Xcode Symbol(s) Not Found for Architecture i386 on iPhone and iPad

Introduction

As a developer working with Xcode, you may have encountered the frustrating issue of missing symbols for specific architectures. In this article, we will delve into the world of Xcode, explore the reasons behind this problem, and provide practical solutions to resolve it.

Understanding Symbols and Architectures

Before diving into the solution, let’s understand the basics of symbols and architectures in Xcode.

Symbols: In Xcode, a symbol is essentially an object or function that your project depends on. When you build your project, the compiler links these symbols together to create an executable file.
Architectures: An architecture refers to the processor’s instruction set architecture (ISA) and the specific hardware it targets. For example, i386 refers to a 32-bit architecture commonly found in older devices.

When you create a new Xcode project or upgrade your existing one from Xcode 4 to Xcode 8.3, you might encounter issues related to missing symbols for specific architectures. In this case, we will focus on the i386 (32-bit) architecture and explore why it’s not found.

The Problem

Let’s examine the error message in more detail:

ld: warning: ignoring file /Users/myusername/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/Test-xxxxrfwxdtcybcclbezelabexxy/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/libMapView.a, file was built for archive which is not the architecture being linked (i386):

In this message, we can see that the linker (ld) is warning us about a specific library (libMapView.a) that has been built for an archive but is not compatible with the i386 architecture. This discrepancy in compilation settings leads to missing symbols during linking.

The same issue appears multiple times throughout the error output:

Undefined symbols for architecture i386:
"_OBJC_CLASS_$_RMMapContents", referenced from:

These references indicate that our project depends on certain classes (_OBJC_CLASS_$_RMMapContents, etc.) which are not found for the i386 architecture.

Possible Causes

Different Compilation Settings: When you upgrade to Xcode 8.3, it’s possible that your project uses different compilation settings than before (e.g., different libraries or frameworks). This might lead to missing symbols.
Incorrect Derived Data Directory: The Derived Data directory is where temporary files are stored during the build process. If this directory is not properly set up or if its contents are corrupted, it may result in missing symbols.

Solutions

1. Update Your Project’s Build Settings

To resolve issues related to missing symbols, you need to update your project’s build settings to ensure that the correct libraries and frameworks are being linked for each architecture.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Open your project in Xcode.
Go to Product > Scheme > Edit Scheme...
In the Build Settings tab, click on the dropdown menu next to Architecture and select i386.
In the same tab, scroll down to the Other Linker Flags section and add the following flag: -lFrameworkName -arch armv7
Repeat this process for other architectures you want to support (e.g., armv8, armv6, etc.).

2. Clean and Rebuild Your Project

Sometimes, a simple clean and rebuild can resolve issues related to missing symbols.

Go to Product > Clean Build Folder...
Then go to Product > Build

By cleaning your project’s build folder and rebuilding it, you ensure that all dependencies are properly linked.

3. Validate Your Derived Data Directory

If the issue persists after updating your build settings and rebuilding your project, it may be worth verifying your Derived Data directory.

Go to Xcode > Preferences > Locations
In the Locations window, click on Show in Finder

This will open a new window where you can locate the Derived Data directory. Make sure this path is correct and clean:

~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/

4. Use the -Wl,-no_asymmetric_multibuild Flag

When building your project, add the -Wl,-no_asymmetric_multibuild flag to prevent Xcode from creating separate builds for different architectures.

Here’s how you can do it:

Open your Scheme > Build Settings
In the Other Linker Flags section, add: -Wl,-no_asymmetric_multibuild

By using this flag, you ensure that only one build is created, regardless of the architecture.

Last modified on 2024-12-24