feat: add RCTSceneDelegate for UIScene-based iOS app bootstrap

Introduces an optional RCTSceneDelegate base class alongside the existing
RCTAppDelegate path, with RCTGetActiveReactNativeFactory and RCTKeyWindow
improvements.

Author: artus9033

packages/react-native/Libraries/AppDelegate/RCTAppDelegate.h

@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@
 NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_BEGIN
 
 /**
- * @deprecated RCTAppDelegate is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of React Native. Use
- `RCTReactNativeFactory` instead.
+ * @deprecated RCTAppDelegate is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of React Native. For new apps
+ * using the UIScene lifecycle, prefer `RCTSceneDelegate` or `RCTReactNativeFactory` with a SceneDelegate entrypoint.
+ * For AppDelegate-only apps, use `RCTReactNativeFactory` directly.
  *
  * The RCTAppDelegate is an utility class that implements some base configurations for all the React Native apps.
  * It is not mandatory to use it, but it could simplify your AppDelegate code.
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_BEGIN
  *   - (id<RCTTurboModule>)getModuleInstanceFromClass:(Class)moduleClass
  */
 __attribute__((deprecated(
-    "RCTAppDelegate is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of React Native. Use `RCTReactNativeFactory` instead.")))
+    "RCTAppDelegate is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of React Native. For UIScene apps use `RCTSceneDelegate`; otherwise use `RCTReactNativeFactory`.")))
 @interface RCTAppDelegate : RCTDefaultReactNativeFactoryDelegate<UIApplicationDelegate>
 
 /// The window object, used to render the UViewControllers

packages/react-native/Libraries/AppDelegate/RCTDefaultReactNativeFactoryDelegate.mm

@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ - (RCTColorSpace)defaultColorSpace
 
 - (NSURL *_Nullable)bundleURL
 {
-  [NSException raise:@"RCTAppDelegate::bundleURL not implemented"
+  [NSException raise:@"RCTReactNativeFactoryDelegate::bundleURL not implemented"
               format:@"Subclasses must implement a valid getBundleURL method"];
   return nullptr;
 }

packages/react-native/Libraries/AppDelegate/RCTReactNativeFactory.h

@@ -58,6 +58,14 @@ typedef NS_ENUM(NSInteger, RCTReleaseLevel) { Canary, Experimental, Stable };
 
 @interface RCTReactNativeFactory : NSObject
 
+/**
+ * Bootstrap entrypoints:
+ * - **AppDelegate path**: `startReactNativeWithModuleName:inWindow:launchOptions:` — call from
+ *   `application:didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:` or `RCTAppDelegate`.
+ * - **SceneDelegate path**: `startReactNativeWithModuleName:inWindow:connectionOptions:` — call from
+ *   `scene:willConnectToSession:options:` or `RCTSceneDelegate`.
+ */
+
 - (instancetype)initWithDelegate:(id<RCTReactNativeFactoryDelegate>)delegate;
 
 - (instancetype)initWithDelegate:(id<RCTReactNativeFactoryDelegate>)delegate releaseLevel:(RCTReleaseLevel)releaseLevel;
@@ -99,8 +107,6 @@ typedef NS_ENUM(NSInteger, RCTReleaseLevel) { Canary, Experimental, Stable };
 @property (nonatomic, nullable) RCTBridge *bridge
     __attribute__((deprecated("The bridge is deprecated and will be removed when removing the legacy architecture.")));
 
-@property (nonatomic, strong, nonnull) RCTRootViewFactory *rootViewFactory;
-
 #if !defined(RCT_REMOVE_LEGACY_ARCH)
 @property (nonatomic, nullable) RCTSurfacePresenterBridgeAdapter *bridgeAdapter __attribute__((
     deprecated("The bridgeAdapter is deprecated and will be removed when removing the legacy architecture.")));

packages/react-native/Libraries/AppDelegate/RCTRootViewFactory.mm

@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 #import <React/RCTRootView.h>
 #import <React/RCTUtils.h>
 #import <react/renderer/runtimescheduler/RuntimeScheduler.h>
-#import "RCTAppDelegate.h"
 #import "RCTAppSetupUtils.h"
 
