Native Gesture Handler Integration for Sheet

Problem Statement

Sheet + Sheet.ScrollView gesture coordination on native iOS has fundamental limitations because Tamagui uses React Native's built-in PanResponder, while iOS's UIScrollView gesture recognizers fire BEFORE the RN responder system can claim the gesture.

This causes:

Minor scroll "flicker" when starting to drag down from scroll top
Imperfect handoff between scroll and sheet drag gestures
Impossible to achieve native-quality feel

Expected Behavior (Native Quality)

When at top snap point, swipe up → naturally scroll content
Swipe down → bounces back at top (rubber band effect)
If scrolled down and drag down → scroll to top, THEN SEAMLESSLY hand off to dragging sheet down
If dragging up and hit sheet top → SEAMLESSLY continue scrolling naturally

This is what gorhom/bottom-sheet and react-native-actions-sheet achieve using react-native-gesture-handler.

Reference Implementations

1. react-native-actions-sheet (~/github/react-native-actions-sheet)

Key Patterns:

tsx

// Gesture.Pan() with refs for coordination
Gesture.Pan()
  .withRef(panGestureRef)
  .onChange(event => onChange(...))
  .runOnJS(true)
  .activeOffsetY([-5, 5])
  .failOffsetX([-5, 5])
  .onEnd(onEnd)

blockPan flag pattern - Simple boolean to control gesture routing:

tsx

let blockPan = false

// In onChange:
// 1. Sheet not fully open, swiping up: scrollable(false); blockPan = false → allow panning
// 2. Sheet fully open, swiping up: scrollable(true); blockPan = true → allow scrolling
// 3. Sheet not fully open, swiping down: depends on nodeIsScrolling
// 4. Sheet fully open, swiping down with scroll offset: hand off when scrollY=0

if (blockPan) return // Exit early

scrollable() function - Enable/disable scroll and restore positions:

tsx

function scrollable(value: boolean) {
  for (let node of draggableNodes.current) {
    if (Platform.OS === 'ios') {
      scrollRef.scrollTo({ x: 0, y: offsets[i], animated: false })
    } else if (Platform.OS === 'android') {
      scrollRef?.setNativeProps({ scrollEnabled: value })
    }
  }
}

2. gorhom/bottom-sheet (~/github/react-native-bottom-sheet)

Key Patterns:

simultaneousHandlers for gesture coordination:

tsx

// In createBottomSheetScrollableComponent.tsx
const scrollableGesture = useMemo(
  () =>
    draggableGesture
      ? Gesture.Native()
          .simultaneousWithExternalGesture(draggableGesture)
          .shouldCancelWhenOutside(false)
      : undefined,
  [draggableGesture]
)

Context-based gesture state:

tsx

// GestureHandlersProvider creates content and handle pan gestures
const contentPanGestureHandler = useGestureHandler(
  GESTURE_SOURCE.CONTENT,
  animatedContentGestureState,
  ...
);

const handlePanGestureHandler = useGestureHandler(
  GESTURE_SOURCE.HANDLE,
  animatedHandleGestureState,
  ...
);

Worklet-based gesture handlers (useGestureEventsHandlersDefault):

tsx

const handleOnChange = useCallback(
  function handleOnChange(source, { translationY }) {
    'worklet';
    // Lock scrollable position when scrolled
    if (animatedScrollableState.get().contentOffsetY > 0) {
      context.value = { ...context.value, isScrollablePositionLocked: true };
    }

    // Negative offset subtraction for smooth handoff
    const negativeScrollableContentOffset =
      (context.value.initialPosition === highestSnapPoint &&
        source === GESTURE_SOURCE.CONTENT)
        ? animatedScrollableState.get().contentOffsetY * -1
        : 0;

    // Accumulated position with scroll offset
    const accumulatedDraggedPosition = draggedPosition + negativeScrollableContentOffset;

    // Unlock when reaching highest point
    if (context.value.isScrollablePositionLocked &&
        animatedPosition.value === highestSnapPoint) {
      context.value = { ...context.value, isScrollablePositionLocked: false };
    }
  },
  [...]
);

Implementation Plan

Phase 1: Setup Infrastructure (Following Teleport Pattern)

Files to create:

code/ui/sheet/src/setupGestureHandler.ts - Setup function
code/ui/sheet/src/gestureState.ts - Global state for RNGH availability
code/ui/sheet/src/GestureSheetContext.tsx - Context for gesture refs

