App Fails to Open in Espresso, "java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError: couldn't find DSO to load: libhermes.so"

[sean7512]

When using Espresso, the tests fail with " Request failed with status 500 due to session not created: A new session could not be created. Details: Espresso server process has been unexpectedly terminated". The ADB stack trace shows the app fails to launch because of "java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError: couldn't find DSO to load: libhermes.so" Below is my configuration...

capabilities: [{
        platformName: 'Android',
        platformVersion: '11',
        deviceName: 'Pixel_3a_API_30',
        appPackage: 'com.awesomeproject',
        appActivity: 'com.awesomeproject.MainActivity',
        app: './../android/app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk',
        automationName: 'Espresso',
        showGradleLog: true,
        espressoBuildConfig: "{ \"gradle\": \"7.1.1\", \"toolsVersions\": { \"kotlin\": \"1.6.10\", \"buildTools\": \"31.0.0\", \"compileSdk\": \"31\", \"minSdk\": \"26\", \"targetSdk\": \"31\" }, \"additionalAppDependencies\": [ \"androidx.lifecycle:lifecycle-runtime-ktx:2.5.1\", \"androidx.lifecycle:lifecycle-livedata-ktx:2.5.1\" ] }",
        forceEspressoRebuild: true
    }]

This is literally a stock React Native app just initialized with the CLI with no other modifications. It is frustrating that setting this up in such a clean state is so difficult. The same tests run 100% fine using UIAutomator2. I assume I am doing something super silly and wrong, but I haven't been able to figure it out yet.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[KazuCocoa]

Espresso and UIA2 have different architectures at Android OS level. Espresso generally depends on the app under test,
https://developer.android.com/training/testing/espresso , so as you already use espressoBuildConfig, probably something react native specific dependencies are needed to the espresso server.

I haven't heavily used RN, but the error message looks like something RN specific one...? https://stackoverflow.com/questions/57036317/react-native-java-lang-unsatisfiedlinkerror-couldnt-find-dso-to-load-libherm