fix: always pod install in dev rn ios - improve clean coverage

dev.yml

@@ -235,10 +235,10 @@ commands:
       ios:
         desc: Run the iOS sample app in the simulator.
         long_desc: |
-          Builds and runs the iOS sample app on a simulator.
+          Ensures CocoaPods are in sync, then builds and runs the iOS sample app on a simulator.
 
           --local
-            Build against in-repo Swift SDK sources (runs pod install first).
+            Build against in-repo Swift SDK sources.
         syntax:
           optional: --local
         run: cd platforms/react-native && pnpm sample ios "$@"
@@ -263,9 +263,14 @@ commands:
           optional: --local
         run: cd platforms/react-native && pnpm run pod-install -- "$@"
       clean:
-        desc: Remove generated directories and stop sccache
+        desc: Remove generated directories, clean CocoaPods cache, and stop sccache
         run: |
           cd platforms/react-native
+          if (cd sample/ios && bundle exec pod --version >/dev/null 2>&1); then
+            (cd sample/ios && bundle exec pod cache clean --all)
+          else
+            echo "Skipping CocoaPods cache clean (pod unavailable; run dev up first)"
+          fi
           pnpm module clean
           pnpm sample clean
           pnpm clean

platforms/react-native/CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ CI uses the default (published) path naturally — no special flag handling. As
 
 ### Gotchas
 
-- **iOS**: re-run `dev rn pod-install --local` (or drop the flag) after switching modes — CocoaPods caches resolution.
+- **iOS**: `dev rn ios` runs `pod install` before launching, so dropping or adding `--local` will re-resolve the pods as needed. You can still run `dev rn pod-install [--local]` directly when you only want to refresh pods.
 - **Android (CLI)**: covered automatically by the publish script — every `--local` run re-publishes the AAR before building.
 - **Android (Android Studio)**: when running the sample via Android Studio's Run button after editing `platforms/android/lib/src/**`, run `platforms/react-native/scripts/publish_android_snapshot` once manually (with `USE_LOCAL_SDK=1`) or run `dev rn android --local` from a terminal to refresh `~/.m2/`.
 - The flag affects **only the RN build**. The standalone Swift and Android SDK builds (`dev android build`, `swift build`, etc.) are unaffected.

platforms/react-native/sample/package.json

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   "private": true,
   "scripts": {
     "android": "bash ./scripts/android",
-    "clean": "rm -rf node_modules ios/build ios/pods vendor",
+    "clean": "rm -rf node_modules ios/build ios/Pods vendor",
     "clean:android": "(cd android && ./gradlew clean)",
     "build:android": "bash ./scripts/build_android",
     "release:android": "bash ./scripts/release_android",

platforms/react-native/sample/scripts/ios

@@ -5,17 +5,16 @@ set -e
 SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
 
 args=()
-use_local=0
+pod_install_args=()
 for arg in "$@"; do
   if [ "$arg" = "--local" ]; then
-    use_local=1
+    export USE_LOCAL_SDK=1
+    pod_install_args+=("--local")
   else
     args+=("$arg")
   fi
 done
 
-if [ "$use_local" = "1" ]; then
-  (cd "$SCRIPT_DIR/../.." && pnpm run pod-install -- --local)
-fi
+(cd "$SCRIPT_DIR/../.." && pnpm run pod-install -- "${pod_install_args[@]}")
 
 exec react-native run-ios "${args[@]}"

platforms/react-native/scripts/pod_install

@@ -9,7 +9,5 @@ for arg in "$@"; do
 done
 
 cd sample/ios
-bundle install
-bundle exec pod repo update
-bundle exec pod cache clean --all
+bundle check || bundle install
 bundle exec pod install --repo-update