iOS Question Does Apple Simulator work fine with hosted builder?

Sandman · Feb 27, 2022

(This thread has its roots in Manually set location in Simulator to trigger geofences?)

Before running out and buying a mac, can somebody please verify that the below works fine?

Compile my project with the hosted builder -> From B4i download the "Download Simulator Release App" -> open the file on the mac and run it in Simulator?

aeric · Feb 27, 2022

Hosted builder is like running b4ibuilder.jar in command line or terminal. We don't see UI or desktop.

Sandman · Feb 27, 2022

aeric said:
Hosted builder is like running b4ibuilder.jar in command line or terminal. We don't see UI or desktop.

I'm not sure how that is relevant to my scenario:

Compile my project with the hosted builder -> From B4i download the "Download Simulator Release App" -> open the file on the mac and run it in Simulator?

Note the underline part. At no point do I wish to interact with the hosted builder any other way that compiling my project and download the generated build.

aeric · Feb 27, 2022

Can you explain what are you trying to do?

aeric · Feb 27, 2022

Sandman said:
Compile my project with the hosted builder -> From B4i download the "Download Simulator Release App" -> open the file on the mac and run it in Simulator?

The IPA file save inside your Windows Objects folder.

Sandman · Feb 27, 2022

I'm not sure how to explain better than my first post, but I'll give it a shot.

I want to code using B4i and compile using the hosted builder.

When it has compiled I would like to run the build in the Simulator.

My best guess is that I would be able to do that if I, after compiling, use the option "Download Simulator Release App" in B4i to download the build. I imagine I will then be able to run this build in the Simulator, which is installed in a local mac at my office.

Clearer?

Sandman · Feb 27, 2022

aeric said:
View attachment 126170
The IPA file save inside your Windows Objects folder.

Not sure what you're trying to say here.

aeric · Feb 27, 2022

Sandman said:
I'm not sure how to explain better than my first post, but I'll give it a shot.

I want to code using B4i and compile using the hosted builder.

When it has compiled I would like to run the build in the Simulator.

My best guess is that I would be able to do that if I, after compiling, use the option "Download Simulator Release App" in B4i to download the build. I imagine I will then be able to run this build in the Simulator, which is installed in a local mac at my office.

Clearer?

So your question is can you download the IPA file using B4i and run it on another Mac which has Simulator (or XCode installed)?

Sandman · Feb 27, 2022

aeric said:
So your question is can you download the IPA file using B4i and run it on another Mac which has Simulator (or XCode installed)?

Yes.

Erel · Feb 27, 2022

May I ask why do you need it? With a local Mac you can directly run the app on the simulator. No need to download or copy anything.

Sandman · Feb 27, 2022

Well, it's somewhat easier to use the hosted builder because it's one less thing to keep updated locally. So I'm just investigating if it's possible to combine that with a local Simulator. That's it.

It's not the end of the world if it's not possible, I've run the local builder before and it was fine after the initial installation. It's just that I saw the menu option "Download Simulator Release App" in B4i, so I thought it's probably possible to feed that file to a local Simulator somehow.

MikeH · Feb 27, 2022

aeric said:
So your question is can you download the IPA file using B4i and run it on another Mac which has Simulator (or XCode installed)?

I've wondered that too - what is the purpose of "Download Simulator Release App" ?

aeric · Feb 27, 2022

Sandman said:
Yes.

It is not possible to use a Simulator with hosted builder.

If you are using a local builder, you can "Build Simulator Release App" (with Simulator booted) and download the myappname.ipa file by choosing "Dowload Last Build" from B4i. (Upload the ipa file to cloud and download from another Mac (or copy the ipa to another Mac) and run a simulator. Use Archive Utility to unzip the content. You get a Payload folder with myappname.app and myappname.app.dSYM files. Drag and drop the myappname.app to the running simulator.

Sandman · Feb 27, 2022

aeric said:
It is not possible to use a Simulator with hosted builder

Thanks for checking.

aeric said:
If you are using a local builder, you can "Build Simulator Release App" (with Simulator booted) and download the myappname.ipa file by choosing "Dowload Last Build" from B4i. (Upload the ipa file to cloud and download from another Mac (or copy the ipa to another Mac) and run a simulator. Use Archive Utility to unzip the content. You get a Payload folder with myappname.app and myappname.app.dSYM files. Drag and drop the myappname.app to the running simulator.

And thanks for this description. It does seem a little complicated though. I mean, in many cases the same mac would hold both the local builder and the Simulator. So it kind of would make sense to have an option in B4i for "Build and run Simulator app", where the local builder would automatically open the build in the Simulator. (And thus wouldn't have us download+upload+unzip+dragdrop.)

It seems I'm getting a local mac, to run local builder and Simulator. I decided against it a cople of days ago, but I think the Simulator tipped the scales in favour of actually getting a mac.

aeric · Feb 27, 2022

Sandman said:
It does seem a little complicated though

The steps I explained above are for sharing your app to run in another Mac maybe by your friend or colleague.
If you have access to a Mac then you don't need to do the same. You can do what stated by Erel above by just running the Simulator in a local Mac.

B4X:

If you have a Local Mac Then
    You can use B4iBuildServer with iPhone or Simulator
Else
     You can use Hosted Builder with iPhone
End If

Sandman · Feb 27, 2022

aeric said:
The steps I explained above are for sharing your app to run in another Mac maybe by your friend or colleague.
If you have access to a Mac then you don't need to do the same. You can do what stated by Erel above by just running the Simulator in a local Mac.

B4X:

If you have a Local Mac Then You can use B4iBuildServer with iPhone or Simulator Else You can use Hosted Builder with iPhone End If

That's great, thanks for clarifying!

MikeH · Feb 27, 2022

Sandman said:
It seems I'm getting a local mac, to run local builder and Simulator. I decided against it a cople of days ago, but I think the Simulator tipped the scales in favour of actually getting a mac.

It's easy to be confused when choosing a Mac for dev use. I have a Mac mini (running Catalina* so it may be outdated soon) just to use as a b4i build server. Ok, I tell a little lie, I also use it as a media server but thats another story.

I recently bought a 2010 Mac Pro thinking I could use that but alas no... its too old to run a compatible version of Xcode. I can run B4X on it, using Parallels VM software but the build has to be done on a more up to date Mac.

This is where you have to be careful/spend more money. Get the latest Mac you can justify the expense of and make sure its new enough to run at least Xcode 12. From an earlier discussion with Erel, it seems Xcode 13 will soon be needed.

*Apple like to give names to their OS versions. Catalina is v10. The latest (v12) is called Monterey. Apple likes to keep us both confused and on our toes.

Unobtainius · Feb 28, 2022

So if I buy a Mac with at very least 12 / Monterey, that will allow me to install xcode. Then run parallels to get a windows box on which I install B4i. Is B4i able to connect to or simulate an iPhone or is that done elsewhere. Sorry to ask such basic question, I know there'll be forums on it but since you are discussing similar I just thought I'd ask

Erel · Feb 28, 2022

MikeH said:
've wondered that too - what is the purpose of "Download Simulator Release App" ?

It allows using services such as Appetize.io.

Sandman · Feb 28, 2022

Erel said:
[Download Simulator Release App] allows using services such as Appetize.io.

So Appetize.io (and more) can use that build, but we can't use the build in a Simulator? Is that correct?

iOS Question Does Apple Simulator work fine with hosted builder?

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