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react-native-babel-preset doesn't import _interopRequireWildcard as bebel helper #57123
Description
Description
Each time when code include the next import:
import * as React from 'react';Babel will inject helper fn. _interopRequireWildcard
this is bad as it creates many duplicates, instead of importing it once, see: https://github.com/babel/babel/blob/main/packages/babel-helpers/src/helpers/interopRequireWildcard.ts
Steps to reproduce
- Add import
import * as React from 'react'; - Build prod.
- check the final JS bundle
React Native Version
0.85.3
Affected Platforms
Runtime - Android, Runtime - iOS
Output of npx @react-native-community/cli info
System:
OS: macOS 26.5
CPU: (11) arm64 Apple M3 Pro
Memory: 6.54 GB / 36.00 GB
Shell:
version: 4.0.1
path: /opt/homebrew/bin/fish
Binaries:
Node:
version: 24.13.1
path: /usr/local/bin/node
Yarn:
version: 3.6.4
path: /opt/homebrew/bin/yarn
npm:
version: 11.8.0
path: /usr/local/bin/npm
Watchman:
version: 2025.09.01.00
path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
CocoaPods:
version: 1.16.2
path: /Users/i/.rbenv/shims/pod
SDKs:
iOS SDK:
Platforms:
- DriverKit 25.2
- iOS 26.2
- macOS 26.2
- tvOS 26.2
- visionOS 26.2
- watchOS 26.2
Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
Android Studio: 2025.3 AI-253.32098.37.2534.15336583
Xcode:
version: 26.2/17C52
path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
Java:
version: 17.0.13
path: /usr/bin/javac
Ruby:
version: 2.6.10
path: /Users/i/.rbenv/shims/ruby
npmPackages:
"@react-native-community/cli":
installed: 20.1.0
wanted: 20.1.0
react:
installed: 19.2.3
wanted: 19.2.3
react-native:
installed: 0.85.3
wanted: 0.85.3
react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
"*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
hermesEnabled: true
newArchEnabled: true
iOS:
hermesEnabled: true
newArchEnabled: true
Stacktrace or Logs
...
MANDATORY Reproducer
Screenshots and Videos
Activity
retyui commentedon Sep 21, 2026
I hope it will be fixed in this PR: #57974
robhogan commentedon Sep 21, 2026
It'll take a couple more changes - to wire it through the transformers, set the option in Metro, and ensure Metro's @babel/runtime is always watched, but yeah it should fix Babel runtime issues permanently 🤞
retyui commentedon Sep 22, 2026
well, in that case I'm reopening this issue