Conditional compile when running in Simulator as opposed to on a device

Question

Is there a compiler directive I can use to compile a different line of code when targetting the simulator as opposed to my device. Something like:

# IF SIMULATOR
[self.imagePicker setSourceType:UIImagePickerControllerSourceTypePhotoLibrary];
# ELSE
[self.imagePicker setSourceType:UIImagePickerControllerSourceTypeCamera];
# END

EDIT

Direct link to docs.

score 57 · Accepted Answer · answered May 14 '09 at 19:57

57

#if TARGET_IPHONE_SIMULATOR
[self.imagePicker setSourceType:UIImagePickerControllerSourceTypePhotoLibrary];
#else
[self.imagePicker setSourceType:UIImagePickerControllerSourceTypeCamera];
#endif

answered May 14 '09 at 19:57

Codebeef

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TARGET_IPHONE_SIMULATOR is deprecated. Prefer the TARGET_OS_SIMULATOR – jacorl Aug 22 '23 at 10:36

Elliot · Answer 2 · 2019-05-16T18:51:10.423

11

Update: (Deprecated/Obsolete) This only worked for a few years, and does not work any more. (10+ years later)

For the record, here's another method which Apple uses in some of their official Sample Code:

#if TARGET_CPU_ARM
  // Only executes on an iPhone or iPod touch device
  [self.imagePicker setSourceType:UIImagePickerControllerSourceTypeCamera];
#else
  // Only executes on the Simulator
  [self.imagePicker setSourceType:UIImagePickerControllerSourceTypePhotoLibrary];
#endif

edited May 16 '19 at 18:51

answered May 14 '09 at 21:03

Elliot

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In this case it seems like Apple's sample code is wrong, this code would break if they changed architectures for devices (or Macs). – ThomasW Jul 28 '14 at 10:13
1

This turned out to be a prescient comment. – darvelo May 05 '23 at 10:00

score 6 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 31 '18 at 20:16

For those looking for a modern Swift solution, the (new) platform condition targetEnvironment provides the definitive answer here. For instance:

#if targetEnvironment(simulator)
self.imagePicker.sourceType = .photoLibrary
#else
self.imagePicker.sourceType = .camera
#endif

The target environment platform condition feature was introduced by SE-0190 and is available since Swift 4.1.

Conditional compile when running in Simulator as opposed to on a device

3 Answers3

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