gmibuildtool

The gmibuildtool is a utility to create and test applications for an iOS devices.

Syntax

gmibuildtool [options]
  1. options are described in Options.

Options

Table 1. gmibuildtool options
Option Description
--app-name application-name

Display name of the mobile app.

This option can be specified to define the display name of the app, it sets the CFBundleDisplayName property in the Info.plist file.

If not specified, the name defaults to "Noname".
--app-version application-version

Defines app version visible to the users on the App Store.

This option is mandatory and sets CFBundleVersion properties in the Info.plist file.

Note: If the --build-number option is not used, --app-version will also set the both the CFBundleShortVersionString property.

In iTunes® Connect, you define the version of your app, that must match the CFBundleVersion property in the Info.plist file of the app. If these versions do not match, the app cannot be published. Once the app is visible on App Store, the version specified in iTunes Connect shows up in the "Version" section of the application page.

The recommendation for the app version number is that it is a string comprised of three period-separated integers. For example: "1.4.2"
--bundle-id bundle-identifier

Defines the Bundle Identifier (a.k.a. App Id) for the app.

This option is mandatory and sets the CFBundleIdentifier property in the Info.plist file.

A bundle identifier is the unique identifier of your app, to let iOS recognize new app versions. When developing for the simulator, you can choose your own identifier. When creating an application for the App Store, the bundle identifier must be registered with Apple.

If not specified, the name defaults to "noname" (for prototyping).
--build-cordova cordova-plugin-names

Defines Cordova plugins to be embedded in the app package.

When specifying multiple cordova plugins, use the comma (,) as separator.

The name of the plugin must match the Git repository name. It is case-sensitive.

Note: To get the list of available Cordova plugins, use the gmibuildtool --list-plugins command.
--build-number build-number

Defines the build number used to upload a new binary of the same app version.

This option must be used to distinguish different builds for the same app version. It sets the CFBundleShortVersionString property in the Info.plist file.

The build number needs to be incremented in order to upload a new binary version of the same app version in iTunes Connect.

If this option is not used, the build number defaults to the version specified with the --app-version option.

The build number is a string comprised of three period-separated integers. For example: "1.4.2"
--certificate identity

Name of a certificate to sign the app.

This option is mandatory to build apps for a physical device or for the app store.

The certificate can be found in the Keychain® access program, in the "Common Name" field of the certificate panel.

The command security find-identity -v can be used to list all available certificates.
--crypto {yes|no}

Enables GWS cryptographic APIs based on the OpenSSL library. When using this option, the OpenSSL library is embedded into the resulting .ipa file.

The default is yes.

--device device-name

Defines the name of a device or simulator.

  • By default, when not specifying the --device option, a GMI.app directory is created for the simulator.
  • When specifying the --device booted option, the GMI.app directory is created and the app is installed on the booted simulator.
  • When specifying the --device phone option, the GMI.app directory and .ipa file are created.
  • When specifying the --device physical-device-name option (with a real physical device name plugged on your Mac), the GMI.app directory and .ipa file are created and the app is installed on the device.
Note: Use the xcrun xctrace list devices Xcode® command to find the list of available devices (simulators or connected devices).
--extension-libs

Specify the libraries to use when compiling and linking the app.

This option is used when you want to provide your own C extension or custom front calls.
--help

Displays options for the tool.
--gbc gbc-archive

Defines the GBC to be used for Universal Rendering.
--icons icons-dir

Provides the directory where the application icons are located.

By default, the application icons directory is current-working-dir/gmi.

The name of the app icon files must be: icon_57x57.png, icon_72x72.png, icon_29x29.png, icon_40x40.png, icon_120x120.png, icon_152x152.png, icon_58x58.png, icon_76x76.png, icon_80x80.png
--install {yes|no}

The --install parameter avoids the need for snooping with instruments for the actual device name.

The --install option controls if the app is installed on the simulator or device. If a particular device or simulator is given with --device, the app is installed. When using --device "simulator", or --device "phone", nothing is installed by default. In this case, use –install yes, determine the current device/simulator and install the app.
--install-plugins github-url

This option installs additional plugins in the GMI installation directory.
--launch-images launch-images-dir

The directory where launch images are located.

By default, the launch images directory is current-working-dir/gmi.
Note: This option is ignored if the --storyboard option is provided.

The name of the image files must be: Default.png, Default@2x.png Default-568h@2x.png, Default-Portrait-667h@2x.png Default-Landscape-667h@2x.png, Default-Portrait-736h@3x.png, Default-Landscape-736h@3x.png, Default-Portrait.png, Default-Landscape.png Default-Portrait@2x.png, Default-Landscape@2x.png.

Each file name corresponds to a device type (you may not need to provide all files if you target only recent iOS devices), see Apple® Developer documentation for more details about launch images.
--list-plugins

This option lists the shipped plugins and additional plugins installed in the GMI installation directory.
--mode {debug|release}

Controls the debug or release mode for the app.

By default, the mode is debug.

Note that the provisioning profile must correspond:
  • --mode debug: Development provisioning profile.
  • --mode release: Distribution provisioning profile.
--output ipa-file-name

Path to output IPA and APP files to be generated.

By default, a "build" directory is created, with subdirectories containing the .ipa and .app files.

An IPA file is created when building an application for a physical device and the App Store. The IPA file is not needed and will not be created when building for the simulator.
--program-files program-dir

Path to Genero BDL program files (.42m, .42f, etc).

By default, the program files directory is the current work directory.

Following files are automaticlly excluded: *.4gl, *.per, *.msg, *.str, *.sch, [Mm]akefile, *.42d, [Mm]akefile, *.[chdmo], *.xib, build/ (the build directory), gmi/ (this folder is the default location of LaunchScreens and AppIcons).

If the file gmiignore exists, then this file contains additional files to be ignored.
--provisioning provisioning-file

Path to the provisioning profile (.mobileprovision).

The provisioning profile is mandatory to build apps for a physical device or for the app store.

Provisioning profiles can be found in $HOME/Library/MobileDevice/Provisioning\ Profiles/
--storyboard storyboard-file

Path to the storyboard file, to get a splash screen to be displayed when the app starts.

This file is an alternative for Launch Screens (--launch-images option). This option is mandatory if you do not provide launch images with the --launch-images option.

The default storyboard is showing an empty navigation bar and an empty toolbar. If the storyboard references images, gmibuildtool searches for the images in the same directory the storyboard is in, and bundles the images with the application.
--update When installing with --install option on a simulator, the app is first un-installed and then re-installed. Use --update to only update, and keep the "Documents" dir (os.Path.pwd()). When installing on a physical device, the app is always updated (needs manual un-install to cleanup)
--verbose {yes|no}

Enable the verbose mode.
--version

Displays version information.