Generating Static Library *.a for iOS how ?

GregBUG

sorry guys i need some help!!!

i succesfully compiled my plugin library

in windows -> tntcollision.dll and it works with desktop player
in osx -> tntcollision.dynlib and it works with desktop player
in android -> tntcollision.so and it works with device player and compiled app.

for ios (iphone, ipad) how can i generate this static lib ? (tntcollision.a)
is there a make file ?

i can compile fine if i add my source to gideros iosPlayer so i can test on device, but i don't want to distribuite sources so i want to generate a static lib file (*.a) file but how ?

sorry but i'm not sure how to use xcode to generate *.a files

ps: my lib is *.cpp not a *.m file.


some help ? :P 8->

OZApps

@GregBUG,
have you tried to create a new library project and add your .cpp files to it and then create the static .a files from that?

It will create the .h and the .a for you. Instead of running it, just build it for the device.

GregBUG

@OZApps

ops, sometimes simple things are the ones that can not be seen!

when i'll go home i'll try.

thanks.

GregBUG

ok. finally got "libtntcollision.a" (using as guide http://www.blog.montgomerie.net/easy-xcode-static-library-subprojects-and-submodules)

but how to integrate in the player ?
and in the compiled code ?

i can't find info nowhere in gideros docs and site.

any help ?


i need just little guide like andorid plugin system.
http://www.giderosmobile.com/DevCenter/index.php/Writing_Android_plugins

why for ios i can't find anything ?

bha...

*** power without control is useless. ***
just start thinking to skip ios support.

OZApps

@gregbug,
did you try dropping the .h file into the xcode project and adding the framework (*.a) file and then compiling your app? You might also have to add the # in the xcode project to include the library.

cheers,

GregBUG

@OZApps

after compiling my lib i put tntcollision.a in GiderosPlayer project (under plugin folder just like libluasocket.a) then recompiled and installed on device... no errors.

but when i try to start a project that need tntcollision Gideros stop and says that it can't find tntcollision library.



sorry but i'm lost on xcode and ios...

GregBUG

@gregbug,
You might also have to add the # in the xcode project to include the library.

cheers,

for # you mean #include ?

GregBUG

this is the error:

----------
main.lua is uploading.
Uploading finished.
main.lua:19: module 'tntcollision' not found:
no field package.preload['tntcollision']
no file './tntcollision.lua'
no file '/usr/local/share/lua/5.1/tntcollision.lua'
no file '/usr/local/share/lua/5.1/tntcollision/init.lua'
no file '/usr/local/lib/lua/5.1/tntcollision.lua'
no file '/usr/local/lib/lua/5.1/tntcollision/init.lua'
no file './tntcollision.so'
no file '/usr/local/lib/lua/5.1/tntcollision.so'
no file '/usr/local/lib/lua/5.1/loadall.so'
stack traceback:
------------

OZApps

Yes @GregBug, I forgot that this parses HTML, so the <#include header.h> was interpreted as HTML tags, and what you got to see was only the #

OZApps

You have the library and the header, do you want to send me the *.a and the *.h files to test?

OZApps

this is the error:

----------
main.lua is uploading.
Uploading finished.
main.lua:19: module 'tntcollision' not found:
no field package.preload['tntcollision']
no file './tntcollision.lua'
no file '/usr/local/share/lua/5.1/tntcollision.lua'
no file '/usr/local/share/lua/5.1/tntcollision/init.lua'
no file '/usr/local/lib/lua/5.1/tntcollision.lua'
no file '/usr/local/lib/lua/5.1/tntcollision/init.lua'
no file './tntcollision.so'
no file '/usr/local/lib/lua/5.1/tntcollision.so'
no file '/usr/local/lib/lua/5.1/loadall.so'
stack traceback:
------------

Another thing is that in your static library, have you created an entry point for Lua to recognize your tntcollisions library? it seems that you are using require "tntcollisions" but there is no such entry point anywhere.

atilim

@GregBUG, after creating static library project in Xcode (Cocoa Touch Static Library), you need to build the library both for i386 and ARM and use lipo to create a universal library.

For libluasocket.a, I've created the project in Xcode and here is my bash script to create libluasocket.a:

xcodebuild -project luasocket.xcodeproj -alltargets -sdk iphonesimulator5.1 -configuration Release xcodebuild -project luasocket.xcodeproj -alltargets -sdk iphoneos5.1 -configuration Release lipo build/Release-iphoneos/libluasocket.a build/Release-iphonesimulator/libluasocket.a -create -output libluasocket.a

Hope this helps

atilim

And after creating your library, run the command "otool -L libyourlibrary.a". You should see the binaries both for i386 and ARM.

