# An iOS plugin that fails to run in the IOS Simulator **URL:** \ **Category:** Plugins\ **Created:** [February 27, 2021, 1:07am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492 "2021-02-27T01:07:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Alfred_Van_Hoek)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 1:07am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/1 "2021-02-27T01:07:53Z")
So I figured that a MobileControl plugin using the UIKit requires a Cocoa replica to display in the IDE. This has nothing to do with Xcode’s Mac Catalist. Fine. I get that because after all Xojo is not Xcode and It runs and depends on Cocoa. But when a debug-run is issued, the plugin causes Xojo or its connection with the simulator to end. Unfortunately, I cannot determine why, because Xojo’s debugger quits without any info, and the simulator complains that it cannot find the debugger. The EyeControl example does not help because it does not use Cocoa and UIKit, it simply uses Xojo Graphics. Help. ---
**Author:** ![Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Alfred_Van_Hoek)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2021, 1:02pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/2 "2021-03-06T13:02:51Z")
I think that Xcode 12.4 is causing the inability to run the simulator in Xojo. EyeControl does not work in my hands. RegisterExecutionPolicyException /Users/anvh/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/EyeControl-bcedtkvponkxnbdorhmevlwrbhbt/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/libEyeControl\_iOS\_Simulator.dylib (in target ‘EyeControl\_iOS\_Simulator’ from project ‘EyeControl’) cd /Applications/Xojo\ 2020\ Release\ 2.1/Extras/PluginsSDK/Examples/Eye\ Control/Xcode builtin-RegisterExecutionPolicyException /Users/anvh/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/EyeControl-bcedtkvponkxnbdorhmevlwrbhbt/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/libEyeControl\_iOS\_Simulator.dylib ---
**Author:** ![Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Alfred_Van_Hoek)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 12:55am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/3 "2021-03-09T00:55:29Z")
The RegisterExecutionPolicyException can be avoided when the new build system of Xcode is disabled. But it does not solve the problem. Using Xcode 10.2 in macOS Mojave and whether or not the new building system is invoked (RegisterExecutionPolicyException is not generated), I cannot get EyeControl to work in the simulator. Am I the only one who tries the REALMobileControl? What am I doing wrong? What is necessary? ---
**Author:** ![Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Alfred_Van_Hoek)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 12:34am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/4 "2021-03-10T00:34:33Z")
Stepping back and start from zero. 1. Took the EyeControl example and compiled it on a MacBook Pro M1 using Xcode 12.4 strait out of the box and set the Schemes to release. 2. Using the plugin structure containing inside the Build Resources the folders IOS Device (empty), IOS Simulator (libEyeControl\_iOS\_Simulator.dylib (universal or x86\_64)) and Mac Universal (libEyeControl.dylib) and Xojo happily shows the EyeControlMobile in its iOS library. Note that omission of the EyeControl (defined by libEyeControl.dylib) in the plugin causes Xojo not to load the EyeControlMobile. 3. Placing the EyeControlMobile on Screen1 and running it leads to compiler issues: ----------- Screen1.Name There is more than one method with this name but this does not match any of the available signatures. Screen1 ---------- Screen1.EyeControlMobile1.Name Layout (property name) Can’t find a type with this name Name ---------- Screen1.EyeControlMobile1.Name Layout (property name) This item does not exist Name ---------- Screen1.EyeControlMobile1.Name Layout (property name) Can’t find a type with this name Name So that is the underlying culprit I could not get our plugin to work in the debugger. Xojo is messed up when the EyeControlMobile is used. ---
**Author:** ![William\_Yu](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/william_yu/32/610_2.png) [@William\_Yu](https://forum.xojo.com/u/William_Yu)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 2:38pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/5 "2021-03-10T14:38:59Z")
I’m still on Xcode 12.2 but everything is working here (using 2020r2.1), did you already try clearing the caches? (i.e. Xojo Preferences-\>Build-\>Clear Caches). Here’s my build, nothing modified from the examples, except of course with enabling SUPPORTS\_IOS\_TARGET [EyeControl plugin](https://www.dropbox.com/s/qum5r9hdss80ypj/EyeControl.xojo_plugin.zip?dl=0) ---
**Author:** ![Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Alfred_Van_Hoek)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2021, 12:56am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/6 "2021-03-11T00:56:07Z")
Thanks for responding. When Xojo is launched I get the following when using the downloaded plugin: **“libEyeControl.dylib” can’t be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.** and This software needs to be updated. Contact the developer for more information. Of course I could use Xcode 10.2 on Mojave intel Mac, but: Xcode 12.2 shouldn’t be too different from Xcode 12.4. Are you on an intel Mac? Is it because I am on a M1 Mac? And yes I cleared the caches. ---
