why isn't my DEBUG preprocessor macro being recognized objective-c

Question

I took over a project that has several build schemes: demo, release, debug and production. throughout the code.. there are several preprocessor macro if statements ie

#ifdef DEMO
static NSString *const URL_SMART_TAXI      = @"http://demo.theapp.com";
#elif  PRODUCTION
static NSString *const URL_SMART_TAXI      = @"http://prod.theapp.com";
#elif  DEBUG
static NSString *const URL_SMART_TAXI      = @"http://localhost:8000";
#else
static NSString *const URL_SMART_TAXI      = @"http://dev.theapp.com";
#endif

for some reason, this always works when i'm building with a demo scheme or a production one.. but it just doesn't work for debug (whenever I change the scheme and run for debug.. it always skips the debug and goes for the wild card option)..

I looked all over the project and I don't see any special treatment given for demo or production that's not given for debug..

If I run grep -nri %environment% * this is the result:

grep -nri production *
project.pbxproj:2767:               84380FEB1705D3E40085487D /* Production */ = { 
project.pbxproj:2797:                       name = Production;
project.pbxproj:2799:               84380FEC1705D3E40085487D /* Production */ = { 
project.pbxproj:2832:                                       "-DPRODUCTION",
project.pbxproj:2846:                       name = Production;
project.pbxproj:3013:                               84380FEB1705D3E40085487D /* Production */, 
project.pbxproj:3024:                               84380FEC1705D3E40085487D /* Production */, 
xcshareddata/xcschemes/theApp.xcscheme:47:      buildConfiguration = "Production"

grep -nri demo *
project.pbxproj:2685:               6314932116E4F7D000B351CA /* Demo */ = { 
project.pbxproj:2715:                       name = Demo;
project.pbxproj:2717:               6314932216E4F7D000B351CA /* Demo */ = { 
project.pbxproj:2751:                                       "-DDEMO",
project.pbxproj:2765:                       name = Demo;
project.pbxproj:3012:                               6314932116E4F7D000B351CA /* Demo */, 
project.pbxproj:3023:                               6314932216E4F7D000B351CA /* Demo */, 
xcshareddata/xcschemes/theApp.xcscheme:87:      buildConfiguration = "Demo"

grep -nri debug *
project.pbxproj:2848:               847D410E168CBD3700CE1B96 /* Debug */ = { 
project.pbxproj:2863:                                       "DEBUG=1",
project.pbxproj:2879:                       name = Debug;
project.pbxproj:2912:               847D4111168CBD3700CE1B96 /* Debug */ = { 
project.pbxproj:2955:                       name = Debug;
project.pbxproj:2972:                                       "DEBUG=1",
project.pbxproj:3010:                               847D410E168CBD3700CE1B96 /* Debug */, 
project.pbxproj:3021:                               847D4111168CBD3700CE1B96 /* Debug */, 
xcshareddata/xcschemes/theApp.xcscheme:26:      selectedDebuggerIdentifier = "Xcode.DebuggerFoundation.Debugger.LLDB"
xcshareddata/xcschemes/theApp.xcscheme:27:      selectedLauncherIdentifier = "Xcode.DebuggerFoundation.Launcher.LLDB"
xcshareddata/xcschemes/theApp.xcscheme:29:      buildConfiguration = "Debug">
xcshareddata/xcschemes/theApp.xcscheme:43:      selectedDebuggerIdentifier = "Xcode.DebuggerFoundation.Debugger.LLDB"
xcshareddata/xcschemes/theApp.xcscheme:44:      selectedLauncherIdentifier = "Xcode.DebuggerFoundation.Launcher.LLDB"
xcshareddata/xcschemes/theApp.xcscheme:49:      debugDocumentVersioning = "YES"
xcshareddata/xcschemes/theApp.xcscheme:72:      debugDocumentVersioning = "YES">
xcshareddata/xcschemes/theApp.xcscheme:84:      buildConfiguration = "Debug">

any ideas?

update: + relevant parts of build settings

enter image description here

You're missing the `-D` before `DEBUG=1` - it should be `-DDEBUG=1`. — Paul R, May 13 '14 at 10:22
It's a command line switch to define a macro - you have it for PRODUCTION and DEMO, but it's missing in the case of DEBUG. — Paul R, May 13 '14 at 10:24
@PaulR but DEBUG=1 is defined in my `release` scheme.. which i never use.. should I just put -DNS_BLOCK_ASSERTIONS=1 -DDEBUG under other C/C++ flags? but [DNS_BLOCK_ASSERTIONS](http://stackoverflow.com/a/2752581/766570) doesn't seem to be relevant to what i'm trying to do — abbood, May 13 '14 at 10:36

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered May 13 '14 at 10:21

2

This is because you're doing "#elif", which is NOT the same thing as "#elifdef" (if such a thing exists).

You should define PRODUCTION, DEBUG and DEMO all at the same time, but set only one to "1" and the others to "0".

answered May 13 '14 at 10:21

Michael Dautermann

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then why does it work just fine when i use `#elif` for production? – abbood May 13 '14 at 10:22
@Michael is right that you shouldn't mix `#ifdef` with `#elif`, but I think the real problem in your case is the missing `-D` before `DEBUG=1`. – Paul R May 13 '14 at 10:23
because you are likely doing "`#define PRODUCTION 1`" and since DEBUG isn't defined at all when you are building for production, it matches as if you were doing "`#if PRODUCTION`". Which would become "`#if 1`" while compiling. – Michael Dautermann May 13 '14 at 10:23
@PaulR ok guys I see a lot of value in what you're both saying.. but i'm still a bit confused.. I updated my question with the relevant parts of my build settings.. does it make my situation more clear? – abbood May 13 '14 at 10:32
@MichaelDautermann couldn't find a `define PRODUCTION 1` anywhere in the code. – abbood May 13 '14 at 10:34
1

if this were my project, I *might* add in "`DEMO=0 PRODUCTION=0`" to that preprocessor macro line that says "`DEBUG=1`". And then change "`#ifdef`" to "`#if`". Makes sense now? – Michael Dautermann May 13 '14 at 10:34

why isn't my DEBUG preprocessor macro being recognized objective-c

1 Answers1