Pattern (following @tamagui/portal):

tsx

// setupGestureHandler.ts
export type GestureHandlerState = {
  enabled: boolean
  GestureDetector: typeof GestureDetector | null
  Gesture: typeof Gesture | null
  // Note: We DON'T require Reanimated - use Tamagui's animation driver
}

let state: GestureHandlerState = { enabled: false, GestureDetector: null, Gesture: null }

export function setupGestureHandler(config: {
  GestureDetector: typeof GestureDetector
  Gesture: typeof Gesture
}): void {
  const g = globalThis as any
  if (g.__tamagui_gesture_handler_setup) return
  g.__tamagui_gesture_handler_setup = true

  state = {
    enabled: true,
    GestureDetector: config.GestureDetector,
    Gesture: config.Gesture,
  }
}

export function getGestureHandlerState(): GestureHandlerState {
  return state
}

export function isGestureHandlerEnabled(): boolean {
  return state.enabled
}

Phase 2: Conditional Gesture Handling in Sheet

Modify SheetImplementationCustom.tsx:

tsx

import { isGestureHandlerEnabled, getGestureHandlerState } from './gestureState'

// In component:
const gestureHandlerEnabled = isGestureHandlerEnabled()

// Create PanResponder OR GestureDetector based on availability
const panGesture = React.useMemo(() => {
  if (gestureHandlerEnabled) {
    return createGestureHandlerPan(/* ... */)
  }
  return createPanResponder(/* ... current implementation */)
}, [gestureHandlerEnabled, /* ... */])

// Render with conditional wrapper
{gestureHandlerEnabled ? (
  <GestureDetectorWrapper gesture={panGesture}>
    <AnimatedView ...></AnimatedView>
  </GestureDetectorWrapper>
) : (
  <AnimatedView {...panResponder?.panHandlers} ...></AnimatedView>
)}

Phase 3: Sheet.ScrollView with simultaneousHandlers

Modify SheetScrollView.tsx:

tsx

import { isGestureHandlerEnabled, getGestureHandlerState } from './gestureState'

// Get the sheet's pan gesture ref from context
const { panGestureRef } = useSheetGestureContext()

// Create simultaneous gesture for ScrollView
const scrollableGesture = React.useMemo(() => {
  if (!isGestureHandlerEnabled() || !panGestureRef) return null
  const { Gesture } = getGestureHandlerState()
  return Gesture.Native()
    .simultaneousWithExternalGesture(panGestureRef)
    .shouldCancelWhenOutside(false)
}, [panGestureRef])

// Wrap ScrollView with GestureDetector when available
return scrollableGesture ? (
  <GestureDetector gesture={scrollableGesture}>
    <ScrollView {...props} />
  </GestureDetector>
) : (
  <ScrollView {...props}></ScrollView>
)

Phase 4: Implement blockPan Pattern

Add to SheetContext/scrollBridge:

tsx

// Extend scrollBridge with gesture coordination state
scrollBridge.blockPan = false
scrollBridge.isScrollablePositionLocked = false
scrollBridge.initialPosition = 0
scrollBridge.contentOffsetY = 0

// In gesture onChange handler:
function onChange(absoluteX, absoluteY, translationY) {
  const isFullOpen = getCurrentPosition() === positions[0]
  const isSwipingDown = prevDeltaY < translationY
  const nodeIsScrolling = scrollBridge.y > 0

  // Decision tree (from actions-sheet):
  if (!isFullOpen && !isSwipingDown) {
    // Sheet not fully open, swiping up → allow panning
    scrollable(false)
    scrollBridge.blockPan = false
  } else if (isFullOpen && !isSwipingDown) {
    // Sheet fully open, swiping up → allow scrolling only
    scrollable(true)
    scrollBridge.blockPan = true
  } else if (!isFullOpen && isSwipingDown) {
    // Sheet not fully open, swiping down → depends on scroll state
    if (nodeIsScrolling) {
      scrollable(true)
      scrollBridge.blockPan = true
    } else {
      scrollable(false)
      scrollBridge.blockPan = false
    }
  } else if (isFullOpen && isSwipingDown) {
    // Sheet fully open, swiping down → hand off at scrollY=0
    if (nodeIsScrolling) {
      scrollable(true)
      scrollBridge.blockPan = true
    } else {
      scrollable(false)
      scrollBridge.blockPan = false
    }
  }

  if (scrollBridge.blockPan) return

  // Continue with sheet position update...
}

Phase 5: Export Public API

Update package.json exports:

json

{
  "exports": {
    ".": {
      /* existing */
    },
    "./setup-gesture-handler": {
      "react-native": {
        "types": "./types/setupGestureHandler.d.ts",
        "module": "./dist/esm/setupGestureHandler.js",
        "import": "./dist/esm/setupGestureHandler.js",
        "require": "./dist/cjs/setupGestureHandler.js"
      }
    }
  }
}

