SwiftUI Previews in Xcode cause Skip to re-launch Android build #263

arshmeets · 2024-10-16T12:07:10Z

arshmeets
Oct 16, 2024

Hi,

I read the documentation regarding previews in Xcode and here is what I got:

Dual-Platform Apps
Assuming you followed the app creation instructions using skip init, each successful build of your Skip app will automatically attempt to launch it on the running Android emulator or device. Exactly one emulator or device must be running in order for the Skip project’s Launch APK script phase to install and run the app successfully.
If you are having trouble with Skip’s Xcode plugin, check the Troubleshooting section for help.
Xcode Previews will not work in Skip apps until you have performed one full build. After an initial successful build, you can iterate using Previews.

But I am still having trouble with running the previews. I made a full build as the documentation says, but the preview will never load and the android app will keep reloading.

Answered by marcprux

Oct 30, 2024

The problem is discussed at https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/761439: Xcode no longer sets the ENABLE_PREVIEWS environment variable for SwiftUI previews, which is the only way we have to prevent running the skip gradle command that handles the compile/launch on Android. Toggling the "Editor > Canvas > Use Legacy Previews Execution" menu item should work around the issue for now, but note that that setting will be reset every time Xcode upgrades, so you will need to re-enable it every time there is an update.

The other solution, of course, is to just comment-out the "skip gradle" command in the "Run skip gradle" build script when you are developing with SwiftUI previews, and then j…

View full answer

davidakoontz · 2024-10-17T03:05:57Z

davidakoontz
Oct 17, 2024

Yes, I'm seeing similar Canvas/Preview makes the Android device reload the App. I don't understand the tie in ... I know Xcode does a build for the preview and the simulator device when one opens the Canvas. Don't know why the Gradle/Android build would get involved.

0 replies

marcprux · 2024-10-17T15:12:56Z

marcprux
Oct 17, 2024
Maintainer

What version of Xcode are you running?

0 replies

arshmeets · 2024-10-17T15:14:29Z

arshmeets
Oct 17, 2024
Author

Xcode Version 16.0 (16A242d)

0 replies

davidakoontz · 2024-10-17T15:51:49Z

davidakoontz
Oct 17, 2024

Xcode 16 as well. David Koontz Email: ***@***.*** (360) 259-8380 http://about.me/davidakoontzOn Oct 17, 2024, at 9:13 AM, marcprux ***@***.***> wrote: What version of Xcode are you running? —Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe.You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***>

0 replies

marcprux · 2024-10-17T16:47:24Z

marcprux
Oct 17, 2024
Maintainer

Can you take a look at your app's target's "Build Phases" tab and examine the "Run skip gradle" phase to ensure that it looks like this:

This is something that is created when the app is first initialized, and so if you created it a while ago (before this check was added), then it might not have been added.

FTR, the complete "Run skip gradle" script should look like:

if [ "${SKIP_ZERO}" != "" ]; then
	echo "note: skipping skip due to SKIP_ZERO"
	exit 0
elif [ "${ENABLE_PREVIEWS}" == "YES" ]; then
	echo "note: skipping skip due to ENABLE_PREVIEWS"
	exit 0
elif [ "${ACTION}" == "install" ]; then
	echo "note: skipping skip due to archive install"
	exit 0
else
	SKIP_ACTION="${SKIP_ACTION:-launch}"
fi
PATH=${BUILD_ROOT}/Debug:${BUILD_ROOT}/../../SourcePackages/artifacts/skip/skip/skip.artifactbundle/macos:${PATH}:${HOMEBREW_PREFIX:-/opt/homebrew}/bin
echo "note: running gradle build with: $(which skip) gradle -p ${PWD}/../Android ${SKIP_ACTION:-launch}${CONFIGURATION:-Debug}"
skip gradle -p ../Android ${SKIP_ACTION:-launch}${CONFIGURATION:-Debug}

FWIW, previews work for me in Xcode 16 with the default "Hello Skip" app (created with skip init --open-xcode --appid=com.xyz.HelloSkip hello-skip HelloSkip and then adding the #Preview block).

0 replies

arshmeets · 2024-10-17T17:23:50Z

arshmeets
Oct 17, 2024
Author

Didn't want to do this, but I just cleaned everything by deleting the project and recloning my GitHub repo.

@davidakoontz might be of help.

