. Start a fresh project
  2. Following doc from https://reactnative.dev/contributing/how-to-build-from-source
  3. run yarn android
React Native Version

0.81.4

Affected Platforms

Runtime - Android

Output of npx @react-native-community/cli info
System:
  OS: macOS 26.1
  CPU: (10) arm64 Apple M4
  Memory: 538.31 MB / 24.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 22.12.0
    path: /Users/anh/.nvm/versions/node/v22.12.0/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 1.22.22
    path: /Users/abc/.nvm/versions/node/v22.12.0/bin/yarn
  npm:
    version: 10.9.0
    path: /Users/abc/.nvm/versions/node/v22.12.0/bin/npm
  Watchman: Not Found
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.16.2
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 25.2
      - iOS 26.2
      - macOS 26.2
      - tvOS 26.2
      - visionOS 26.2
      - watchOS 26.2
  Android SDK:
    API Levels:
      - "33"
      - "35"
      - "36"
    Build Tools:
      - 35.0.0
      - 36.0.0
      - 36.1.0
    System Images:
      - android-36.1 | Google Play ARM 64 v8a
    Android NDK: 27.1.12297006
IDEs:
  Android Studio: 2025.2 AI-252.25557.131.2521.14432022
  Xcode:
    version: 26.2/17C52
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 17.0.17
    path: /usr/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 3.4.7
    path: /opt/homebrew/opt/ruby/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli":
    installed: 20.0.0
    wanted: 20.0.0
  "@react-native/monorepo":
    installed: 1000.0.0
  react:
    installed: 19.1.0
    wanted: 19.1.0
  react-native: Not Found
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: Not found
  newArchEnabled: Not found
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: Not found
  newArchEnabled: Not found
Stacktrace or Logs
➜  AwesomeProject git:(main) yarn android                 
yarn run v1.22.22
$ react-native run-android
/bin/sh: react-native: command not found
error Command failed with exit code 127.
info Visit https://yarnpkg.com/en/docs/cli/run for documentation about this command.
MANDATORY Reproducer

https://github.com/kyunkakata/can-not-build-from-source-issue

Screenshots and Videos

No response

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start with the React Native source-build documentation and the mandatory reproducer, then compare its package.json and settings.gradle with the reported yarn android failure. Trace why the react-native command is unavailable and verify the documented setup against the provided environment. Done means a fresh project following the documentation can run yarn android successfully from the source checkout.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
android, javascript, react-native
Domain
build-system, mobile
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
52/100

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