Can't load image in SDL game on macOS

Question

I'm watching the tutorial for adding image in SDL game, but author uses Visual Studio. I'm on the XCode and I'm not sure where to add the assets folder. I tried with right click on root of application > Add files to "Project" > destination of the assets folder but image is not showing in the window.

main.cpp

#include "Game.hpp"

Game *game = nullptr;

int main() {

    game = new Game();

    game->init("Game", SDL_WINDOWPOS_CENTERED, SDL_WINDOWPOS_CENTERED, 800, 600, false);

    while (game->running()) {
        game->handleEvents();
        game->update();
        game->render();
    }

    game->clean();

    return 0;
}

This is the initializing method where I add image at the end of the function:

Game.cpp

void Game::init(const char *title, int xpos, int ypos, int width, int height, bool fullscreen)
{
    int flags = 0;
    if (fullscreen) {
        flags = SDL_WINDOW_FULLSCREEN;
    }

    if (SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_EVERYTHING) == 0) {
        std::cout << "Subsystems initalized." << std::endl;

        window = SDL_CreateWindow(title, xpos, ypos, width, height, fullscreen);

        if (window)
        {
            std::cout << "Window created!" << std::endl;
        }

        renderer = SDL_CreateRenderer(window, -1, 0);

        if (renderer)
        {
            SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(renderer, 255, 255, 255, 255);
            std::cout << "Renderer created!" << std::endl;
        }

        isRunning = true;
    } else {
        isRunning = false;
    }

    SDL_Surface *tempSurface = IMG_Load("assets/player.png");
    playerTexture = SDL_CreateTextureFromSurface(renderer, tempSurface);
    SDL_FreeSurface(tempSurface);
}

And this is the render method:

Game.cpp

void Game::render()
{
    SDL_RenderClear(renderer);
    SDL_RenderCopy(renderer, playerTexture, NULL, NULL);
    SDL_RenderPresent(renderer);
}

Does the working directory for your Xcode run target point to your source tree? — Botje, May 28 '18 at 11:09
@Botje Sorry, I'm not sure I understand you. How can I check it? — Nikola Stojaković, May 28 '18 at 11:10
The path you give is a relative path, so SDL tries to load it starting from the current working directory. I know from previous experience that Xcode does not set the working directory equal to your source directory. Maybe https://meandmark.com/blog/2013/12/setting-the-current-working-directory-for-xcode-command-line-projects/ still applies to modern-day Xcode? — Botje, May 28 '18 at 11:14
@Botje I understand now. I found it in `Product` > `Scheme` > `Edit Scheme` > `Options`. — Nikola Stojaković, May 28 '18 at 11:40

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered May 28 '18 at 11:43

Thanks to the help of Botje's comment and this answer I solved the problem. I had to set up working directory to point to my source folder.

If you have the same problem just go to Product > Scheme > Edit Scheme... > Options, check Use custom working directory, click on the small folder icon and add your source directory.

Can't load image in SDL game on macOS

1 Answers1