React Native build fails on building a new build type other than debug/release

Question

I am trying to prepare a staging release build but by my build is failing. It gives me a huge list of errors. I have modified my build.gradle to add a staging environment. I am not sure why this is happening as my debug and release build works fine.

I used yarn android --variant=stagingrelease to generate the build and run on my physical android device. Using React-Native: 0.61.5.

Some of the errors are as follows

FAILURE: Build failed with an exception.

* What went wrong: Could not determine the dependencies of task ':app:preStagingreleaseBuild'.
> Could not resolve all task dependencies for configuration ':app:stagingreleaseRuntimeClasspath'.
   > Could not resolve project :@react-native-community_masked-view.
     Required by:
         project :app
      > Unable to find a matching variant of project :@react-native-community_masked-view:
          - Variant 'debugApiElements' capability Furry:@react-native-community_masked-view:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attributes:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'debug'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found incompatible value 'java-api'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'debug' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
          - Variant 'debugRuntimeElements' capability Furry:@react-native-community_masked-view:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attribute:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'debug'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'debug' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found compatible value 'java-runtime'.
          - Variant 'releaseApiElements' capability Furry:@react-native-community_masked-view:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attributes:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'release'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found incompatible value 'java-api'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'release' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
          - Variant 'releaseRuntimeElements' capability Furry:@react-native-community_masked-view:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attribute:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'release'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'release' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found compatible value 'java-runtime'.
   > Could not resolve project :react-native-bootsplash.
     Required by:
         project :app
      > Unable to find a matching variant of project :react-native-bootsplash:
          - Variant 'debugApiElements' capability Furry:react-native-bootsplash:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attributes:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'debug'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found incompatible value 'java-api'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'debug' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
          - Variant 'debugRuntimeElements' capability Furry:react-native-bootsplash:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attribute:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'debug'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'debug' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found compatible value 'java-runtime'.
          - Variant 'releaseApiElements' capability Furry:react-native-bootsplash:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attributes:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'release'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found incompatible value 'java-api'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'release' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
          - Variant 'releaseRuntimeElements' capability Furry:react-native-bootsplash:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attribute:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'release'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'release' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found compatible value 'java-runtime'.
   > Could not resolve project :react-native-config.
     Required by:
         project :app
      > Unable to find a matching variant of project :react-native-config:
          - Variant 'debugApiElements' capability Furry:react-native-config:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attributes:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'debug'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found incompatible value 'java-api'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'debug' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
          - Variant 'debugRuntimeElements' capability Furry:react-native-config:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attribute:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'debug'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'debug' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found compatible value 'java-runtime'.
          - Variant 'releaseApiElements' capability Furry:react-native-config:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attributes:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'release'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found incompatible value 'java-api'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'release' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
          - Variant 'releaseRuntimeElements' capability Furry:react-native-config:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attribute:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'release'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'release' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found compatible value 'java-runtime'.
   > Could not resolve project :react-native-gesture-handler.
     Required by:
         project :app
      > Unable to find a matching variant of project :react-native-gesture-handler:
          - Variant 'debugApiElements' capability Furry:react-native-gesture-handler:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attributes:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'debug'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found incompatible value 'java-api'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'debug' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
          - Variant 'debugRuntimeElements' capability Furry:react-native-gesture-handler:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attribute:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'debug'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'debug' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found compatible value 'java-runtime'.
          - Variant 'releaseApiElements' capability Furry:react-native-gesture-handler:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attributes:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'release'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found incompatible value 'java-api'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'release' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
          - Variant 'releaseRuntimeElements' capability Furry:react-native-gesture-handler:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attribute:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'release'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'release' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found compatible value 'java-runtime'.
   > Could not resolve project :react-native-reanimated.
     Required by:
         project :app
      > Unable to find a matching variant of project :react-native-reanimated:
          - Variant 'debugApiElements' capability com.swmansion.reanimated:react-native-reanimated:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attributes:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'debug'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found incompatible value 'java-api'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'debug' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
          - Variant 'debugRuntimeElements' capability com.swmansion.reanimated:react-native-reanimated:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attribute:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'debug'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'debug' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found compatible value 'java-runtime'.
          - Variant 'releaseApiElements' capability com.swmansion.reanimated:react-native-reanimated:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attributes:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'release'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found incompatible value 'java-api'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'release' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
          - Variant 'releaseRuntimeElements' capability com.swmansion.reanimated:react-native-reanimated:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attribute:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'release'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'release' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found compatible value 'java-runtime'.
   > Could not resolve project :react-native-safe-area-context.
     Required by:
         project :app
      > Unable to find a matching variant of project :react-native-safe-area-context:
          - Variant 'debugApiElements' capability Furry:react-native-safe-area-context:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attributes:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'debug'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found incompatible value 'java-api'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'debug' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
          - Variant 'debugRuntimeElements' capability Furry:react-native-safe-area-context:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attribute:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'debug'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'debug' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found compatible value 'java-runtime'.
          - Variant 'releaseApiElements' capability Furry:react-native-safe-area-context:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attributes:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'release'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found incompatible value 'java-api'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'release' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
          - Variant 'releaseRuntimeElements' capability Furry:react-native-safe-area-context:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attribute:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'release'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'release' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found compatible value 'java-runtime'.
   > Could not resolve project :react-native-screens.
     Required by:
         project :app
      > Unable to find a matching variant of project :react-native-screens:
          - Variant 'debugApiElements' capability com.swmansion.rnscreens:react-native-screens:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attributes:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'debug'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found incompatible value 'java-api'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'debug' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
          - Variant 'debugRuntimeElements' capability com.swmansion.rnscreens:react-native-screens:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attribute:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'debug'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'debug' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found compatible value 'java-runtime'.
          - Variant 'releaseApiElements' capability com.swmansion.rnscreens:react-native-screens:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attributes:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'release'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found incompatible value 'java-api'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'release' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
          - Variant 'releaseRuntimeElements' capability com.swmansion.rnscreens:react-native-screens:unspecified:
              - Incompatible attribute:
                  - Required com.android.build.api.attributes.BuildTypeAttr 'stagingrelease' and found incompatible value 'release'.
              - Other attributes:
                  - Found com.android.build.api.attributes.VariantAttr 'release' but wasn't required.
                  - Required com.android.build.gradle.internal.dependency.AndroidTypeAttr 'Aar' and found compatible value 'Aar'.
                  - Required org.gradle.usage 'java-runtime' and found compatible value 'java-runtime'.

