Invalid Podfile file unexpected template EOS - react-native

Question

i have battling with this error for days now, trying to start up at a new job. Having issues while trying to run pod install on a react native cli project, i have tried every possible solution on here, doesnt work with mine.
The errors:
[!] Invalid `Podfile` file: /Users/decagon/kumoafrica/node_modules/react-native/scripts/react_native_pods_utils/script_phases.rb:39: syntax error, unexpected <<
template =<<~EOS
^
/Users/decagon/kumoafrica/node_modules/react-native/scripts/react_native_pods_utils/script_phases.rb:40: unknown regexp options - ll
/Users/decagon/kumoafrica/node_modules/react-native/scripts/react_native_pods_utils/script_phases.rb:41: dynamic constant assignment
RCT_SCRIPT_POD_INSTALLATION_ROOT=$(pwd)
^
/Users/decagon/kumoafrica/node_modules/react-native/scripts/react_native_pods_utils/script_phases.rb:41: `$(' is not allowed as a global variable name
/Users/decagon/kumoafrica/node_modules/react-native/scripts/react_native_pods_utils/script_phases.rb:41: syntax error, unexpected end-of-input
RCT_SCRIPT_POD_INSTALLATION_ROOT=$(pwd)
^.
# from /Users/decagon/kumoafrica/ios/Podfile:1
# -------------------------------------------
> require_relative '../node_modules/react-native/scripts/react_native_pods'
# require_relative '../node_modules/#react-native-community/cli-platform-ios/native_modules'
# -------------------------------------------
The podfile:
require_relative '../node_modules/react-native/scripts/react_native_pods'
require_relative '../node_modules/#react-native-community/cli-platform-ios/native_modules'
platform :ios, '11.0'
install! 'cocoapods', :deterministic_uuids => false
target 'kumo' do
config = use_native_modules!
# Flags change depending on the env values.
flags = get_default_flags()
use_react_native!(
:path => config[:reactNativePath],
# to enable hermes on iOS, change `false` to `true` and then install pods
:hermes_enabled => flags[:hermes_enabled],
:fabric_enabled => flags[:fabric_enabled],
# An absolute path to your application root.
:app_path => "#{Pod::Config.instance.installation_root}/.."
)
target 'kumoTests' do
inherit! :complete
# Pods for testing
end
# Enables Flipper.
#
# Note that if you have use_frameworks! enabled, Flipper will not work and
# you should disable the next line.
use_flipper!()
post_install do |installer|
react_native_post_install(installer)
__apply_Xcode_12_5_M1_post_install_workaround(installer)
end
end
package.json:
{
"name": "kumo",
"version": "0.0.1",
"private": true,
"scripts": {
"android": "react-native run-android",
"ios": "react-native run-ios",
"start": "react-native start",
"test": "jest",
"lint": "eslint . --ext .js,.jsx,.ts,.tsx"
},
"dependencies": {
"react": "17.0.2",
"react-native": "0.68.1"
},
"devDependencies": {
"#babel/core": "^7.12.9",
"#babel/runtime": "^7.12.5",
"#react-native-community/eslint-config": "^2.0.0",
"#types/jest": "^26.0.23",
"#types/react-native": "^0.67.3",
"#types/react-test-renderer": "^17.0.1",
"#typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin": "^5.17.0",
"#typescript-eslint/parser": "^5.17.0",
"babel-jest": "^26.6.3",
"eslint": "^7.32.0",
"jest": "^26.6.3",
"metro-react-native-babel-preset": "^0.67.0",
"react-test-renderer": "17.0.2",
"typescript": "^4.4.4"
},
"resolutions": {
"#types/react": "^17"
},
"jest": {
"preset": "react-native",
"moduleFileExtensions": [
"ts",
"tsx",
"js",
"jsx",
"json",
"node"
]
}
}
if anything else is needed ask, please help.

Answer 1

Don't know if this is helpful now but if you're running React Native from scratch on a M1 Chip machine I was able to fix this issue by doing:
cd ios
bundle install
bundle exec pod install
After hours of struggle this was the way to actually make for pod install work for me.
This same example can be found here: https://reactnative.dev/docs/environment-setup under the "Creating a new application" section.

Answer 2

I think you are Mac M1 user, so follow this steps :
Uninstall the local cocoapods gem
sudo gem uninstall cocoapods
install Homebrew
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
or
Go to Site Web
Finally install cocoapods via Homebrew
brew install cocoapods
And it will Work, Otherwise check this