"Unexpected token import" as error when creating new react-native project

Question

I am creating a new react-native project using :

react-native init {proj_name}

But I am getting the following error.

D:\Reactnative\Project\{proj_name}\node_modules\react-native\local-cli\cliEntry.js:30
import type {CommandT} from './commands';
^^^^^^

SyntaxError: Unexpected token import
    at createScript (vm.js:80:10)
    at Object.runInThisContext (vm.js:139:10)
    at Module._compile (module.js:607:28)
    at Module._compile (D:\Reactnative\Project\Learnwizz\node_modules\pirates\lib\index.js:91:24)
    at Module._extensions..js (module.js:654:10)
    at Object.newLoader [as .js] (D:\Reactnative\Project\Learnwizz\node_modules\pirates\lib\index.js:96:7)
    at Module.load (module.js:556:32)
    at tryModuleLoad (module.js:499:12)
    at Function.Module._load (module.js:491:3)
    at Module.require (module.js:587:17)

Answer 1

This is a known bug right now with react-native 0.56 when running on Windows (see here and here).

Until it is fixed, you can work around the issue by explicitly specifying an older version of react-native when running react-native init. E.g.

react-native init {proj_name} --version [email protected]

Answer 2

EDIT: As a temporary workaround, you can init your project with the previous version of RN using react-native init --version="0.55.4" {projectName}

I'm also running into this exact error today. I just now noticed react-native init is now using react-native 0.56 which was just release a few hours ago I believe.

This might give you some troubleshooting ideas.

Answer 3

Currently I am getting Exception in latest version that is 0.56 (React Native) and not able to run the code in emulator, However I have downgraded React native version to 0.55.4, then it is working for me..

Run Below line of command :

react-native init {project_name} --version [email protected]