Xcode 26.3 / iOS device startup crash on NativeScript 8.9.x: UIContentSizeCategoryExtraSmall is not defined #11135

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1. jpmartinsson

   added

   bug-pending-triageReported bug, pending triage to confirm.Reported bug, pending triage to confirm.

   on Mar 11, 2026
2. farfromrefug commented on Mar 11, 2026

   

   farfromrefug

   on Mar 11, 2026

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   @jpmartinsson did you try to clean and build again?
   it works fine here
3. CatchABus commented on Mar 11, 2026

   

   CatchABus

   on Mar 11, 2026

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   @jpmartinsson I recall this problem got fixed in the latest v8.9.x iOS runtime, so I'd advice you to update it since you use @nativescript/ios 8.9.2-next.2025-02-28-13593660746.
4. NathanWalker commented on Mar 11, 2026

   

   NathanWalker

   on Mar 11, 2026

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   I'd also recommend using @nativescript/ios 9.x.x - for latest Xcode, Android Studio and other platform related items, always best to use latest cli (npm i -g nativescript) with latest runtimes (@nativescript/ios, @nativescript/android 9.x.x)
5. jpmartinsson commented on Mar 12, 2026

   

   jpmartinsson

   on Mar 12, 2026

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   Thanks for the input. We weren't planning on moving to Nativescript 9.x.x now, but will consider that. Main reason for waiting is that we thought we had to raise the angular version from 15 to something higher if we move to NS9 (or is this perhaps a faulty thought). If NS9 is the way to go and doesn't require an Angular upgrade we're in.

   In the meantime...

   I minimized the project as far as I reasonably can on the Angular 15 / NativeScript 8 line, and the app still crashes on startup with Xcode 26.3.

   Environment:

   • Node: 20.20.1
   • Xcode: 26.3
   • @nativescript/core: 8.9.8
   • @nativescript/ios: 8.9.2
   • @nativescript/android: 8.9.1
   • @nativescript/types: 8.9.1
   • @nativescript/angular: 15.x

   What I minimized:

   • Removed almost all nonessential dependencies/plugins from package.json
   • Root app reduced to a blank boot screen
   • app.module reduced to only NativeScriptModule + AppComponent
   • main.ts reduced to standard bootstrap only
   • polyfills.ts reduced to the standard NativeScript/Angular/Zone imports only
   • app.css emptied
   • core.css emptied
   • Pod install now reports 0 dependencies / 0 pods

   Current minimal files:

   src/main.ts

   import './polyfills';
   import { platformNativeScript, runNativeScriptAngularApp } from '@nativescript/angular';
   import { AppModule } from '~/app/app.module';
   
   runNativeScriptAngularApp({
     appModuleBootstrap: () => platformNativeScript().bootstrapModule(AppModule),
   });
   

   polyfills.ts

   import '@nativescript/core/globals';
   import '@nativescript/angular/polyfills';
   import '@nativescript/zone-js/dist/pre-zone-polyfills';
   import 'zone.js';
   import '@nativescript/zone-js';
   

   app.module.ts

   import { NgModule, NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
   import { NativeScriptModule } from '@nativescript/angular';
   import { AppComponent } from './app.component';
   
   @NgModule({
     bootstrap: [AppComponent],
     imports: [NativeScriptModule],
     declarations: [AppComponent],
     schemas: [NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA],
   })
   export class AppModule {}
   

   app.component.ts

   import { Component } from '@angular/core';
   
   @Component({
     selector: 'ns-app',
     template: `
       <Page>
         <ActionBar title="Boot Test"></ActionBar>
         <StackLayout>
           <Label text="App booted"></Label>
         </StackLayout>
       </Page>
     `,
   })
   export class AppComponent {}
   

   Build output:

   • Platform ios successfully added. v8.9.2
   • webpack succeeds
   • Xcode build succeeds
   • Pod installation reports 0 dependencies / 0 total pods installed

   Runtime crash on device:

   ReferenceError: Cannot access 'Application' before initialization
   File: (file:///.../triplyapp.app/app/vendor.js:2150:59)
   
   StackTrace:
       Application(file:///.../vendor.js:2150:60)
       at ./node_modules/@nativescript/core/media-query-list/index.js(file:///.../vendor.js:11669:70)
       at ./node_modules/@nativescript/core/ui/styling/css-selector.js
       at ./node_modules/@nativescript/core/ui/styling/style-scope.js
       at ./node_modules/@nativescript/core/ui/core/view-base/index.js
       at ./node_modules/@nativescript/core/ui/core/view/view-common.js
       at ./node_modules/@nativescript/core/ui/core/view/index.ios.js
       at ./node_modules/@nativescript/core/ui/frame/frame-common.js
       at ./node_modules/@nativescript/core/ui/frame/index.ios.js
       at ./node_modules/@nativescript/core/ui/dialogs/dialogs-common.js
       at ./node_modules/@nativescript/core/ui/dialogs/index.ios.js
       ...
   
   

   Earlier in the process, on the same Xcode 26.3 path, I also hit:
   ReferenceError: UIContentSizeCategoryExtraSmall is not defined
   from font-scale.ios.js

   Given the current minimized state, this no longer appears to be caused by app code, CSS, plugins, or CocoaPods integration.

   Could you please confirm:

   1. whether NativeScript 8.9.x is expected to work reliably with Xcode 26.3 on Angular 15
   2. the exact working version combination you tested (@nativescript/core, @nativescript/ios, CLI, Node)
   3. whether Cannot access 'Application' before initialization in index.js is a known NativeScript 8 issue on Xcode 26
      ...or should we abandon this and go NS9 + Angular 15 (if possible) right away?
6. farfromrefug commented on Mar 12, 2026

   

   farfromrefug

   on Mar 12, 2026

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   @jpmartinsson Dont go 9. You ll have more problems on top of the ones you already have.
   Yes 8.9.x is stable and should work fine with Xcode26.3 and Angular 15 (though i am not an angular dev).
   the application error you are seeing is totally normal if there was the error first of UIContentSizeCategoryExtraSmall not being defined.
   I think it is a metadata error . First @nativescript/ios: 8.9.2 is not the latest i would use 8.9.5. And i think it is the fix as 8.9.3 mention xcode 26 support
7. jpmartinsson commented on Mar 13, 2026

   

   jpmartinsson

   on Mar 13, 2026

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   Fantastic! I changed to @nativescript/iOS: 8.9.5 and the startup errors were gone. Thanks for your quick and insightful resolution to my problems.

   🎉React with 🎉1Reacted by farfromrefuge
8. jpmartinsson

   closed this as completedon Mar 13, 2026
9. NathanWalker commented on Mar 13, 2026

   

   NathanWalker

   on Mar 13, 2026

   Last edited by NathanWalker

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   I noticed in your output one key thing that may have been causing your issue. NS 9 requires node 22+, above looks like you had Node: 20.20.1. Using latest node LTS may be all you needed alongside latest cli, npm i -g nativescript. It's possible though that angular 15 has node engine restrictions so updating to latest angular may help there too.

   If want to explore NS 9 further can reach out in discord.