Several packages seem to be incompatible with React Native 0.73 due to `buildConfig`

[UNIDY2002]

New Version

0.73.0-rc.1

Old Version

0.72.5

Build Target(s)

Android

Output of react-native info

System:
OS: Linux 6.1 Manjaro Linux
CPU: (16) x64 AMD Ryzen 7 5800H with Radeon Graphics
Memory: 5.39 GB / 13.51 GB
Shell:
version: 5.1.16
path: /bin/bash
Binaries:
Node:
version: 20.7.0
path: /tmp/yarn--1696745056791-0.4798124459808675/node
Yarn:
version: 1.22.19
path: /tmp/yarn--1696745056791-0.4798124459808675/yarn
npm:
version: 10.1.0
path: /usr/bin/npm
Watchman:
version: 2023.10.02.00
path: /usr/bin/watchman
SDKs:
Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
Android Studio: Not Found
Languages:
Java:
version: javac 21
path: /usr/bin/javac
Ruby: Not Found
npmPackages:
"@react-native-community/cli": Not Found
react:
installed: 18.2.0
wanted: 18.2.0
react-native:
installed: 0.73.0-rc.1
wanted: 0.73.0-rc.1
npmGlobalPackages:
"react-native": Not Found
Android:
hermesEnabled: true
newArchEnabled: false
iOS:
hermesEnabled: Not found
newArchEnabled: Not found

Issue and Reproduction Steps

Steps to reproduce:

• Create a fresh react-native@0.73.0-rc.1 project
• Install @react-native-async-storage/async-storage
• Build application

Then, I can see the following error:

A problem occurred configuring project ':react-native-async-storage_async-storage'.
> defaultConfig contains custom BuildConfig fields, but the feature is disabled.
  To enable the feature, add the following to your module-level build.gradle:
  `android.buildFeatures.buildConfig true`

I had to patch node_modules/@react-native-async-storage/async-storage/android/build.gradle and add the following code to eliminate this error:

android {
    // ...
    buildFeatures {
        buildConfig true
    }
    // ...
}

The same thing is happening to react-native-blob-util, @react-native-community/blur and some more packages.

Here are some real-world examples that showcase this error:

• https://github.com/thu-info-community/thu-info-app/actions/runs/6445352956/job/17499307819
• https://github.com/thu-info-community/thu-info-app/actions/runs/6445418469/job/17499448561

What is the proper way to solve this issue?

Thanks!

[UNIDY2002]

Repro: https://github.com/UNIDY2002/repro-rn-73-android