ccache isn't used by iOS builds because CCACHE_BINARY is missing
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Description
Description
Even if ccache is enabled for iOS builds, it's never actually used. The issue seems to originate from this PR:
https://github.com/facebook/react-native/pull/48257
The CCACHE_BINARY user-defined setting was added to Xcode, which the shell scripts will try to use as an env var. However, none of the user-defined settings become an env var, therefore ccache is never invoked (as of Xcode 26.2).
You can test the env vars by adding the following line to ccache-clang.sh:
env > ~/ccache.log
Steps to reproduce
- Install ccache
brew install ccache - Zero the ccache stats
ccache -z - Check out the minimal repro project
- Set up iOS dependencies
cd ios && bundle install && bundle exec pod install - Build iOS using
npm run iosor by opening the Xcode project
Expected outcome:
ccache is used and ccache -s contains stats
Actual outcome:
ccache is never called
React Native Version
0.83.1"
Affected Platforms
Runtime - iOS, Build - MacOS
Output of npx @react-native-community/cli info
info Fetching system and libraries information...
System:
OS: macOS 26.2
CPU: (14) arm64 Apple M4 Max
Memory: 632.27 MB / 36.00 GB
Shell:
version: "5.9"
path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
Node:
version: 25.5.0
path: /opt/homebrew/bin/node
Yarn: Not Found
npm:
version: 11.8.0
path: /opt/homebrew/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: Not Found
IDEs:
Android Studio: 2025.1 AI-251.26094.121.2513.14007798
Xcode:
version: 26.2/17C52
path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
Java:
version: 17.0.17
path: /usr/bin/javac
Ruby:
version: 4.0.1
path: /opt/homebrew/opt/ruby/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
"@react-native-community/cli":
installed: 20.0.0
wanted: 20.0.0
react:
installed: 19.2.0
wanted: 19.2.0
react-native:
installed: 0.83.1
wanted: 0.83.1
react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
"*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
hermesEnabled: true
newArchEnabled: true
iOS:
hermesEnabled: true
newArchEnabled: true
Stacktrace or Logs
The ccache stats don't show any information other than size because it has never been hit:
Local storage:
Cache size (GiB): 0.3 / 5.0 ( 5.80%)
Expected stats:
Cacheable calls: 0 / 1 ( 0.00%)
Hits: 0
Direct: 0
Preprocessed: 0
Misses: 0
Uncacheable calls: 1 / 1 (100.0%)
MANDATORY Reproducer
https://github.com/Nezz/react-native-repro/tree/repro/Ccache
Screenshots and Videos
No response
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start with packages/react-native/scripts/xcode/ccache-clang.sh and inspect how CCACHE_BINARY is consumed during the iOS build. Run the mandatory reproducer, build with npm run ios or Xcode, and check ccache -s; done means the build invokes ccache and the stats show compiler calls.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- ios, macos, react-native, shell
- Domain
- build-system, mobile
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Estimated time
- 1-2 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Clearly specified
- Newbie friendliness
- 68/100