react-native run-windows hangs at "Installing new version of the app"

[dstaley]

Environment

1. react-native -v: react-native-cli: 2.0.1, react-native: 0.59.10
2. npm ls rnpm-plugin-windows: rnpm-plugin-windows@0.2.11
3. npm ls react-native-windows: react-native-windows@0.59.0-vnext.190
4. node -v: v12.10.0
5. npm -v: 6.10.3
6. yarn --version: N/A

Then, specify:

• Target Platform Version(s): 10.0.18362

• Target Device(s): Desktop

• Visual Studio Version: Visual Studio 2019

• Build Configuration: Debug

Steps to Reproduce

(Write your steps here:)

1. Inside a new, fresh project run react-native run-windows.

Expected Behavior

The application launches.

Actual Behavior

The build doesn't progress past "Installing new version of the app".

Reproducible Demo

This is running the default template, so no custom code.

Additional context

(Write any other additional context that may help in root causing the issue.)

[chrisglein]

@ddalp A number of us have also seen this. Definite road bump for new developers to the platform... and old ones too. Can you take a poke and see what you can find?

[FyLMartin]

@chrisglein - Just started trying to add windows support to an existing React Native app and ran into this. Is there a workaround while we're waiting for the next version?

[acoates-ms]

If you launch the solution file in visual studio, (windows/*.sln) Then hit F5 in there, it should build and install your app. Then you just need to use npm run start to boot the packager from your command line, and you can use F5 to install / boot your app.

[FyLMartin]

@acoates-ms - thanks! Turns out my work image is also getting in the way of the C++ build tools, so I'll need to chase that down as well, but didn't know that until I got into Visual Studio.

[savatia]

@dstaley and @FyLMartin This might have to do with Powershell being stuck in the deployment script waiting for user input to create an elevated command prompt in order to install the project in the PC certificate. Can you run react-native run-windows --logging and dump the output?

[dstaley]

@savatia Looks like you're exactly right!

√ Building Solution
 √ Starting the React-Native Server                                                                                     √ Removing old version of the app                                                                                      Found package: C:\Users\stale\Documents\windemo\windows\windemo\AppPackages\windemo_1.0.0.0_x86_Debug_Test\windemo_1.0.0.0_x86_Debug.appx
Found certificate: C:\Users\stale\Documents\windemo\windows\windemo\AppPackages\windemo_1.0.0.0_x86_Debug_Test\windemo_1.0.0.0_x86_Debug.cer

Before installing this app, you need to do the following:
        - Install the signing certificate
Administrator credentials are required to continue.  Please accept the UAC prompt and provide your administrator password if asked.
Press Enter to continue...:

After pressing Enter to launch the elevated prompt and installing the certificate, I was able to successfully run the app.

[acoates-ms]

Looks like we should ensure that that part of the output shows even when not using the --logging arg.

[FyLMartin]

@savatia - wanted to confirm I'm seeing the same prompt for installing the certificate. good catch!

[ddalp]

There are two issues here:

1. If the develop mode is not enabled, the first time installing the app will have a "Press Enter to continue" prompt which is suppressed if we don't run with --logging option, and that is why it is hang.
2. We should by default use -force to force the certificate installation without prompt.

[ddalp]

Fix checked in and verified.