 #if RN_DISABLE_OSS_PLUGIN_HEADER

packages/react-native/Libraries/AppDelegate/RCTSceneDelegate.h

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) Meta Platforms, Inc. and affiliates.
+ *
+ * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+ * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+ */
+
+#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>
+#import "RCTDefaultReactNativeFactoryDelegate.h"
+#import "RCTReactNativeFactory.h"
+#import "RCTRootViewFactory.h"
+
+@protocol RCTBridgeDelegate;
+@protocol RCTComponentViewProtocol;
+@class RCTRootView;
+@class RCTSurfacePresenterBridgeAdapter;
+@protocol RCTDependencyProvider;
+
+NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_BEGIN
+
+/**
+ * Optional utility base class for SceneDelegate-based React Native apps using the UIScene lifecycle.
+ *
+ * For AppDelegate-only apps, use `RCTAppDelegate` or `RCTReactNativeFactory` directly.
+ *
+ * To use it, make your SceneDelegate a subclass of RCTSceneDelegate:
+ *
+ * ```objc
+ * #import <React_RCTAppDelegate/RCTSceneDelegate.h>
+ * @interface SceneDelegate : RCTSceneDelegate
+ * @end
+ * ```
+ *
+ * Requires `UIApplicationSceneManifest` in Info.plist with your SceneDelegate class configured.
+ *
+ * All methods implemented by RCTSceneDelegate can be overridden. Call `[super ...]` to use the default
+ * implementation.
+ */
+@interface RCTSceneDelegate : RCTDefaultReactNativeFactoryDelegate <UIWindowSceneDelegate>
+
+/// The window object used to render UIViewControllers for this scene.
+@property (nonatomic, strong, nullable) UIWindow *window;
+
+#if !defined(RCT_REMOVE_LEGACY_ARCH)
+@property (nonatomic, nullable) RCTBridge *bridge
+    __attribute__((deprecated("The bridge is deprecated and will be removed when removing the legacy architecture.")));
+@property (nonatomic, nullable) RCTSurfacePresenterBridgeAdapter *bridgeAdapter __attribute__((
+    deprecated("The bridge adapter is deprecated and will be removed when removing the legacy architecture.")));
+#endif
+
+@property (nonatomic, strong, nullable) NSString *moduleName;
+@property (nonatomic, strong, nullable) NSDictionary *initialProps;
+@property (nonatomic, strong, nullable) RCTReactNativeFactory *reactNativeFactory;
+
+/// If `automaticallyLoadReactNativeWindow` is set to `true`, the React Native window is loaded in
+/// `scene:willConnectToSession:options:`.
+@property (nonatomic, assign) BOOL automaticallyLoadReactNativeWindow;
+
+- (RCTRootViewFactory *)rootViewFactory;
+
+/// Loads the React Native root view into `self.window` using UIScene connection options.
+- (void)loadReactNativeWindow:(UISceneConnectionOptions *_Nullable)connectionOptions;
+
+@end
+
+NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_END

packages/react-native/Libraries/AppDelegate/RCTSceneDelegate.mm

@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) Meta Platforms, Inc. and affiliates.
+ *
+ * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+ * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+ */
+
+#import "RCTSceneDelegate.h"
+
+#import <React/RCTLinkingManager.h>
+#import <React/RCTLog.h>
+#import <React/RCTRootView.h>
+#import <React/RCTUtils.h>
+
+@implementation RCTSceneDelegate
+
+- (instancetype)init
+{
+  if (self = [super init]) {
+    _automaticallyLoadReactNativeWindow = YES;
+  }
+  return self;
+}
+
+- (void)scene:(UIScene *)scene
+    willConnectToSession:(UISceneSession *)session
+                 options:(UISceneConnectionOptions *)connectionOptions
+{
+  if (![scene isKindOfClass:[UIWindowScene class]]) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  self.reactNativeFactory = [[RCTReactNativeFactory alloc] initWithDelegate:self];
+
+  UIWindowScene *windowScene = (UIWindowScene *)scene;
+  self.window = [[UIWindow alloc] initWithWindowScene:windowScene];
+
+  if (self.automaticallyLoadReactNativeWindow) {
+    [self loadReactNativeWindow:connectionOptions];
+  }
+}
+
+- (void)loadReactNativeWindow:(UISceneConnectionOptions *)connectionOptions
+{
+  [self.reactNativeFactory startReactNativeWithModuleName:self.moduleName
+                                                 inWindow:self.window
+                                        initialProperties:self.initialProps
+                                        connectionOptions:connectionOptions];
+}
+
+- (RCTRootViewFactory *)rootViewFactory
+{
+  return self.reactNativeFactory.rootViewFactory;
+}
+
+#pragma mark - Linking (SceneDelegate lifecycle)
+
+- (void)scene:(UIScene *)scene openURLContexts:(NSSet<UIOpenURLContext *> *)URLContexts
+{
+  [RCTLinkingManager scene:scene openURLContexts:URLContexts];
+}
+
+- (void)scene:(UIScene *)scene continueUserActivity:(NSUserActivity *)userActivity
+{
+  [RCTLinkingManager scene:scene continueUserActivity:userActivity];
+}
+
+@end

