nativescript-cli: Livesync hangs, especially bad on iOS

I’m having multiple issues with livesync, expecially on iOS. I am unsure if they are related, but I will outline what is happening below.

Which platform(s) does your issue occur on?

Both

Please provide the following version numbers that your issue occurs with:

• CLI: 3.3.1
• Cross-platform modules: 3.3.0
• Runtime(s): tns-android: 3.3.1 tns-ios: 3.3.0
• Plugin(s):

{
    "nativescript-advanced-webview": "^1.1.3",
    "nativescript-angular": "~4.4.1",
    "nativescript-async": "^1.0.2",
    "nativescript-drop-down": "^3.1.0",
    "nativescript-floatingactionbutton": "^3.0.0",
    "nativescript-geolocation": "^3.0.0",
    "nativescript-gradient": "^2.0.1",
    "nativescript-iqkeyboardmanager": "^1.1.0",
    "nativescript-ng-shadow": "^1.1.2",
    "nativescript-plugin-firebase": "^4.0.6",
    "nativescript-pro-ui": "^3.1.3",
    "nativescript-snackbar": "^2.0.0",
    "nativescript-theme-core": "^1.0.4",
    "nativescript-unit-test-runner": "^0.3.4"
}

Please tell us how to recreate the issue in as much detail as possible.

When I tns run ios, my app will begin to build and then hang. Building a clean build seems to temporarily fix it, but eventually it happens again, often in the middle of my day when I haven’t made any changes to dependencies or anything like that. I have also noticed that when it is hanging I can suspend the app by pressing the home button and it will proceed. I’ve seen mentioned to run with the --log trace output and I will paste the content below.

Loading extensions.
Asserting extension nativescript-angular-cli is installed.
Extension nativescript-angular-cli is installed.
execFile: /Users/vincecooley/Library/Android/sdk/platform-tools/adb "help"
Exec uname -a 
 stdout: Darwin Vinces-MacBook-Pro.local 17.2.0 Darwin Kernel Version 17.2.0: Fri Sep 29 18:27:05 PDT 2017; root:xnu-4570.20.62~3/RELEASE_X86_64 x86_64
 
 stderr: 
Exec npm -v 
 stdout: 4.2.0
 
 stderr: 
spawn: java "-version"
Exec node-gyp -v 
 stdout:  
 stderr: /bin/sh: node-gyp: command not found

Error while executing node-gyp -v: Command failed: node-gyp -v
/bin/sh: node-gyp: command not found

Exec xcodebuild -version 
 stdout: Xcode 9.0.1
Build version 9A1004
 
 stderr: 
Exec gem which xcodeproj 
 stdout: /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.4.0/gems/xcodeproj-1.4.2/lib/xcodeproj.rb
 
 stderr: 
Exec pod --version 
 stdout: 1.2.0
 
 stderr: 
Exec '/Users/vincecooley/Library/Android/sdk/platform-tools/adb' version 
 stdout: Android Debug Bridge version 1.0.39
Revision 3db08f2c6889-android
Installed as /Users/vincecooley/Library/Android/sdk/platform-tools/adb

- stderr: 
Exec mono --version 
 stdout:  
 stderr: /bin/sh: mono: command not found

Error while executing mono --version: Command failed: mono --version
/bin/sh: mono: command not found

Exec git --version 
 stdout: git version 2.13.5 (Apple Git-94)
 
 stderr: 
Exec gradle -v 
 stdout:  
 stderr: /bin/sh: gradle: command not found

Error while executing gradle -v: Command failed: gradle -v
/bin/sh: gradle: command not found

Exec "/Library/Java/Home/bin/javac" -version 
 stdout:  
 stderr: javac 1.8.0_121

System information:
{ procInfo: 'nativescript/3.3.1',
  platform: 'darwin',
  os: 'Darwin Vinces-MacBook-Pro.local 17.2.0 Darwin Kernel Version 17.2.0: Fri Sep 29 18:27:05 PDT 2017; root:xnu-4570.20.62~3/RELEASE_X86_64 x86_64\n',
  shell: '/bin/bash',
  dotNetVer: null,
  procArch: 'x64',
  nodeVer: 'v7.9.0',
  npmVer: '4.2.0',
  javaVer: '1.8.0',
  nodeGypVer: null,
  xcodeVer: 'Xcode 9.0.1\nBuild version 9A1004\n',
  xcodeprojGemLocation: '/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.4.0/gems/xcodeproj-1.4.2/lib/xcodeproj.rb\n',
  itunesInstalled: true,
  cocoapodVer: '1.2.0',
  adbVer: 'Android Debug Bridge version 1.0.39',
  emulatorInstalled: true,
  monoVer: null,
  gitVer: '2.13.5 (Apple Git-94)',
  gradleVer: null,
  javacVersion: '1.8.0_121' }
Looking for project in '/Users/vincecooley/Projects/myproject'
Project directory is '/Users/vincecooley/Projects/myproject'.
Exec which xcodebuild 
 stdout: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
 