2 replies

marcprux Oct 17, 2024
Maintainer

Does the Preview work for you now? Did you try my suggestion?

arshmeets Oct 17, 2024
Author

Appreciate your suggestion. Tried the android Run skip gradle code which I hadn't changed since the start of making my project so didn't make a difference there and the #Preview suggestion also didn't work. Still had the issue of the android app restarting so I decided to clean and repull repo from Github

davidakoontz · 2024-10-17T18:56:18Z

davidakoontz
Oct 17, 2024

Marc - here’s my Build Phase code: First part looks similar/same - but (above) also…

…

On Oct 17, 2024, at 10:47 AM, marcprux ***@***.***> wrote: Can you take a look at your app's target's "Build Phases" tab and examine the "Run skip gradle" phase to ensure that it looks like this: Screenshot.2024-10-17.at.12.41.59.png (view on web) <https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/9478fef1-d7c9-4181-bf79-5aa6166bdfc3> This is something that is created when the app is first initialized, and so if you created it a while ago (before this check was added), then it might not have been added. FTR, the complete "Run skip gradle" script should look like: if [ "${SKIP_ZERO}" != "" ]; then echo "note: skipping skip due to SKIP_ZERO" exit 0 elif [ "${ENABLE_PREVIEWS}" == "YES" ]; then echo "note: skipping skip due to ENABLE_PREVIEWS" exit 0 elif [ "${ACTION}" == "install" ]; then echo "note: skipping skip due to archive install" exit 0 else SKIP_ACTION="${SKIP_ACTION:-launch}" fi PATH=${BUILD_ROOT}/Debug:${BUILD_ROOT}/../../SourcePackages/artifacts/skip/skip/skip.artifactbundle/macos:${PATH}:${HOMEBREW_PREFIX:-/opt/homebrew}/bin echo "note: running gradle build with: $(which skip) gradle -p ${PWD}/../Android ${SKIP_ACTION:-launch}${CONFIGURATION:-Debug}" skip gradle -p ../Android ${SKIP_ACTION:-launch}${CONFIGURATION:-Debug} FWIW, previews work for me in Xcode 16 with the default "Hello Skip" app (created with skip init --open-xcode --appid=com.xyz.HelloSkip hello-skip HelloSkip and then adding the #Preview block). Screenshot.2024-10-17.at.12.41.03.png (view on web) <https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d360796d-0b33-42b4-acf1-2c6972b84b92> — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#263 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AA3SNU4XCQBVWIKR5JSHYS3Z37S3DAVCNFSM6AAAAABQBJ355WVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTAOJXGQYTKNA>. You are receiving this because you commented.

0 replies

davidakoontz · 2024-10-17T19:02:47Z

davidakoontz
Oct 17, 2024

weird the images didn't transmit... it's going to be one of THOSE days...

Trying again... WITH FEELING...

2 replies

davidakoontz Oct 17, 2024

Not sure what you suggestion was - tell me again. @marcprux

arshmeet-s Oct 17, 2024

The suggestion was to check the build code as you've done. Have you tried my solution of cleaning everything and pulling your github repo? First make sure that you have a github repo btw.

davidakoontz · 2024-10-17T21:09:32Z

davidakoontz
Oct 17, 2024

Yeah I’ve got a REPO - my count is up to 15 times I’ve started fresh… it’s an estimate. I’d like to solve the actual issue - given that it has happened TWICE. I make lots of stupid mistakes… but this one has proven to exist outside of my influence!

…

On Oct 17, 2024, at 1:11 PM, arshmeet-s ***@***.***> wrote: The suggestion was to check the build code as you've done. Have you tried my solution of cleaning everything and pulling your github repo? First make sure that you have a github repo btw. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#263 (reply in thread)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AA3SNU2ZEKXYNNK3FFQSRMTZ4ADWFAVCNFSM6AAAAABQBJ355WVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTAOJXGU2DKNY>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.

0 replies

marcprux · 2024-10-30T13:46:00Z

marcprux
Oct 30, 2024
Maintainer

The problem is discussed at https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/761439: Xcode no longer sets the ENABLE_PREVIEWS environment variable for SwiftUI previews, which is the only way we have to prevent running the skip gradle command that handles the compile/launch on Android. Toggling the "Editor > Canvas > Use Legacy Previews Execution" menu item should work around the issue for now, but note that that setting will be reset every time Xcode upgrades, so you will need to re-enable it every time there is an update.

The other solution, of course, is to just comment-out the "skip gradle" command in the "Run skip gradle" build script when you are developing with SwiftUI previews, and then just remember to re-enable it the next time you need to launch on Android.

We encourage anyone encountering this issue to chime in on the thread mentioned above to try to elicit a less unsatisfactory long-term solution.

2 replies

davidakoontz Oct 30, 2024

Thank you for the explaination ( the apple link ). Had to search for the - suggested workaround: "Use legacy preview execution"

Look in Xcode > Editor > Canvas (2nd entry) then bottom of that 2nd Canvas menu > Use legacy...

davidakoontz Oct 30, 2024

Love having my Previews back!! Thanks Marc!

I must have missed the memo from Apple...

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SwiftUI Previews in Xcode cause Skip to re-launch Android build #263

Replies: 10 comments · 6 replies

marcprux Oct 17, 2024 Maintainer

arshmeets Oct 17, 2024 Author

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arshmeets Oct 17, 2024 Author

marcprux Oct 17, 2024 Maintainer

arshmeets Oct 17, 2024 Author

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Replies: 10 comments 6 replies

marcprux
Oct 17, 2024
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arshmeets
Oct 17, 2024
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marcprux
Oct 17, 2024
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arshmeets
Oct 17, 2024
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marcprux Oct 17, 2024
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arshmeets Oct 17, 2024
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marcprux
Oct 30, 2024
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