iOS TextInput - Selection doesn't update when using setNativeProps

[rushatgabhane]

Description

I have a TextInput and a button.
Pressing the button calls appendRandomNumber() which appends a random number to the TextInput.

To prevent re-renders, it uses setNativeProps to set the selection and text of the TextInput.

appendRandomNumber() {
  this.selection.start = this.selection.start + 1;
  this.selection.end = this.selection.end + 1;
  this.amount = this.amount.concat(Math.floor(Math.random() * 10));
  
  this.textInput.setNativeProps({ text: this.amount });
  this.textInput.setNativeProps({ selection: this.selection });
}

The issue is that the selection (cursor) doesn't update and is stuck in one place.

Note that this issue is not reproducible on Android.

Screen.Recording.2022-06-30.at.9.53.07.PM.mov

Version

0.69.1, 0.68.2

Output of npx react-native info

System:
OS: macOS 12.4
CPU: (8) arm64 Apple M1 Pro
Memory: 198.81 MB / 16.00 GB
Shell: 5.8.1 - /bin/zsh
Binaries:
Node: 14.19.1 - /opt/homebrew/opt/node@14/bin/node
Yarn: Not Found
npm: 6.14.16 - /opt/homebrew/opt/node@14/bin/npm
Watchman: 2022.03.21.00 - /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
CocoaPods: 1.11.3 - /opt/homebrew/bin/pod
SDKs:
iOS SDK:
Platforms: DriverKit 21.4, iOS 15.5, macOS 12.3, tvOS 15.4, watchOS 8.5
Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
Android Studio: 2021.1 AI-211.7628.21.2111.8193401
Xcode: 13.4.1/13F100 - /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
Java: 11.0.11 - /usr/bin/javac
npmPackages:
@react-native-community/cli: Not Found
react: 18.0.0 => 18.0.0
react-native: 0.69.1 => 0.69.1
react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
react-native: Not Found

Steps to reproduce

1. Open the snack.
2. Click this button 5 times - Click here to append a random number

Snack, code example, screenshot, or link to a repository

https://snack.expo.dev/@rushat200/setnativeprops-selection-bug

[necolas]

setNativeProps will not be supported in the new "Fabric" architecture, and should be considered deprecated

https://reactnative.dev/docs/new-architecture-library-intro#migrating-off-setnativeprops

[rushatgabhane]

@necolas just curious, why is setNativeProps being deprecated?