HLS stream UI block when loading a broken URL (iOS)

[HeinzStaschen]

Current behavior

Screen doesn't render until the onError callback gets triggered.

Reproduction steps

Set the Video component source uri to a broken https m3u8 URL.

Expected behavior

Screen needs to render normally so I can display a loader and then handle the onError event if needed.

Platform

• iOS

Video sample

https://devimages.apple.com.edgekey.net/streaming/examples/bipbop_16x9/bipbop_16x9_variant.m3u8

I've investigated RCTVideo.m and noticed you guys use AVURLAsset (which I suspect might be the cause of the issue):

if (isNetwork) {
    NSArray *cookies = [[NSHTTPCookieStorage sharedHTTPCookieStorage] cookies];
    AVURLAsset *asset = [AVURLAsset URLAssetWithURL:url options:@{AVURLAssetHTTPCookiesKey : cookies}];
    return [AVPlayerItem playerItemWithAsset:asset];
  }

Refer to link for possible solution:
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/38777384/avurlasset-urlassetwithurloptions-blocks-main-thread-with-remote-url

[danielmcmillan]

Do you still get this issue if you don't specify any one of the props 'ignoreSilentSwitch', 'rate', 'volume' or 'muted'?
If not than my pull request #1086 may fix the issue. Potentially the cause is what you have referenced and this just happens to work around it though.

[namgk]

I have the same problem, but I have 'volume' prop on. Will try to remove it.

[treemore]

use charles. start throttling . the ios ui will block util buffed success

[cobarx]

Are people still having this issue?

I tested the PR in #1113 and it has the side effect of causing the video to show up if you start the video paused. I think the solution @HeinzStaschen proposed is the right way to handle this, but it will take a fair bit of work to implement that. So lmk if that rework is needed.

[StuartMorris0]

This issue still exists for me on iOS.

I only have props for source, onError, style and controls. The video locks up the main UI thread when loading the video, once the video is loaded it is released.

[BaderSerhan]

@StuartMorris0 are you starting the videos paused?

[StuartMorris0]

I think they autoplay but I cannot remember 100%.

[muganwas]

I'm using version 5.0.2 and I'm still experiencing this issue. Is there a solution?