Running in the "real" iPhone Simulator?

Solar2D General Questions/Discussion
#1

Is there a way to target the output of a Corona build for the iPhone Simulator instead of an iPhone device? I noticed there are a number of features that don’t work in the Corona simulator and I would hate to keep loading the “compiled” code on an actual device to test and debug the code in the early stages of development. (I’m still using the trial version and can’t test this myself.)

Also, what information is available in the Xcode console (besides crash data) when running a Corona build on an actual device? Is that any NSLog-type information available in the Xcode console for debugging?

It seems the current Corona SDK is geared for game/graphic developers and not so much the form-based utilities developer like myself. I would like to see more of the iPhone UI objects supported but it seems that these objects would not be functional in the Corona simulator even if they were available.

I realize that the Corona SDK is trying to target the Android market as well as the iPhone/iPad market which makes it hard to develop and test code that uses any native features (both UI and hardware) of a specific device. Ideally, Corona could develop a library of UI elements similar to those available to Xcode devleopers (i.e. UIKit) that would allow for non-graphics development and testing using the Corona simulator.

Thanks,
Tom

[import]uid: 6119 topic_id: 807 reply_id: 300807[/import]

#2

Wow that’s actually quite an interesting idea. I wonder what’s involved? [import]uid: 5659 topic_id: 807 reply_id: 1713[/import]

#3

Lots of code tweak… Remember that we are targeting Android… and we will work on solving this problem on the simulator.

Carlos [import]uid: 24 topic_id: 807 reply_id: 1724[/import]

#4

Carlos,

I sent you an email earlier: support @ anscamobile.com

We met at the 360idev conference.
-Tom [import]uid: 6119 topic_id: 807 reply_id: 1725[/import]

#5

To be clear, I was talking about running the App in the XCode/Apple simulator rather than on my hardware. This, in theory, gives me access to the native UI elements without the cumbersome process of putting it onto my iPhone.

I don’t recall if the XCode simulator is actually integrated into XCode or if it’s a separate process that simply runs the App after it’s compiled.

If someone knows the answer, that’d be cool as I won’t waste my time looking into it. :slight_smile:

Scott [import]uid: 5659 topic_id: 807 reply_id: 1727[/import]

#6

Scott,

XCode calls the simulator pointing to a build that will run on the Simulator (X86 code). When you do a build in XCode it creates a X86 build for the simulator or Arm code for the iPhone/iPad depending upon the target platform.

It’s my understanding when you do a build in Corona, it calls the Ansca server to crunch and recode the Lua files and then runs XCode to create an app that runs on the iPhone/iPad. I’m not able to do an actual Corona build which is why I was asking if you had the option to target the iPhone Simulator instead of an actual device. I believe that would be an option that could be added to Corona.

Tom [import]uid: 6119 topic_id: 807 reply_id: 1730[/import]

#7

Thanks Tom! That would be an awesome option to have, especially if it would automatically start the XCode simulator.

Carlos? What say you? Was that what you were responding to above? It sounds (*sounds*) like a fairly straightforward build option.

It would be a great option for testing purposes for those of us with native objects until the Corona simulator supports them. Just add it along side the OS platform to build for (“OS X Apple Simulator” or something).

It might also be possible to still obtain debugging output (print statements) from the Apple Simulator, which would be even more useful since the Apple Simulator is about as close as you can come to the real deal.

Scott
[import]uid: 5659 topic_id: 807 reply_id: 1736[/import]

#8

That’s a great idea.

Even better if application can be debugged by using Apple native tool, because as SDK 2.0 lacks memory management and monitoring still impossible to see what’s really happens running the app.

Another way could be similar as Shiva 3d Team does, they offer a Xcode Shiva 3d template that load Shiva 3d generated content and the ability to call it on your own Xcode project. It means the ability to build some “byteCode” of Corona content and them use Xcode Project template to load it and interact with it from your Xcode project. Of course, this features is only for developers with advanced skills and totally optional and free.

This alternative gives developer more powerful when they wish to integrate some already developed code in Xcode and some content produced in third-party tools, like Shiva or Corona.

Well it was just an idea. Decision is on Corona hands…

Regards,

Flavio [import]uid: 3022 topic_id: 807 reply_id: 1742[/import]

#9

fpassa,

if you lauch Xcodes Instruments separately, you can watch the desired part of your installed corona executable on your Iphone or IPod. [import]uid: 5712 topic_id: 807 reply_id: 1743[/import]