To build Element iOS project you need:
- Xcode 12.1+.
- Ruby, a dynamic programming language used by several build tools.
- CocoaPods, library dependencies manager for Xcode projects.
- XcodeGen, an Xcode project generator.
- Mint, a package manager that installs and runs executable Swift packages
- bundler (optional), is also a dependency manager used to manage build tools dependency (CocoaPods, Fastlane).
Ruby is required for several build tools like CocoaPods, bundler and fastlane. Ruby is preinstalled on macOS, the system version is sufficient to build the project tools, it's not required to install the latest version. If you want to install the lastest version of Ruby please check official instructions.
If you do not want to grant the ruby package manager, RubyGems, admin privileges and you prefer install gems into your user directory, you can read instructions from the CocoaPods guide about sudo-less installation.
To install CocoaPods you can grab the right version by using bundler (recommended) or you can directly install it with RubyGems:
$ gem install cocoapods
In the last case please ensure that you are using the same version as indicated at the end of the Podfile.lock file.
You can install XcodeGen and Mint using the included Homebrew Brewfile:
$ brew bundle
By using bundler you will ensure to use the right versions of build tools used to build and deliver the project. You can find dependency definitions in the Gemfile. To install bundler:
$ gem install bundler
To choose the MatrixSDK version (and depending OLMKit) you want to develop and build against you will have to modify the right definitions of $matrixSDKVersion variable in the Podfile.
To select which $matrixSDKVersion value to use you have to determine your needs:
- Build an App Store release version
To build the last published App Store code you just need to checkout master branch. If you want to build an older App Store version just checkout the tag of the corresponding version. You have nothing to modify in the Podfile. In this case $matrixSDKVersion will be set to a specific version of the MatrixSDK already published on CocoaPods repository.
- Build last development code and modify Element project only
If you want to build last development code you have to checkout the develop branch and use $matrixSDKVersion = {:branch => 'develop'} in the Podfile. This will also use MatrixSDK develop branch.
- Build specific branch of SDK and modify Element project only
If you want to build a specific branch for the MatrixSDK you have to indicate it using a dictionary like this: $matrixSDKVersion = {:branch => 'sdk_branch_name'}.
- Build any branch and be able to modify MatrixSDK locally
If you want to modify MatrixSDK locally and see the result in Element project you have to uncommment $matrixSDKVersion = :local in the Podfile.
But before you have to checkout MatrixSDK in ../matrix-ios-sdk locally relatively to your Element iOS project folder.
Be sure to use compatible branches for Element iOS and MatrixSDK. For example, if you want to modify Element iOS from develop branch, use MatrixSDK develop branch and then make your modifications.
Important: By working with XcodeGen you will need to use the New Build System in Xcode, to have your some of the xcconfig variables taken into account. It should be enabled by default on the latest Xcode versions, but if you need to enable it go to Xcode menu and select File > Workspace Settings… > Build System and then choose New Build System.
Every time you change the $matrixSDKVersion variable in the Podfile, you have to run the pod install command again.
You may need to change the bundle identifier and app group identifier to be unique to get Xcode to build the app. Make sure to change the bundle identifier, application group identifier and app name in the Config/AppIdentifiers.xcconfig file to your new identifiers.
More advanced build configuration can be found in the project.yml file and each target has a target.yml file in its respective folder.
In order to get rid of git conflicts, the Riot.xcodeproj is not pushed into the git repository anymore but generated using XcodeGen. To generate the xcodeproj file simply run the following command line from the root folder :
$ xcodegen
Then, before opening the Element Xcode workspace, you need to install dependencies via CocoaPods.
To be sure to use the right CocoaPods version you can use bundler:
$ bundle install
$ bundle exec pod install
Or if you prefer to use directly CocoaPods:
$ pod install
This will load all dependencies for the Element source code, including MatrixSDK.
Then, open Riot.xcworkspace with Xcode.
$ open Riot.xcworkspace
Note: If you have multiple Xcode versions installed don't forget to use the right version of Command Line Tools when you are building the app. To check the Command Line Tools version go to Xcode > Preferences > Locations > Command Line Tools and check that the displayed version match your Xcode version.
If you want to generate the project easily and quickly, there is a local script called setup_project.sh that creates the xcodeproj and xcworkspace with all source files and dependencies with commands described before. It automatically selects the right dependencies based on your local Git branch or your Podfile local modifications. All you have to do is to go in the project root folder and run the script:
$ ./setup_project.sh
To build the IPA we are currently using fastlane.
Set your project informations
Before making the release you need to modify the fastlane/.env.default file and set all your project informations like your App ID, Team ID, certificate names and so on.
Install or update build tools
The preferred way to use the fastlane script is to use bundler, to be sure to use the right dependency versions.
After opening the terminal in the project root folder. The first time you perform a release you need to run:
bundle install
For other times:
bundle update
Run fastlane script
Before executing the release command you need to export your Apple ID in environment variables:
export APPLE_ID="foo.bar@apple.com"
To make an App Store release you can directly execute this command:
bundle exec fastlane app_store build_number:<your_build_number>
Or you can use the wrapper script located at /Tools/Release/buildRelease.sh. For that go to the Release folder:
$ cd ./Tools/Release/
And then indicate a branch or a tag like this:
$ ./buildRelease.sh <tag or branch>