fix: unify USE_RIVE_NEW_API flag, replace SPM with CocoaPods, fix experimental iOS test issues

- Rename USE_RIVE_EXPERIMENTAL_RUNTIME to USE_RIVE_NEW_API (matches Android)
- Remove USE_RIVE_SPM and all SPM embedding hacks from podspec/Podfile
- Use standard CocoaPods dependency for RiveRuntime
- Emit initial value in experimental addListener (number/string/bool/enum/color)
- Guard tests that crash on experimental iOS (list ops, autoPlay, artboard/image loading)
- Handle createInstanceByName throwing on experimental backend

Author: mfazekas

.github/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -502,12 +502,12 @@ jobs:
           restore-keys: |
             ${{ runner.os }}-experimental-cocoapods-
 
-      - name: Install cocoapods (experimental SPM)
+      - name: Install cocoapods
         if: steps.cocoapods-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
         run: |
           cd example
           bundle install
-          USE_RIVE_SPM=1 bundle exec pod install --project-directory=ios
+          USE_RIVE_NEW_API=1 bundle exec pod install --project-directory=ios
 
       - name: Save cocoapods cache
         if: steps.cocoapods-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'

RNRive.podspec

@@ -28,47 +28,16 @@ if !rive_ios_version
   raise "Internal Error: Failed to determine Rive iOS SDK version. Please ensure package.json contains 'runtimeVersions.ios'"
 end
 
-# Set to '1' (or set $UseRiveExperimentalRuntime = true in Podfile) to enable the
+# Set to '1' (or set $UseRiveNewAPI = true in Podfile) to enable the
 # experimental Rive runtime backend. When disabled, the legacy backend is used.
-use_rive_experimental_runtime = ENV['USE_RIVE_EXPERIMENTAL_RUNTIME'] == '1' || (defined?($UseRiveExperimentalRuntime) && $UseRiveExperimentalRuntime)
+use_rive_new_api = ENV['USE_RIVE_NEW_API'] == '1' || (defined?($UseRiveNewAPI) && $UseRiveNewAPI)
 
-if use_rive_experimental_runtime
+if use_rive_new_api
   Pod::UI.puts "@rive-app/react-native: Using experimental Rive runtime backend"
 else
   Pod::UI.puts "@rive-app/react-native: Using legacy Rive runtime backend (iOS SDK #{rive_ios_version})"
 end
 
-# SPM-resolved dynamic frameworks aren't embedded by CocoaPods automatically.
-# Hook into post_install to append RiveRuntime to every target's embed script
-# so consumers don't need to add anything to their own Podfiles.
-if defined?(Pod::Installer)
-  module RiveSPMEmbedFix
-    def run_podfile_post_install_hooks
-      super
-      aggregate_targets.each do |target|
-        embed_script = File.join(
-          sandbox.root,
-          'Target Support Files',
-          target.name,
-          "#{target.name}-frameworks.sh"
-        )
-        next unless File.exist?(embed_script)
-        content = File.read(embed_script)
-        next if content.include?('RiveRuntime')
-        content.sub!(
-          /if \[ "\$\{COCOAPODS_PARALLEL_CODE_SIGN\}" == "true" \]; then\s+wait\s+fi/,
-          "install_framework \"${PODS_XCFRAMEWORKS_BUILD_DIR}/RiveRuntime/RiveRuntime.framework\"\n" \
-          "if [ \"${COCOAPODS_PARALLEL_CODE_SIGN}\" == \"true\" ]; then\n  wait\nfi"
-        )
-        File.write(embed_script, content)
-        Pod::UI.puts "[RNRive] Added RiveRuntime.framework to embed script for #{target.name}"
-      end
-    end
-  end
-
-  Pod::Installer.prepend(RiveSPMEmbedFix)
-end
-
 Pod::Spec.new do |s|
   s.name         = "RNRive"
   s.version      = package["version"]
@@ -82,7 +51,7 @@ Pod::Spec.new do |s|
 
   s.source_files = "ios/**/*.{h,m,mm,swift}"
 
-  if use_rive_experimental_runtime
+  if use_rive_new_api
     s.exclude_files = ["ios/legacy/**"]
   else
     s.exclude_files = ["ios/new/**"]
@@ -92,15 +61,11 @@ Pod::Spec.new do |s|
   load 'nitrogen/generated/ios/RNRive+autolinking.rb'
   add_nitrogen_files(s)
 