GregBUG

@atilim

i love you! man !

bowerandy

Hi @atilim, I'm using the above suggestions to build a static library for the hotwax stuff (so that people don't have to drag ten or so source files into their projects to use it). This seems to work okay, but I find that I need to include the -all_load linker flag to force the library to be linked into the executable.

I guess this is is because there is no reference to any of the hotwax library contents in the plugin or app. I'm just wondering how you do it for the libluasocket.a library; why does that get pulled in automatically?

best regards

GregBUG

@atilim
i can now create universal binary of my lib
but do not link with my program...

i mean...

if i add tntlibcollision.a under plugins folder (on ios Player) and recompile
the player is compiled and installed... but if i try to test a demo not work...
(lib not found)...

at this point i really missing something....
:-/

bowerandy

@GregBug, did you see my message just before yours?

Try this. When you are building your plugin or app in Xcode go to your target and find the "Linking" section. Then add -all_load into the "Other Linker Flags". I've found this gets my library to be recognized.

I've asked @atilim, if he knows of another way to do this that doesn't require this additional step.

Best regards

atilim

I see. I haven't known there is a flag like "-all_load". But in LuaSocket, I've separated the codes as libluasocket.a and luasocket_stub.cpp (unintentionally). Maybe because of that separation, -all_load is not needed.

bowerandy

@atilim, yes having that separate cpp file would pull in the static library successfully but it's a bit of an unnecessary step for most plugins, I thnk.

Do you think there's a case for including the -all_load flag by default in the player and exported Gideros projects under iOS? Since Lua dynamically binds to the plugins there aren't any references to the plugin code down in the .cpp or .m files (unless you force one as you have done). Hence I can see this being a recurring issue if more people start to use libraries rather than just source files and it would save having to create a stub file or adding the flag manually. I don't think there should be any downside but it would be best to check that the program size doesn't increase unnecessarily.

Best regards

GregBUG

@bowerandy
thanks.

now i'm at work as soon as i go home i'll try to add -all_load flag.

atilim

@bowerandy, let me check if "-all_load" flag has any side effects. If not, I can add that flag by default.

GregBUG

@atilim and @boweandy

ok. now works all fine.

only one thing:

xcodebuild -project luasocket.xcodeproj -alltargets -sdk iphonesimulator5.1 -configuration Release

give me error:

sdk "iphone5.1" cannot be located.

if i use iphone6.0 work but compile only for armv7 (so no ipod 2^gen my main dev target)

how can add iphone 5.1 on my config?
and if i add iphoine 5.1 sdk i need to compile armv6 and armv7 and i386 ?
(on andoid we have armv6 and 7 as separated files...)

in my system i have installed xcode 4.5.1 and xcode 4.4.1 (for armv6 support)

sorry for "dummy" questions...

bowerandy

@GregBug, in my build for the hotwax library I use:

xcodebuild -project hotwax.xcodeproj -alltargets -sdk iphonesimulator5.1 -configuration Release xcodebuild -project hotwax.xcodeproj -alltargets -sdk iphoneos5.1 -configuration Release lipo build/Release-iphoneos/libhotwax.a build/Release-iphonesimulator/libhotwax.a -create -output libhotwax.a

Which is a direct copy from what @atilim suggested. Then in my XCode project I have Architectures/Release set to "armv7 armv6 i386". It seems to build okay without errors, and works on a 5.1.1 iPad 1 (which is an armv7, I think). I haven't tried it on an older iPhone with an armv6 processor though.

I have Xcode 4.5.1 and 4.3.1 installed and I am compiling using the latter.

best regards

GregBUG

ok. unistalled xcode 4.5.1
and now i can compile for armv6, v7 and i386
so al my compile problems are gone!

but you guys how do you have xcode configured ?
xcode 4.4.1 can exist with xcode 4.5.1 ?

some suggestions ?

OZApps

you can switch between the installations using xcode-select

ar2rsawseen

@OZApps by now you should have learned that for non-Apple guys like me and @GregBUG such answers won't do any good. Could you be more specific please?

OZApps

in the terminal type xcode-select and type the path to the installation you want to make current. So you can have an older installation in say /developers and the latest in /application/xcode.app/developer

and use the sudo command while using xcode-select.

GregBUG

@OZApps thanks. Now i can have Two xcode versions installed.

GregBUG

so is better to use -all_load
or write a "stub" file like "luasocket_stub.cpp"
or is the same ? ;;)

OZApps

@OZApps thanks. Now i can have Two xcode versions installed.

Glad it worked out for you.