[iOS] Build fails with 'OpentokReactNative-Swift.h' file not found when using use_frameworks! :linkage => :static

[alexbrtin]

Description

When using use_frameworks! :linkage => :static in the Podfile (which is common for projects using Firebase, React Native New Architecture, or any pod with Swift code), the iOS build fails with:

'OpentokReactNative-Swift.h' file not found

The error occurs in 3 files:

• ios/OpentokReactNative.mm (line 3)
• ios/OTRNSubscriberComponentView.mm (line 10)
• ios/OTRNPublisherComponentView.mm (line 10)

Environment

• opentok-react-native: 2.31.1
• React Native: 0.81.5
• Expo SDK: 54
• New Architecture: Enabled (Fabric + TurboModules)
• Xcode: 16.x
• iOS target: 18.5
• Podfile: use_frameworks! :linkage => :static

Root Cause

In all 3 .mm files, the Swift bridging header is imported as:

#import <OpentokReactNative-Swift.h>

When CocoaPods builds pods as static frameworks (use_frameworks! :linkage => :static), the auto-generated Swift bridging header is placed inside the framework's Headers/ directory. The correct import path then becomes <OpentokReactNative/OpentokReactNative-Swift.h>.

The current import only works when pods are built as static libraries (without use_frameworks!).

Affected Files

1. ios/OpentokReactNative.mm — TurboModule native implementation
2. ios/OTRNSubscriberComponentView.mm — Fabric subscriber component
3. ios/OTRNPublisherComponentView.mm — Fabric publisher component

Suggested Fix

Use __has_include in all 3 files to support both configurations:

#if __has_include(<OpentokReactNative/OpentokReactNative-Swift.h>)
#import <OpentokReactNative/OpentokReactNative-Swift.h>
#else
#import <OpentokReactNative-Swift.h>
#endif

This is a common pattern used by other React Native libraries (e.g., react-native-vision-camera, react-native-screens) to ensure compatibility with both use_frameworks! and non-framework setups.

Workaround

We are currently using a patch-package patch to apply the fix locally on all 3 files:

diff --git a/ios/OpentokReactNative.mm b/ios/OpentokReactNative.mm
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 #import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
 #import <OpentokReactNative/RNOpentokReactNativeSpec.h>
-#import <OpentokReactNative-Swift.h> 
+#if __has_include(<OpentokReactNative/OpentokReactNative-Swift.h>)
+#import <OpentokReactNative/OpentokReactNative-Swift.h>
+#else
+#import <OpentokReactNative-Swift.h>
+#endif

diff --git a/ios/OTRNSubscriberComponentView.mm b/ios/OTRNSubscriberComponentView.mm
@@ -7,7 +7,11 @@
 #import <OpentokReactNative/RNOpentokReactNativeSpec.h>
 #import <React/RCTConversions.h>
 #import <React/RCTViewComponentView.h>
-#import <OpentokReactNative-Swift.h>
+#if __has_include(<OpentokReactNative/OpentokReactNative-Swift.h>)
+#import <OpentokReactNative/OpentokReactNative-Swift.h>
+#else
+#import <OpentokReactNative-Swift.h>
+#endif

diff --git a/ios/OTRNPublisherComponentView.mm b/ios/OTRNPublisherComponentView.mm
@@ -7,7 +7,11 @@
 #import <OpentokReactNative/RNOpentokReactNativeSpec.h>
 #import <React/RCTConversions.h>
 #import <React/RCTViewComponentView.h>
-#import <OpentokReactNative-Swift.h>
+#if __has_include(<OpentokReactNative/OpentokReactNative-Swift.h>)
+#import <OpentokReactNative/OpentokReactNative-Swift.h>
+#else
+#import <OpentokReactNative-Swift.h>
+#endif

Steps to Reproduce

1. Create a React Native project with use_frameworks! :linkage => :static in the Podfile
2. Install opentok-react-native@2.31.1
3. Enable the New Architecture (RCT_NEW_ARCH_ENABLED=1)
4. Run pod install
5. Build for iOS

Expected: Build succeeds
Actual: Build fails with 'OpentokReactNative-Swift.h' file not found in all 3 .mm files (fails on the first one encountered)

[Willfoss]

We also have the same issue. Appreciate the temporary workaround.

Devs - do we have a timeline for a fix for this?

[czoli1976]

@joliveraortega

[joliveraortega]

@alexbrtin @Willfoss As I mentioned at #868 (comment) we would need a minimal example where this error reproduces. We cannot reproduce it. Please have a look at at some of the new samples with the new react architecture we recently did https://github.com/opentok/opentok-react-native-samples/tree/main/BasicVideoChatNewArchitecture. This can serve as a reference.

[joliveraortega]

The supported and tested way of linking the native bits for iOS is through a static lib. The framework alternative is not tested. You can used it as your on risk.

We can include it and considered as part of our testing. For this I do not have a timeline yet.