Snippets of android/app/build.gradle

project.ext.envConfigFiles = [
        debug: ".env",
        release: ".env.production",
        stagingrelease: ".env.staging",
]
apply from: project(':react-native-config').projectDir.getPath() + "/dotenv.gradle"

project.ext.react = [
    entryFile: "index.js",
    enableHermes: false,  // clean and rebuild if changing
]

apply from: "../../node_modules/react-native/react.gradle"

def enableSeparateBuildPerCPUArchitecture = false

def enableProguardInReleaseBuilds = true

def enableHermes = project.ext.react.get("enableHermes", false);

android {
    compileSdkVersion rootProject.ext.compileSdkVersion

    compileOptions {
        sourceCompatibility JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
        targetCompatibility JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
    }

    defaultConfig {
        applicationId "com.furry"
        minSdkVersion rootProject.ext.minSdkVersion
        targetSdkVersion rootProject.ext.targetSdkVersion
        versionCode 1
        versionName "1.0"
    }
    splits {
        abi {
            reset()
            enable enableSeparateBuildPerCPUArchitecture
            universalApk false  // If true, also generate a universal APK
            include "armeabi-v7a", "x86", "arm64-v8a", "x86_64"
        }
    }
    signingConfigs {
        debug {
            storeFile file('debug.keystore')
            storePassword 'android'
            keyAlias 'androiddebugkey'
            keyPassword 'android'
        }
    }
    buildTypes {
        debug {
            signingConfig signingConfigs.debug
        }
        release {
            // Caution! In production, you need to generate your own keystore file.
            // see https://facebook.github.io/react-native/docs/signed-apk-android.
            signingConfig signingConfigs.debug
            minifyEnabled enableProguardInReleaseBuilds
            proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile("proguard-android.txt"), "proguard-rules.pro"
        }
        stagingrelease {
            initWith release
        }
    }

dependencies {
    implementation fileTree(dir: "libs", include: ["*.jar"])
    implementation "com.facebook.react:react-native:+"  // From node_modules
    implementation "androidx.appcompat:appcompat:1.1.0-rc01"
    implementation "androidx.swiperefreshlayout:swiperefreshlayout:1.1.0-alpha02"

    if (enableHermes) {
        def hermesPath = "../../node_modules/hermes-engine/android/";
        debugImplementation files(hermesPath + "hermes-debug.aar")
        releaseImplementation files(hermesPath + "hermes-release.aar")
    } else {
        implementation jscFlavor
    }
}


apply from: file("../../node_modules/@react-native-community/cli-platform-android/native_modules.gradle"); applyNativeModulesAppBuildGradle(project)
project.ext.vectoricons = [
    iconFontNames: [ 'MaterialIcons.ttf', 'MaterialCommunityIcons.ttf' ]
]
apply from: "../../node_modules/react-native-vector-icons/fonts.gradle"

android/build.gradle

allprojects {
    repositories {
        mavenLocal()
        maven {
            // All of React Native (JS, Obj-C sources, Android binaries) is installed from npm
            url("$rootDir/../node_modules/react-native/android")
        }
        maven {
            // Android JSC is installed from npm
            url("$rootDir/../node_modules/jsc-android/dist")
        }

        google()
        jcenter()
        maven { url 'https://jitpack.io' }
    }
}

proguard-rules.pro

# Add any project specific keep options here:
-keep class com.furry.BuildConfig { *; }

Dependencies in package.json

"dependencies": {
        "@react-native-community/masked-view": "^0.1.6",
        "@react-navigation/native": "^5.0.7",
        "@react-navigation/stack": "^5.0.8",
        "axios": "^0.19.2",
        "libphonenumber-js": "^1.7.44",
        "react": "16.9.0",
        "react-native": "0.61.5",
        "react-native-bootsplash": "^1.2.1",
        "react-native-config": "^0.12.0",
        "react-native-gesture-handler": "^1.6.0",
        "react-native-reanimated": "^1.7.0",
        "react-native-safe-area-context": "^0.7.3",
        "react-native-screens": "^2.0.0-beta.10",
        "react-native-sms-retriever": "^1.1.1",
        "react-native-svg": "^11.0.1",
        "react-native-vector-icons": "^6.6.0",
        "realm": "4.0.0-beta.0",
        "recyclerlistview": "2.0.13-alpha.1"
    },

Answer 1

Alright!, so I have been trying for many hours to resolve the issues and it turns out that there is a simple answer to it, matchingFallbacks.

The issue occurs because I am adding a new build variant stagingrelease to my app's build.gradle whereas the native libraries that am using doesn't have the same matching variant in their build.gradle hence during the build the repective libraries are not found.

stagingrelease {
    initWith release
    matchingFallbacks = ['debug', 'release'] // Addded this
}