Error: Unexpected key "NSMainNibFile~ipad" while parsing <dict/>

[shanlin2dltk]

Problem

My app used to work fine with ios4.5.4 version, now after using the newly 5.0.0 version, the build failed with error message 'Error: Unexpected key "NSMainNibFile~ipad" while parsing '. The same error happens when using Cordova cli 7.1.0 and 8.1.2. My config.xml has these plugins:

 <engine name="ios" spec="5.0.0" />
    <engine name="android" spec="7.1.0" />
    <plugin name="cordova-plugin-camera" spec="4.0.3">
        <variable name="CAMERA_USAGE_DESCRIPTION" value="Please allow access to the camera to take pictures to attach to your expense submissions." />
        <variable name="PHOTOLIBRARY_USAGE_DESCRIPTION" value="Please allow access to the gallery to attach receipts for your expense submissions." />
    </plugin>
    <plugin name="cordova-plugin-file" spec="6.0.1" />
    <plugin name="cordova-plugin-file-opener2" spec="2.2.0" />
    <plugin name="cordova-plugin-file-transfer" spec="1.7.1" />
    <plugin name="cordova-plugin-fingerprint-aio" spec="1.6.0">
        <variable name="FACEID_USAGE_DESCRIPTION" value="Need to access face recognition function of your device." />
    </plugin>
    <plugin name="cordova-plugin-globalization" spec="1.11.0" />
    <plugin name="cordova-plugin-inappbrowser" spec="3.0.0" />
    <plugin name="cordova-plugin-splashscreen" spec="5.0.2" />
    <plugin name="cordova-plugin-device" spec="2.0.2" />
    <plugin name="cordova-plugin-secure-storage" spec="3.0.1" />
    <plugin name="cordova-plugin-statusbar" spec="2.4.2" />
    <plugin name="cordova-plugin-whitelist" spec="1.3.3" />
    <plugin name="cordova-plugin-wkwebview-engine" spec="1.1.4" />
    <plugin name="cordova-plugin-wkwebview-file-xhr" spec="2.1.1" />
    <plugin name="cordova-plugin-customurlscheme" spec="4.3.0">
        <variable name="URL_SCHEME" value="maconomytime" />
    </plugin>
    <plugin name="cordova-plugin-pincheck" spec="0.0.6" />
    <plugin name="cordova-plugin-app-launcher" spec="0.4.0" />

The verbose output of command cordova build ios --device --verbose gives:
Error: Unexpected key "NSMainNibFile~ipad" while parsing <dict/>.

Since the error message doesn't give details, I have no idea what could go wrong. Can anyone shed some light on the possible causes?

[shanlin2dltk]

the node stack trace looks like this:

Error: Unexpected key "NSMainNibFile~ipad" while parsing <dict/>.
    at invariant (/Users/shanlin/build/extjs_maconomy_time/cordova/node_modules/plist/lib/parse.js:53:11)
    at parsePlistXML (/Users/shanlin/build/extjs_maconomy_time/cordova/node_modules/plist/lib/parse.js:121:9)
    at parsePlistXML (/Users/shanlin/build/extjs_maconomy_time/cordova/node_modules/plist/lib/parse.js:101:23)
    at Object.parse (/Users/shanlin/build/extjs_maconomy_time/cordova/node_modules/plist/lib/parse.js:71:15)
    at ConfigFile_load [as load] (/Users/shanlin/build/extjs_maconomy_time/cordova/node_modules/cordova-common/src/ConfigChanges/ConfigFile.js:86:27)
    at new ConfigFile (/Users/shanlin/build/extjs_maconomy_time/cordova/node_modules/cordova-common/src/ConfigChanges/ConfigFile.js:53:10)
    at ConfigKeeper_get [as get] (/Users/shanlin/build/extjs_maconomy_time/cordova/node_modules/cordova-common/src/ConfigChanges/ConfigKeeper.js:51:23)
    at PlatformMunger_apply_file_munge [as apply_file_munge] (/Users/shanlin/build/extjs_maconomy_time/cordova/node_modules/cordova-common/src/ConfigChanges/ConfigChanges.js:78:50)
    at PlatformMunger.reapply_global_munge (/Users/shanlin/build/extjs_maconomy_time/cordova/node_modules/cordova-common/src/ConfigChanges/ConfigChanges.js:268:14)
    at updateConfigFile (/Users/shanlin/build/extjs_maconomy_time/cordova/platforms/ios/cordova/lib/prepare.js:119:18)

[shanlin2dltk]

It turns out the problem is when adding a custom hook to read/write plist using node plist package, plist incorrectly handles a empty string key. Here is the related report issue.
Actually in my case, I don't need the hook any more. Instead, 'config-file' element functions correctly in Cordova cli 8.1.2. It is not Cordova-ios5.0.0 issue.