React-native: ReactNative 0.55.3 -> 0.61.4 : much more slower on android release builds

[bashirpour]

Description:

My app works perfectly in debug mode, but lags everywhere in release mode (transitions, touches, loading, etc.).

I made a new project and then transferred my previous code.
It works very well in debug mode, but unfortunately when I turn off debug mode or take the final output, performance drops sharply and the app speed slows down.

React Native version:

System:
    OS: Windows 10
    CPU: (4) x64 Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-7500U CPU @ 2.70GHz
    Memory: 6.12 GB / 11.90 GB
  Binaries:
    Node: 10.16.0 - C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.EXE
    Yarn: 1.9.4 - C:\Program Files (x86)\Yarn\bin\yarn.CMD
    npm: 6.9.0 - C:\Program Files\nodejs\npm.CMD
  SDKs:
    Android SDK:
      API Levels: 23, 25, 26, 27, 28
      Build Tools: 23.0.1, 25.0.1, 25.0.2, 25.0.3, 26.0.1, 26.0.2, 26.0.3, 27.0.3, 28.0.1, 28.0.2, 28.0.3
      System Images: android-23 | Intel x86 Atom_64, android-23 | Google APIs Intel x86 Atom, android-23 | Google APIs Intel x86 Atom_64, android-26 | Google APIs Intel x86 Atom, android-28 | Intel x86 Atom_64, android-28 | Google Play Intel x86 Atom
  IDEs:
    Android Studio: Version  3.5.0.0 AI-191.8026.42.35.5900203
  npmPackages:
    react: 16.9.0 => 16.9.0
    react-native: 0.61.4 => 0.61.4

and my app package.json

{
  "name": "...",
  "version": "0.0.1",
  "private": true,
  "scripts": {
    "android": "react-native run-android",
    "ios": "react-native run-ios",
    "start": "react-native start",
    "test": "jest",
    "lint": "eslint ."
  },
  "dependencies": {
    "@eva-design/eva": "^1.3.1",
    "@ptomasroos/react-native-multi-slider": "^1.0.0",
    "@react-native-community/async-storage": "^1.6.3",
    "@react-native-community/checkbox": "^0.2.2",
    "@react-native-community/netinfo": "^4.6.1",
    "@react-native-firebase/analytics": "^6.0.4",
    "@react-native-firebase/app": "^6.0.3",
    "@react-navigation/core": "^3.5.1",
    "@react-navigation/drawer": "^5.0.0-alpha.23",
    "@ui-kitten/components": "^4.3.2",
    "@ui-kitten/eva-icons": "^4.3.2",
    "lodash": "^4.17.15",
    "pushe-react-native": "^1.0.1",
    "react": "16.9.0",
    "react-native": "0.61.4",
    "react-native-check-box": "^2.1.7",
    "react-native-collapsible": "^1.5.1",
    "react-native-deep-link": "^0.2.9",
    "react-native-gesture-handler": "^1.5.0",
    "react-native-google-places-autocomplete": "^1.3.9",
    "react-native-map-clustering": "^3.1.2",
    "react-native-maps": "0.26.1",
    "react-native-masked-text": "^1.13.0",
    "react-native-modal-picker": "0.0.16",
    "react-native-reanimated": "^1.4.0",
    "react-native-screens": "^2.0.0-alpha.8",
    "react-native-simple-radio-button": "^2.7.4",
    "react-native-svg": "^9.13.6",
    "react-native-webview": "^8.0.3",
    "react-navigation": "^4.0.10",
    "react-navigation-drawer": "^2.3.3",
    "react-navigation-stack": "^1.10.3",
    "react-redux": "^7.1.3",
    "redux": "^4.0.4",
    "redux-thunk": "^2.3.0",
    "rn-sliding-up-panel": "^1.2.1",
    "victory-native": "^33.0.0"
  },
  "devDependencies": {
    "@babel/core": "^7.7.2",
    "@babel/runtime": "^7.7.2",
    "@react-native-community/eslint-config": "^0.0.5",
    "babel-jest": "^24.9.0",
    "eslint": "^5.16.0",
    "jest": "^24.9.0",
    "metro-react-native-babel-preset": "^0.57.0",
    "react-test-renderer": "16.9.0"
  },
  "jest": {
    "preset": "react-native"
  }
}

Expected Results

The final release will work exactly like the debug mode

[ProMasoud]

I think it's because of Hermes feature that added in 0.60. it's reduce size of app and increase build time. Hermes build JS code to bitcode and it takes time.

[bashirpour]

@ProMasoud
I disabled Hermes and re-tested it had the same problem again

[mstankov]

Has anyone found a solution for this or at least what's causing it? I'm experiencing it too after upgrading from 0.59.10 -> 0.61.5. Can confirm that Hermes is not the issue.

Edit: FYI my issue is only with the app's boot time. Literally increased from less than a second to a solid 4-5, which is kinda ridiculous. In DEBUG mode the boot time is around 0.5s. No issue with in app screen transition lags or any of the sort, just the boot time.

[github-actions[bot]]

Do you need help upgrading to a newer React Native version? Visit the Upgrade Support repository or use the upgrade helper to see the changes that need to be made to upgrade your app.