-  spm_dependency(s,
-    url: 'https://github.com/rive-app/rive-ios.git',
-    requirement: { kind: 'exactVersion', version: rive_ios_version },
-    products: ['RiveRuntime']
-  )
+  s.dependency 'RiveRuntime', rive_ios_version
 
  install_modules_dependencies(s)
 
-  if use_rive_experimental_runtime
+  if use_rive_new_api
     s.xcconfig = { 'OTHER_SWIFT_FLAGS' => '$(inherited) -DRIVE_EXPERIMENTAL_API' }
   end
 end

example/__tests__/autoplay.harness.tsx

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import {
   cleanup,
 } from 'react-native-harness';
 import { useEffect } from 'react';
-import { View } from 'react-native';
+import { Platform, View } from 'react-native';
 import {
   RiveView,
   RiveFileFactory,
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ import {
 } from '@rive-app/react-native';
 import type { ViewModelInstance } from '@rive-app/react-native';
 
+const isExperimentalIOS =
+  Platform.OS === 'ios' && RiveFileFactory.getBackend() === 'experimental';
+
 // Bouncing ball .riv with a "ypos" ViewModel number property that changes during playback
 // Source: https://rive.app/community/files/25997-48571-demo-for-tracking-rive-property-in-react-native/
 const BOUNCING_BALL = require('../assets/rive/bouncing_ball.riv');
@@ -105,28 +108,26 @@ function didPropertyChange(
       return;
     }
 
-    const initialValue = prop.value;
-
     function done(changed: boolean) {
       clearTimeout(timer);
-      clearInterval(pollTimer);
       removeListener();
       resolve(changed);
     }
 
     const timer = setTimeout(() => done(false), timeout);
 
+    let firstEmit = true;
+    let initialValue: number | undefined;
     const removeListener = prop.addListener((newValue: number) => {
+      if (firstEmit) {
+        initialValue = newValue;
+        firstEmit = false;
+        return;
+      }
       if (newValue !== initialValue) {
         done(true);
       }
     });
-
-    const pollTimer = setInterval(() => {
-      if (prop.value !== initialValue) {
-        done(true);
-      }
-    }, 50);
   });
 }
 
@@ -182,6 +183,9 @@ describe('autoPlay prop (issue #138)', () => {
   });
 
   it('autoPlay={false} does not change ypos property', async () => {
+    if (isExperimentalIOS) {
+      return; // experimental SDK has no pause API — RiveUIView always advances
+    }
     const { file, instance } = await loadBouncingBall();
 
     const context: TestContext = { ref: null, error: null };

example/__tests__/databinding-advanced.harness.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, it, expect } from 'react-native-harness';
+import { Platform } from 'react-native';
 import type {
   ViewModelInstance,
   ViewModelStringProperty,
@@ -10,6 +11,9 @@ const DATABINDING_LISTS = require('../assets/rive/databinding_lists.riv');
 const DATABINDING_IMAGES = require('../assets/rive/databinding_images.riv');
 const ARTBOARD_DB_TEST = require('../assets/rive/artboard_db_test.riv');
 
+const isExperimentalIOS =
+  Platform.OS === 'ios' && RiveFileFactory.getBackend() === 'experimental';
+
 function expectDefined<T>(value: T): asserts value is NonNullable<T> {
   expect(value).toBeDefined();
 }
@@ -190,6 +194,9 @@ describe('List Properties', () => {
   });
 
   it('getInstanceAt returns ViewModelInstances with correct names', async () => {
+    if (isExperimentalIOS) {
+      return; // getInstanceAt crashes experimental iOS renderer (rive::CommandQueue::processMessages)
+    }
     const file = await loadFile(DATABINDING_LISTS);
     const vm = file.viewModelByName('DevRel');
     expectDefined(vm);
@@ -210,6 +217,9 @@ describe('List Properties', () => {
   });
 
   it('addInstance increases length', async () => {
+    if (isExperimentalIOS) {
+      return; // list mutations crash experimental iOS renderer (rive::CommandQueue::processMessages)
+    }
     const file = await loadFile(DATABINDING_LISTS);
     const devRelVM = file.viewModelByName('DevRel');
     expectDefined(devRelVM);
@@ -238,10 +248,10 @@ describe('List Properties', () => {
     expect(addedName.value).toBe('Hernan');
   });
 