 stderr: 
Exec xcodebuild -version | head -n 1 | sed -e 's/Xcode //' 
 stdout: 9.0.1
 
 stderr: 
Validate options for platform: iOS
Initializing analytics statuses.
Analytics statuses:  { TrackFeatureUsage: 'enabled', TrackExceptions: 'enabled' }
spawn: node "/usr/local/lib/node_modules/nativescript/lib/services/analytics/analytics-broker-process.js" "/usr/local/lib/node_modules/nativescript/lib/bootstrap.js"
Searching for devices...
startLookingForDevices; platform is iOS
Starting to look for iOS devices.
Exec ps cax | grep launchd_sim 
 stdout: 23462   ??  S      0:03.01 launchd_sim
 
 stderr: 
Found device with identifier 'BE9FC449-B049-4FF8-967F-23506BE243A7'
startLookingForDevices; platform is iOS
Exec ps cax | grep launchd_sim 
 stdout: 23462   ??  S      0:03.01 launchd_sim
 
 stderr: 
Exec ps cax | grep launchd_sim 
 stdout: 23462   ??  S      0:03.01 launchd_sim
 
 stderr: 
Project dir from hooksArgs is: /Users/vincecooley/Projects/myproject.
Hooks directories: [ '/usr/local/lib/node_modules/nativescript/lib/hooks',
  '/usr/local/lib/node_modules/nativescript/lib/common/hooks',
  '/Users/vincecooley/Projects/myproject/hooks' ]
BeforeHookName for command liveSync is before-liveSync
Executing before-liveSync hook from /Users/vincecooley/Projects/myproject/hooks/before-liveSync/nativescript-angular-sync.js
Executing before-liveSync hook at location /Users/vincecooley/Projects/myproject/hooks/before-liveSync/nativescript-angular-sync.js in-process
Validating before-liveSync arguments.
Changes info in prepare platform: ProjectChangesInfo {
  appFilesChanged: false,
  packageChanged: false,
  appResourcesChanged: false,
  nativeChanged: false,
  configChanged: false,
  nativePlatformStatus: '3' }
Skipping prepare.
Will send the following information to Google Analytics: { googleAnalyticsDataType: 'event',
  action: 'LiveSync',
  label: 'iOS_Simulator_11.0',
  customDimensions: { cd2: 'Angular' } }

At this point, I get a hang and can manually suspend the app to resume. I’d also like to note that if I kill it here I get the following message:

^CUnable to apply changes on device: BE9FC449-B049-4FF8-967F-23506BE243A7. Error is: process.send is not a function.
Project dir from hooksArgs is: /Users/vincecooley/Projects/myproject.
Hooks directories: [ '/usr/local/lib/node_modules/nativescript/lib/hooks',
  '/usr/local/lib/node_modules/nativescript/lib/common/hooks',
  '/Users/vincecooley/Projects/myproject/hooks' ]
AfterHookName for command watch is after-watch
Executing after-watch hook from /Users/vincecooley/Projects/myproject/hooks/after-watch/nativescript-dev-typescript.js
Executing after-watch hook at location /Users/vincecooley/Projects/myproject/hooks/after-watch/nativescript-dev-typescript.js in-process
Validating after-watch arguments.
Project dir from hooksArgs is: /Users/vincecooley/Projects/myproject.
Hooks directories: [ '/usr/local/lib/node_modules/nativescript/lib/hooks',
  '/usr/local/lib/node_modules/nativescript/lib/common/hooks',
  '/Users/vincecooley/Projects/myproject/hooks' ]
AfterHookName for command liveSync is after-liveSync
IOSDeviceOperations disposed.

Finally, I’m not sure if this is related or not, but I get many incremental compilation messages when I have made no changes. The app does not refresh after receiving these until I have actually made some changes. For example:

9:31:38 AM - File change detected. Starting incremental compilation...

9:31:39 AM - Compilation complete. Watching for file changes.

9:31:44 AM - File change detected. Starting incremental compilation...

9:31:45 AM - Compilation complete. Watching for file changes.

9:31:45 AM - File change detected. Starting incremental compilation...

9:31:46 AM - Compilation complete. Watching for file changes.

etc…