Unable to create new RN 0.72 project with Node 16

[mfazekas]

Description

% node --version
v16.20.1

%npx --yes react-native@0.72.5 init testcli --template react-native@0.72.5

...
error @react-native/normalize-colors@0.73.1: The engine "node" is incompatible with this module. Expected version ">=18". Got "16.20.1"
error Found incompatible module.

% yarn why @react-native/normalize-colors
yarn why v1.22.19
[1/4] 🤔  Why do we have the module "@react-native/normalize-colors"...?
[2/4] 🚚  Initialising dependency graph...
[3/4] 🔍  Finding dependency...
[4/4] 🚡  Calculating file sizes...
=> Found "@react-native/normalize-colors@0.72.0"
info Reasons this module exists
   - "react-native" depends on it
   - Hoisted from "react-native#@react-native#normalize-colors"
info Disk size without dependencies: "24KB"
info Disk size with unique dependencies: "24KB"
info Disk size with transitive dependencies: "24KB"
info Number of shared dependencies: 0
=> Found "deprecated-react-native-prop-types#@react-native/normalize-colors@0.73.1"
info This module exists because "react-native#deprecated-react-native-prop-types" depends on it.
info Disk size without dependencies: "28KB"
info Disk size with unique dependencies: "28KB"
info Disk size with transitive dependencies: "28KB"
info Number of shared dependencies: 0
✨  Done in 0.18s.

Looks like the issue was caused by recent publish of @react-native/normalize-colors@0.73.1
https://github.com/facebook/react-native/tree/main/packages/normalize-color

React Native Version

0.72.5

Output of npx react-native info

info Fetching system and libraries information...
System:
  OS: macOS 13.6
  CPU: (12) arm64 Apple M2 Max
  Memory: 703.91 MB / 32.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 16.20.1
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v16.20.1/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 1.22.19
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v16.20.1/bin/yarn
  npm:
    version: 9.7.2
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v16.20.1/bin/npm
  Watchman:
    version: 2023.09.04.00
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.12.1
    path: /Users/boga/.rbenv/shims/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 22.4
      - iOS 16.4
      - macOS 13.3
      - tvOS 16.4
      - watchOS 9.4
  Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: 2022.2 AI-222.4459.24.2221.10121639
  Xcode:
    version: 14.3.1/14E300c
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 15.0.10
    path: /usr/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 2.7.8
    path: /Users/boga/.rbenv/shims/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli": Not Found
  react:
    installed: 18.2.0
    wanted: 18.2.0
  react-native:
    installed: 0.72.5
    wanted: 0.72.5
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: false
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: Not found
  newArchEnabled: Not found

Steps to reproduce

% node --version
v16.20.1

npx --yes react-native@0.72.5 init testcli --template react-native@0.72.5

Snack, screenshot, or link to a repository

See also #38298

[github-actions]

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[duasfh]

Is it possible for your project to update node version?
If not, you probably could try to add "@react-native/normalize-colors" to the package's "overrides" list with the previous version.
Current version 0.73.1 seems to be pushed yesterday.

But if possible, probably it's cleaner to update node version

[mfazekas]

@duasfh thanks, I'm personally not affected, this was an issue we saw on our CI, we've updated CI to node 18, so we're fine. But I don't think it was an intended/documented change that rn 0.72.* requires node 18 now.

[Definitely-Not-Vlad]

Considering the latest stable RN includes the following in package.json:

"engines": {
  "node": ">=16"
}

I would kindly ask for a RN side resolution to this. Not sure if this is an acceptable approach, but it comes to mind; publishing @react-native/normalize-colors 0.73.0 as 0.73.2, then publishing 0.73.1 as 0.74.0, considering it's a breaking change due to its change of Node minimum version requirements.

For the time being I'm resolving this on my side using:

"resolutions": {
  "@react-native/normalize-colors": "0.73.0"
}

In my package.json, but I would much prefer not having to add this.

[cortinico]

Thanks for flagging this @mfazekas, we're currently investigating what's the best resolution for this problem. As you mentioned, setting the resolutions for "@react-native/normalize-colors": "0.73.0" is a valid workaround as that version doesn't contain the engines directive.