**Author:** ![Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Alfred_Van_Hoek)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2021, 1:24am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/7 "2021-03-11T01:24:58Z")
It is weird. Using the plugin created with Xcode 12.4 in Mojave and loaded by Xojo 2020r2.1, I get two EyeControlMobile icons in the library and when dropped on Screen1 they generate a question mark and the complier balks with the same messages as indicated above. So it is definitely Xcode 12.4 doing all this crap. Jeez., Hope I can download Xcode 12.2 then. ---
**Author:** ![Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Alfred_Van_Hoek)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2021, 2:03am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/8 "2021-03-11T02:03:57Z")
And I forgot to acknowledge that the downloaded plugin in Mojave/Xojo 2020r2.1 indeed behaves as you indicated. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_O\_Lone](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/greg_o_lone/32/49_2.png) [@Greg\_O\_Lone](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Greg_O_Lone)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2021, 4:16am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/9 "2021-03-11T04:16:02Z")
Are you signing your plugins? ---
**Author:** ![Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Alfred_Van_Hoek)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2021, 7:16pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/10 "2021-03-11T19:16:55Z")
Yes, I do. And I got it to work but for another reason. The details will be forthcoming. Have to figure a couple of things. ---
**Author:** ![Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Alfred_Van_Hoek)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 2:07pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/11 "2021-03-17T14:07:41Z")
Is there a way to discriminate between a Desktop application and a Mobile application? We can discriminate between a console application and a desktop application. So I tried: EyeControlData\* GetData(REALobject theObj) { REALobject (_\_App)(void) = nil; if (!\_App) \_App = (REALobject (_)(void))REALLoadFrameworkMethod(“App() as MobileApplication”); if (!\_App) \_App = (REALobject (\*)(void))REALLoadFrameworkMethod(“App() as Application”); ``` REALobject appObject = _App(); REALclassRef ref = REALGetClassRef("Application"); if (ref && REALObjectIsA(appObject, ref)) { MSG(com.vanhoekplugins "Desktop Application"); return (EyeControlData*)REALGetControlData(theObj, &EyeDefinition); } ref = REALGetClassRef("MobileApplication"); if (ref && REALObjectIsA(appObject, ref)) { MSG(com.vanhoekplugins "Mobile Application"); return (EyeControlData*)REALGetMobileControlData(theObj, &EyeMobileDefinition); } return 0; ``` } In the IDE we get “Application”, not “MobileApplication”. Running in the Simulator we get “MobileApplication”. The REALmobileControl uses the iOS SDK (UIView). The REALcontrol uses the MacOS SDK (NSView). Indeed, TARGET\_OS\_IOS returns false in the IDE, consistent with “Application”. Our plugin defines a zillion methods, props associated with NSView and we can easily define: #if defined( **APPLE** ) #if TARGET\_OS\_IPHONE @compatibility\_alias LSView UIView; typedef CGRect NSRect; #else @compatibility\_alias LSView NSView; #endif #endif So that the REALMobilControl can use the methods already defined by using the GetData method to associated with either the REALcontrol or the REALmobilControl. Another question is, can the REALmobileControl host a UIView by returning it as a handle getter, alike an NSview’s handle getter? ---
**Author:** ![Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Alfred_Van_Hoek)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 3:49pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/12 "2021-03-17T15:49:44Z")
> [@Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](#): > > In the IDE we get “Application”, not “MobileApplication”. Running in the Simulator we get “MobileApplication”. To be clear, this behavior contrasts when we choose a consoleApplication and test for it in the IDE-console environment: it tells you “ConsoleApplication” and when debug-runned it also tells you “ConsoleApplication”. Thus, we are forced to create another huge “mm” file to circumvent what I think is a bug, tied to hard coding for the REALmobileControl. And for what it is worth, the “TARGET\_OS\_IOS” should also return true when in the IDE. ---
**Author:** ![Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Alfred_Van_Hoek)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 5:46pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/13 "2021-03-17T17:46:17Z")
\<[https://xojo.com/issue/64073](https://xojo.com/issue/64073)\> ---
