Is there an easy way to do this iOS development on an Linux platform? I have a Macbook Retina from 2012 that's a pain to use because the battery will die unless plugged in, and they don't offer replacement batteries for my model.
My next option is to put MacOS on a VM in Arch Linux, but ideally I'd like an easier solution before I go down that route...
Have you tried Expo? It allows you to develop directly on your iPhone, with the development server happily running on Windows or Linux.
The easiest way to try it is at https://snack.expo.io/ , which is an in-browser dev environment for React Native. All you need is the Expo app on your iPhone or Android.
Disclaimer: Expo supports my work on React Navigation, the JS navigation framework for React Native. But I would recommend them regardless!
My next option is to put MacOS on a VM in Arch Linux, but ideally I'd like an easier solution before I go down that route...