Documentation for users:

tsx

// In app entry point (index.js or App.tsx)
import { setupGestureHandler } from '@tamagui/sheet/setup-gesture-handler'
import {
  Gesture,
  GestureDetector,
  GestureHandlerRootView,
} from 'react-native-gesture-handler'

// Call once at startup
setupGestureHandler({ Gesture, GestureDetector })

// Wrap app with GestureHandlerRootView (user's responsibility)
export default function App() {
  return (
    <GestureHandlerRootView style={{ flex: 1 }}>
      <YourApp />
    </GestureHandlerRootView>
  )
}

File Changes Summary

New Files

code/ui/sheet/src/setupGestureHandler.ts - Setup function and state
code/ui/sheet/src/gestureState.ts - Global state management
code/ui/sheet/src/GestureSheetContext.tsx - Context for gesture refs
code/ui/sheet/src/createGestureHandlerPan.ts - RNGH-based pan gesture creation
code/ui/sheet/src/GestureDetectorWrapper.tsx - Conditional wrapper component

Modified Files

code/ui/sheet/src/SheetImplementationCustom.tsx - Conditional gesture handling
code/ui/sheet/src/SheetScrollView.tsx - simultaneousHandlers integration
code/ui/sheet/src/SheetContext.tsx - Extended scrollBridge interface
code/ui/sheet/package.json - Export setup-gesture-handler

Test Files

code/kitchen-sink/tests/SheetGestureHandler.test.tsx - New E2E tests for RNGH path
code/kitchen-sink/src/usecases/SheetScrollableDrag.tsx - Update for testing

Testing Strategy

TDD Approach

First, write failing tests for the expected behavior:
- Test: "drag down from scrolled position hands off seamlessly"
- Test: "drag up to sheet top continues into scrolling"
- Test: "no flicker on direction change"
Run tests on iOS simulator/device:
- This is iOS-specific behavior
- Use Detox for native E2E testing
- Playwright can verify web fallback still works
Test matrix:
- With RNGH setup: Full native quality
- Without RNGH setup: Current PanResponder behavior (regression test)
- Web: Should use PanResponder (unchanged)

Key Test Cases

tsx

describe('Sheet with RNGH', () => {
  beforeAll(() => {
    setupGestureHandler({ Gesture, GestureDetector })
  })

  it('scrolls content when at top snap point and swiping up', async () => {
    // Open sheet at 85% snap point
    // Swipe up on content area
    // Verify content scrolls (scrollY increases)
    // Verify sheet position unchanged
  })

  it('drags sheet down when at top snap point with scrollY=0', async () => {
    // Open sheet at 85% snap point
    // Swipe down on content area
    // Verify sheet position decreases
    // Verify content doesn't scroll
  })

  it('seamlessly hands off from scroll to sheet drag', async () => {
    // Open sheet, scroll content down
    // Start dragging up (scrolling)
    // When scrollY reaches 0, continue motion
    // Verify sheet starts moving up without interruption
  })

  it('seamlessly hands off from sheet drag to scroll', async () => {
    // Open sheet at lower snap point
    // Drag up until hitting top snap point
    // Continue upward motion
    // Verify content starts scrolling without interruption
  })
})

Notes

Why Not Use Reanimated?

Tamagui has its own animation driver system
Don't want to force Reanimated as a dependency
Gesture.Pan() with runOnJS(true) works fine for our use case
The key is simultaneousWithExternalGesture, not worklets

Fallback Behavior

When setupGestureHandler() is NOT called:

Sheet uses current PanResponder implementation
Minor iOS limitations remain (as documented in next.md)
Web always uses PanResponder (fine for web)
No breaking changes

Package Dependencies

Optional peer dependency:

json

{
  "peerDependencies": {
    "react-native-gesture-handler": ">=2.0.0"
  },
  "peerDependenciesMeta": {
    "react-native-gesture-handler": {
      "optional": true
    }
  }
}

Progress Tracking

Current Status (Iteration 3)

Core implementation complete:

gestureState.ts - global state for RNGH availability (no native deps)
setupGestureHandler.ts - auto-detects RNGH via require() (like teleport pattern)
useGestureHandlerPan.tsx - pan gesture hook with blockPan logic
GestureDetectorWrapper.tsx - conditional wrapper component
GestureSheetContext.tsx - context for sharing gesture ref with ScrollView
SheetImplementationCustom.tsx - integrated gesture handler with fallback to PanResponder
SheetScrollView.tsx - simultaneousWithExternalGesture for native coordination
package.json - added setup-gesture-handler export and optional peer dep

Kitchen sink setup:

Added setupGestureHandler() call in App.native.tsx

Next step: Test on iOS simulator to verify behavior:

Dragging sheet should NOT cause scroll
Scrolling content should NOT cause sheet drag
Handoff at scroll top should be seamless