**Author:** ![Christian\_Schmitz](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/christian_schmitz/32/158_2.png) [@Christian\_Schmitz](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Christian_Schmitz)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 5:52pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/14 "2021-03-17T17:52:09Z")
That doesn’t make sense. The IDE can’t load the iOS version of the code, so TARGET\_OS\_IOS will never be 1. You need a Mac (dummy) version of the control to register it. ---
**Author:** ![Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Alfred_Van_Hoek)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 6:02pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/15 "2021-03-17T18:02:02Z")
> [@Christian\_Schmitz](#): > > That doesn’t make sense. The IDE can’t load the iOS version of the code, so TARGET\_OS\_IOS will never be 1. Am aware, but it requires to draw an NSView in the Offscreen callback. So it requires an instantiation of the macOS version of the plugin, and because the SDK is the iphonesimulator for the “iOS Simulator” you have to become very creative. And I saw your feedback post. ---
**Author:** ![Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Alfred_Van_Hoek)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 4:12pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/16 "2021-03-18T16:12:18Z")
> [@Christian\_Schmitz](#): > > You need a Mac (dummy) version of the control to register it. First of all, I think you are missing the point I had expressed in feedback. If you create a Console project, the IDE will respond that the App is a ConsoleApplication. Similarly, once and I hope, I would expect that a iOS project will tell us that the App is a MobileApplication. You are correct that the current version of the IDE cannot do this. You say to create a dummy REALmobileControl that links to the AppKit? And you put that dylib in to the “iOS Simulator” directory? I do know that the REALcontrol in the “Mac Universal” directory is a requirement, but am unsure now given your dummy Mac version. ---
**Author:** ![Christian\_Schmitz](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/christian_schmitz/32/158_2.png) [@Christian\_Schmitz](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Christian_Schmitz)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 4:42pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/17 "2021-03-18T16:42:36Z")
You may not have understood me. Your iOS libraries will always have TARGET\_OS\_IOS set as you build them for that. But your plugin also must include a macOS library (TARGET\_OS\_IOS is not set, but TARGET\_MACOS should be). There you register the plugin control for iOS; so the IDE knows about it. And you include drawing code to show the control on the window editor. We do that for our controls. So MBS Plugin registers for example a WKWebKit control for macOS with REALcontrol and one for iOS with REALmobileControl. ---
**Author:** ![Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Alfred_Van_Hoek)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/18 "2021-03-18T17:16:48Z")
In essence I do this already. Got the REALcontrol dydlib in the “Mac Universal” and the REALmobileControl in the “iOS Simulator” directory. And I think I know how to approach it: ``` #if defined( __APPLE__ ) #if TARGET_OS_IOS #define Data(defn, instance, typeName, data) typeName *data = (typeName *) REALGetMobileControlData(instance, &defn); #else #define Data(defn, instance, typeName, data) typeName *data = (typeName *) REALGetControlData(instance, &defn); #endif ``` #else #define Data(defn, instance, typeName, data) typeName \*data = (typeName \*) REALGetControlData(instance, &defn); #endif without creating a huge second file for the REALmobileControl. I was taken aback by the EyeControl example. Of course the behavior functions require specificity with AppKit vs UIKit. Thanks for your and others responses. ---
**Author:** ![Christian\_Schmitz](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/christian_schmitz/32/158_2.png) [@Christian\_Schmitz](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Christian_Schmitz)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 5:40pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/19 "2021-03-18T17:40:53Z")
What I mean is you have one set of cpp files where you build a dylib. And you build it for each platform: Mac Intel, Mac ARM, iOS Simulator and iOS Device. And each one does the REALRegisterMobileControl and REALRegisterControl. (you may skip REALRegisterControl on iOS as it’s a NOP) And for me I have those in two cpp files separated as the code is a bit different for each one. ---
**Author:** ![Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alfred\_Van\_Hoek](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Alfred_Van_Hoek)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 5:45pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/an-ios-plugin-that-fails-to-run-in-the-ios-simulator/61492/20 "2021-03-18T17:45:51Z")
I get and got that already