UIWebView on iOS 9 beta makes apps using Angular.js ngRoute crash

Originator:victor.borrull
Number:rdar://22186109 Date Originated:07/08/2015
Status:Open Resolved:
Product:iOS Product Version:9.0 beta
Classification:Serious Bug Reproducible:Always
 
Summary:
UIWebView on iOS 9 (up to beta 5) makes Angular.js ngRoute crash with an infinite digest on a location change. This affects Cordova/Phonegap based apps using Angular route, as well as fully native apps displaying external webpages using Angular/ngRoute.

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open attached XCode project
2. Run
3. Attach Safari Web Inspector
4. Click on the link
5. Check the crash on Safari Web Inspector

Expected Results:
Angular doesn't enter an infinite digest loop.

Actual Results:
Angular enters on an infinite digest loop, javascript execution is halted.

Version:
iOS 9 beta 2,3,4,5 (probably 1 as well)

Notes:
This issue didn't happen on previous UIWebView implementations. It also doesn't occur on Mobile Safari, Desktop Safari, Latests Webkit nightly builds, recent versions of Chrome, IE or FireFox.

Configuration:
Any iOS 9 beta (at least 2 to 5) devices and simulators

Attachments:
'uiwebview.zip' was successfully uploaded.

Comments

The problem is not Angular-specific

The problem is not Angular specific and can be easily reproduced with vanilla javascript:

  • only if the web app is embedded in a native app (i.e. in Safari the problem does not exist)
  • only if the code is executed within the application (i.e. not from the console of a remote debugging Session) 

      window.location.hash = '#foo';
// in all known browsers at this point window.location.hash will read '#foo'. In iOS9-webview it won't, until 'hashchange' is fired 
if(window.location.hash !== '#foo') {
  // bang: iOS 9 webview
} else {
  // ok: any other browser
}
By davide.mancuso at Aug. 14, 2015, 9:26 p.m. (reply...)

Sample project demonstrating issue setting location.hash

Here is a link to a project that demonstrates a delay in assigning the location.href value. Compare the behavior between iOS 9 and iOS 8 . I believe this is the root cause, and it's hard to tell if it's an Angular or an iOS issue.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2jkwv2thhm86nly/iOS%209%20Location%20Bug.zip?dl=0

Thank you, - Sean

By sean.aitken at Aug. 10, 2015, 3:47 p.m. (reply...)

Attachment

Xcode project that reproduces the problem (JS taken from @santaslow on https://github.com/angular/angular.js/issues/12241) http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?file_id=06705112618062242331

By victor.borrull at Aug. 7, 2015, 10:45 a.m. (reply...)

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