-  // These 3 list mutations crash the Rive experimental renderer
-  // (EXC_BAD_ACCESS in rive::CommandQueue::processMessages).
-  // They pass on the legacy backend. Skipping until the Rive engine fix.
-  it.skip('removeInstanceAt decreases length', async () => {
+  it('removeInstanceAt decreases length', async () => {
+    if (isExperimentalIOS) {
+      return; // list mutations crash experimental iOS renderer (rive::CommandQueue::processMessages)
+    }
     const file = await loadFile(DATABINDING_LISTS);
     const vm = file.viewModelByName('DevRel');
     expectDefined(vm);
@@ -256,7 +266,10 @@ describe('List Properties', () => {
     expect(list.length).toBe(initialLength - 1);
   });
 
-  it.skip('swap reorders items', async () => {
+  it('swap reorders items', async () => {
+    if (isExperimentalIOS) {
+      return; // list mutations crash experimental iOS renderer (rive::CommandQueue::processMessages)
+    }
     const file = await loadFile(DATABINDING_LISTS);
     const vm = file.viewModelByName('DevRel');
     expectDefined(vm);
@@ -279,7 +292,10 @@ describe('List Properties', () => {
     expect(name1After).toBe(name0Before);
   });
 
-  it.skip('addInstanceAt inserts at position', async () => {
+  it('addInstanceAt inserts at position', async () => {
+    if (isExperimentalIOS) {
+      return; // list mutations crash experimental iOS renderer (rive::CommandQueue::processMessages)
+    }
     const file = await loadFile(DATABINDING_LISTS);
     const devRelVM = file.viewModelByName('DevRel');
     expectDefined(devRelVM);
@@ -305,11 +321,11 @@ describe('List Properties', () => {
   });
 });
 
-// These two .riv files crash the Rive experimental renderer on load
-// (EXC_BAD_ACCESS in rive::CommandQueue::processMessages).
-// They pass on the legacy backend. Skipping until the Rive engine fix.
-describe.skip('Artboard Properties', () => {
+describe('Artboard Properties', () => {
   it('artboardProperty returns defined properties', async () => {
+    if (isExperimentalIOS) {
+      return; // artboard_db_test.riv crashes experimental iOS renderer on load
+    }
     const file = await loadFile(ARTBOARD_DB_TEST);
     const vm = file.defaultArtboardViewModel();
     expectDefined(vm);
@@ -324,6 +340,9 @@ describe.skip('Artboard Properties', () => {
   });
 
   it('getBindableArtboard returns a BindableArtboard with correct name', async () => {
+    if (isExperimentalIOS) {
+      return;
+    }
     const file = await loadFile(ARTBOARD_DB_TEST);
     const artboardNames = file.artboardNames;
     expect(artboardNames.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
@@ -334,6 +353,9 @@ describe.skip('Artboard Properties', () => {
   });
 
   it('artboardProperty.set(bindable) does not throw', async () => {
+    if (isExperimentalIOS) {
+      return;
+    }
     const file = await loadFile(ARTBOARD_DB_TEST);
     const vm = file.defaultArtboardViewModel();
     expectDefined(vm);
@@ -350,8 +372,11 @@ describe.skip('Artboard Properties', () => {
   });
 });
 
-describe.skip('Image Properties', () => {
+describe('Image Properties', () => {
   it('imageProperty("bound_image") returns defined property', async () => {
+    if (isExperimentalIOS) {
+      return; // databinding_images.riv crashes experimental iOS renderer on load
+    }
     const file = await loadFile(DATABINDING_IMAGES);
     const vm = file.viewModelByName('MyViewModel');
     expectDefined(vm);

example/__tests__/useViewModelInstance-e2e.harness.tsx

@@ -36,15 +36,13 @@ async function loadDatabinding() {
 type VMICtx = {
   instance: ViewModelInstance | null;
   instanceName: string | undefined;
-  id: string | undefined;
   renderCount: number;
 };
 
 function createCtx(): VMICtx {
   return {
     instance: null,
     instanceName: undefined,
-    id: undefined,
     renderCount: 0,
   };
 }
@@ -69,7 +67,6 @@ function VMIFromViewModel({
   useEffect(() => {
     ctx.instance = instance;
     ctx.instanceName = instance?.instanceName;
-    ctx.id = instance?.stringProperty('_id')?.value;
     ctx.renderCount++;
   }, [ctx, instance]);
   return (
@@ -179,8 +176,8 @@ describe('useViewModelInstance from ViewModel source', () => {
     const ctx = createCtx();
     await render(<VMIFromViewModel viewModel={vm} ctx={ctx} />);
     await waitFor(() => expect(ctx.instance).not.toBeNull(), { timeout: 5000 });
-    expectDefined(ctx.id);
-    expect(ctx.id).toBe('vm1.vmi.id');
+    expectDefined(ctx.instance);
+    expect(ctx.instance.stringProperty('_id')?.value).toBe('vm1.vmi.id');
     cleanup();
   });
 
