Question

When I get a 3rd party static library, I can use it in my debug or release builds for both the simulator and device. However, when I build locally, it is targeted for debug simulator/device or the same for release. I then have to coordinate my host app to match the library build. How can I create a single static library build that works with all build versions of the host app like many 3rd party static libraries do?

Answer 1

I don’t think there’s a “magical” solution for the iPhone for this.
I once looked for the same thing didn’t find any “easy to use” solution.
Best I could find :
http://www.clintharris.net/2009/iphone-app-shared-libraries/
Especially the part regarding “Fat libraries”, that refers to http://latenitesoft.blogspot.com/2008/10/iphone-programming-tips-building-unix.html
But the MAKE configuration doesn’t look easy (at least for me).

The way I do it :
I build the static libs separately for all configurations I need (simulator x86 debug, and device arm debug for instance). This gives me two different .a files.
I renamed them mylibrary_arm.a and mylibrary_x86.a

Then, for any project that wants to use those 2 libraries, I drag and drop THE TWO .a FILES into the client project that needs the .a library + the .h headers that will enable the use of those libraries.
Then, when I choose simulator or device in this client project, the compiler chooses the right .a AUTOMATICALLY to compile and run properly .

So in the end, the only boring phasis is the generation of the .a themselves, but the use of them is quite easy and XCode adjusts itself automatically.