packages/react-native/Libraries/AppDelegate/RCTUIConfiguratorProtocol.h

@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_BEGIN
 
 /**
  * This method can be used to customize the rootView that is passed to React Native.
- * A typical example is to override this method in the AppDelegate to change the background color.
- * To achieve this, add in your `AppDelegate.mm`:
+ * Override on your `RCTReactNativeFactoryDelegate` (e.g. in AppDelegate, SceneDelegate factory delegate, or
+ * `RCTAppDelegate` / `RCTSceneDelegate` subclass). Example:
  * ```
  * - (void)customizeRootView:(RCTRootView *)rootView
  * {

packages/react-native/Libraries/LinkingIOS/RCTLinkingManager.h

@@ -11,37 +11,44 @@
 
 @interface RCTLinkingManager : RCTEventEmitter
 
+/**
+ * Deep linking integration supports two iOS lifecycle paths:
+ * - **AppDelegate methods** (below): use when the app does not declare `UIApplicationSceneManifest` in Info.plist.
+ * - **SceneDelegate methods** (below): use when the app uses the UIScene lifecycle, or subclass `RCTSceneDelegate`
+ *   which forwards these automatically.
+ */
+
 #pragma mark - AppDelegate methods
 
-/// Lifecycle method informing of a URL being opened with the app, must be invoked from the AppDelegate.
-/// Must be invoked from the AppDelegate.
+/// Lifecycle method informing of a URL being opened with the app.
+/// Invoke from AppDelegate for non-scene apps (no `UIApplicationSceneManifest` in Info.plist).
 /// Note: this is an implementation using the iOS 9.0-26.0 API
 + (BOOL)application:(nonnull UIApplication *)app
             openURL:(nonnull NSURL *)URL
             options:(nonnull NSDictionary<UIApplicationOpenURLOptionsKey, id> *)options;
 
-/// Lifecycle method handling a URL being opened with the app, must be invoked from the AppDelegate.
-/// Must be invoked from the AppDelegate.
+/// Lifecycle method handling a URL being opened with the app.
+/// Invoke from AppDelegate for non-scene apps.
 /// Note: this is an implementation using the iOS 4.2-9.0 API
 + (BOOL)application:(nonnull UIApplication *)application
               openURL:(nonnull NSURL *)URL
     sourceApplication:(nullable NSString *)sourceApplication
            annotation:(nonnull id)annotation;
 
 /// Lifecycle method handling user activity being performed.
-/// Must be invoked from the AppDelegate.
+/// Invoke from AppDelegate for non-scene apps.
 + (BOOL)application:(nonnull UIApplication *)application
     continueUserActivity:(nonnull NSUserActivity *)userActivity
       restorationHandler:(nonnull void (^)(NSArray<id<UIUserActivityRestoring>> *_Nullable))restorationHandler;
 
 #pragma mark - SceneDelegate methods
 
-/// Successor to AppDelegate's application:continueUserActivity:restorationHandler:, which handles user activity being
-/// performed. Must be invoked from the SceneDelegate.
+/// Handles user activity for scene-based apps. Invoke from SceneDelegate, or use `RCTSceneDelegate` which forwards
+/// automatically.
 + (void)scene:(nonnull UIScene *)scene continueUserActivity:(nonnull NSUserActivity *)userActivity;
 
-/// Successor to AppDelegate's application:openURL:options:, which handles user activity being performed.
-/// Must be invoked from the SceneDelegate.
+/// Handles URLs opened while the app is running for scene-based apps. Invoke from SceneDelegate, or use
+/// `RCTSceneDelegate` which forwards automatically.
 + (void)scene:(nonnull UIScene *)scene openURLContexts:(nonnull NSSet<UIOpenURLContext *> *)URLContexts;
 
 @end

packages/react-native/React/Base/RCTJavaScriptLoader.mm

@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ static void attemptAsynchronousLoadOfBundleAtURL(
                              [@"Could not connect to development server.\n\n"
                                "Ensure the following:\n"
                                "- Node server is running and available on the same network - run 'npm start' from react-native root\n"
-                               "- Node server URL is correctly set in AppDelegate\n"
+                               "- Node server URL is correctly set in your AppDelegate or SceneDelegate factory delegate\n"
                                "- WiFi is enabled and connected to the same network as the Node Server\n\n"
                                "URL: " stringByAppendingString:scriptURL.absoluteString],
                          NSLocalizedFailureReasonErrorKey : error.localizedDescription,

packages/react-native/React/Base/RCTUtils.h

@@ -96,6 +96,12 @@ RCT_EXTERN UIWindow *__nullable RCTKeyWindow(void);
 // Is this app a SceneDelegate app?
 RCT_EXTERN BOOL RCTIsSceneDelegateApp(void);
 
+@class RCTReactNativeFactory;
+
+/// Returns the active `RCTReactNativeFactory` from the foreground SceneDelegate or AppDelegate, if available.
+/// Useful for native code that needs access to `rootViewFactory` without holding a direct reference.
+RCT_EXTERN RCTReactNativeFactory *_Nullable RCTGetActiveReactNativeFactory(void);
+
 // Returns the presented view controller, useful if you need
 // e.g. to present a modal view controller or alert over it
 RCT_EXTERN UIViewController *__nullable RCTPresentedViewController(void);