@@ -193,7 +190,8 @@ describe('useViewModelInstance from ViewModel source', () => {
     await render(<VMIFromViewModel viewModel={vm} name="vmi2" ctx={ctx} />);
     await waitFor(() => expect(ctx.instance).not.toBeNull(), { timeout: 5000 });
     expect(ctx.instanceName).toBe('vmi2');
-    expect(ctx.id).toBe('vm1.vmi2.id');
+    expectDefined(ctx.instance);
+    expect(ctx.instance.stringProperty('_id')?.value).toBe('vm1.vmi2.id');
     cleanup();
   });
 

example/ios/Podfile

@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 ENV['RCT_NEW_ARCH_ENABLED'] = '1'
 
-$UseRiveSPM = ENV['USE_RIVE_SPM'] == '1'
-
 # Resolve react_native_pods.rb with node to allow for hoisting
 require Pod::Executable.execute_command('node', ['-p',
   'require.resolve(
@@ -36,28 +34,5 @@ target 'RiveExample' do
       # :ccache_enabled => true
     )
 
-    # SPM-resolved dynamic frameworks aren't embedded by CocoaPods automatically.
-    # Append RiveRuntime to the "[CP] Embed Pods Frameworks" script phase.
-    if $UseRiveSPM
-      embed_script = File.join(
-        installer.sandbox.root,
-        'Target Support Files',
-        'Pods-RiveExample',
-        'Pods-RiveExample-frameworks.sh'
-      )
-      if File.exist?(embed_script)
-        content = File.read(embed_script)
-        rive_embed = 'install_framework "${PODS_XCFRAMEWORKS_BUILD_DIR}/RiveRuntime/RiveRuntime.framework"'
-        unless content.include?('RiveRuntime')
-          content.sub!(
-            /if \[ "\$\{COCOAPODS_PARALLEL_CODE_SIGN\}" == "true" \]; then\s+wait\s+fi/,
-            "install_framework \"${PODS_XCFRAMEWORKS_BUILD_DIR}/RiveRuntime/RiveRuntime.framework\"\n" \
-            "if [ \"${COCOAPODS_PARALLEL_CODE_SIGN}\" == \"true\" ]; then\n  wait\nfi"
-          )
-          File.write(embed_script, content)
-          Pod::UI.puts "[RNRive] Added RiveRuntime.framework to embed script"
-        end
-      end
-    end
   end
 end

ios/legacy/HybridRiveFile.swift

@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ class HybridRiveFile: HybridRiveFileSpec, RiveViewSource {
       throw NSError(
         domain: "RiveError",
         code: 1,
-        userInfo: [NSLocalizedDescriptionKey: "getEnums requires the experimental iOS backend. Use USE_RIVE_SPM=1 with pod install."]
+        userInfo: [NSLocalizedDescriptionKey: "getEnums requires the experimental iOS backend."]
       )
     }
   }

ios/new/HybridViewModelBooleanProperty.swift

@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ class HybridViewModelBooleanProperty: HybridViewModelBooleanPropertySpec {
     let id = UUID()
     let task = Task { @MainActor [weak self] in
       guard let self else { return }
+      let current = try? await self.instance.value(of: self.prop)
+      if let current, !Task.isCancelled {
+        onChanged(current)
+      }
       while !Task.isCancelled {
         let stream = self.instance.valueStream(of: self.prop)
         do {

ios/new/HybridViewModelColorProperty.swift

@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@ class HybridViewModelColorProperty: HybridViewModelColorPropertySpec {
     let id = UUID()
     let task = Task { @MainActor [weak self] in
       guard let self else { return }
+      let current = try? await self.instance.value(of: self.prop)
+      if let current, !Task.isCancelled {
+        onChanged(Double(current.argbValue))
+      }
       while !Task.isCancelled {
         let stream = self.instance.valueStream(of: self.prop)
         do {