iOS Tutorial Local Mac Builder Installation

iOS compilation requires an Apple Mac computer. Developers have two options with B4i:
- Use a local Mac machine connected over the local network.
- Use our hosted builder rental service.

These instructions explain how to install the builder on a local Mac machine.

1. Download OpenJDK 19.0.1: https://jdk.java.net/archive/ (Mac/AArch64 for Arm based Mac or Mac/x64 for Intel based Mac).
2. Install Xcode 26 from the app store or:

https://developer.apple.com/download/all/?q=xcode+26

3. You need to run Xcode at least once. Approve installation of additional components when asked.
4. Download and unzip the B4i-Builder.
5. Open a terminal and navigate to B4i-Builder folder.
6. Start it with:

<path to java>/jdk-19.0.1.jdk/Contents/Home/bin/java-jar B4iBuildServer.jar

7. Install Apple Configurator from the app store.
8. Run Apple Configurator and select "Install Automation Tools" in the top left menu.
9. Set the builder IP address in the IDE under Tools - Build Server - Server Settings
10. You might be asked for a password during a build (codesign step). The password is 111111
Click on the "Always allow" button. This will be fixed in the next update.

Notes & Tips

- By default ports numbers 51041 (http) and 51042 (https) are used.
- The firewall should be either disabled or allow incoming connections on these two ports.
- You can test that the server is running by going to the following link: http://<server ip>:51041/test
- You can kill the server with: http://<server ip>:51041/kill
- It is recommended to set your Mac server ip address to a static address. This can be done in your router settings or in the Mac under Network settings.
- A single Mac builder can serve multiple developers as long as they are all connected to the same local network.


Troubleshooting

Check the "Test" page: <Mac ip>:51041/test

 

[pezhooman]

No .just i turn off my computer for 4 days.and then now something is wrong
howevere what should i do?how can fix it?

 

[Erel]

It might be a permissions issue.

Check the server logs during compilation. Are there any error messages there?

 

[pezhooman]

this is all my server logs :

Last login: Thu Jul 23 10:49:20 on console
mostafas-Mac:~ mostafapezhooman$ cd desktop
mostafas-Mac:desktop mostafapezhooman$ cd macserver-2b
mostafas-Mac:macserver-2b mostafapezhooman$ java -jar b4ibuildserver.jar
Build server version: 2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2015-07-23 10:52:08.908:INFO::main: Logging initialized @2487ms
Loading default configuration file.
AppPath=/Users/mostafapezhooman/Desktop/macserver-2b
Creating key for: 192.168.0.17
2015-07-23 10:52:13.543:INFOejs.Server:main: jetty-9.1.z-SNAPSHOT
2015-07-23 10:52:13.583:WARNejh.MimeTypes:main: java.util.MissingResourceException: Can't find bundle for base name org/eclipse/jetty/http/encoding, locale en_US
2015-07-23 10:52:13.660:INFOejsh.ContextHandler:main: Started o.e.j.s.ServletContextHandler@3f2a3a5{/,file:/Users/mostafapezhooman/Desktop/macserver-2b/www,AVAILABLE}
2015-07-23 10:52:13.665:INFOejs.AbstractNCSARequestLog:main: Opened /Users/mostafapezhooman/Desktop/macserver-2b/logs/b4j-2015_07_23.request.log
2015-07-23 10:52:13.928:INFOejs.ServerConnector:main: Started ServerConnector@531be3c5{HTTP/1.1}{0.0.0.0:51041}
2015-07-23 10:52:14.624:INFOejs.ServerConnector:main: Started ServerConnector@76cb15c2{SSL-http/1.1}{0.0.0.0:51042}
2015-07-23 10:52:14.625:INFOejs.Server:main: Started @8264ms
Build server is ready
https://192.168.0.17:51042
http://192.168.0.17:51041
Adding user to keychain: b4i_default
success: true, 65
10:53:15| Compilation time: 7047, b4i_default, queue: 0, success: false

 

[Erel]

It looks fine. I will send you a temporary user id for the hosted builder to see whether the problem is in the keys or the local builder.

Please see the private message I sent you.

 

[Adilson Jacinto]

if i run server test its ok, also if i open the site in google chrom in my PC i see the Intsall app button, but not in safari, maybe something with the b4i certificate is wrong...

Hi @ilan, can you help me please, I am trying to install b4i on my mac but first of all I don't have the B4i full version file for mac then I tried to run http://192.168.0.13:51041/test and an error message come up saying safary cannot find page. So don't really know what do to.

Thanks

 

[Erel]

The link to the builder software was included in the mail you received after purchase.

 

[Adilson Jacinto]

The link to the builder software was included in the mail you received after purchase.

I know, I have already run java -jar B4iBuildServer.jar but then how do I oprn B4i software?

 

[Erel]

If you already know it then you should update your question.

What happens after you run this command? What happens when you try to navigate to the test page?

 

[Adilson Jacinto]

If you already know it then you should update your question.

What happens after you run this command? What happens when you try to navigate to the test page?

It created config_example.txt, Key folder, UploadedProjects folder, key.txt and logs folder...

When I the test page I get an error saying safari can't connect to the server

 

[ilan]

Are your windows pc and mac connected to the same network?

What i do is, connect lan to mac and in my mac i share wifi connection (i use my mac as a wifi router) and then connect my windows pc to my mac...

Then run b4i server on your mac and the ip you get you should put in your windows internet explorer... (../test)

 

[Adilson Jacinto]

Are your windows pc and mac connected to the same network?

What i do is, connect lan to mac and in my mac i share wifi connection (i use my mac as a wifi router) and then connect my windows pc to my mac...

Then run b4i server on your mac and the ip you get you should put in your windows internet explorer... (../test)

Yes both mac and windows are connected to the same network, my mac is on wifi and windows on lan.

How do i even run b4i server? I don't see this file in the folder

 

[ilan]

i recommend you to connect your lan to the mac and your windows pc to your mac

to share connection in your mac go to (Apple signe left top corner) > system preferences > sharing > and check Internet Sharing

after you do this you should see an arrow up in your wifi symbol (top right corner)

-

connect now your windows pc to your mac network (you will connect also all your iphone devices and ipads to your mac)

now to load b4i server, you need to open Terminal: click on Launchpad > others > Terminal

now you will need to unzip the b4i server to a directory (name it "macserver") in directory let say DOWNLOADS and then in terminal you will need to cd (change directory) to this directory like this

(you will need to enter 2 lines)

cd downloads/macserver

and now we will run the server like this:

java -jar B4IBuildServer.jar

the server should now run and everything should work...

Good Luck

 

[Alberto Iglesias]

You can get my script to start the MacBuilder, is usefully to me:


http://www.visualnet.inf.br/download/b4x/MacB4iServer.zip

Just change your MacBuilder path and start, just this!

 

[carchek]

When trying to build my first app i get an error: "Error: xcode-select: error: tool 'xcodebuild' requires Xcode, but active developer directory '/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools' is a command line tools instance" Using OS X 10.10.5 and xcode 7.0
Please help

 

[Erel]

See the answer here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/...ve-developer-directory-error-on-osx-mavericks

 

[abarnett]

How is the best way to allow remote app load when using local mac builder. My apple device can see the app install file via safari but trying to install it 'calls up the local mac server ip address'. Remote compile works fine.

 

[Erel]

Which error do you get when you try to install B4i-Bridge?

 

[abarnett]

Which error do you get when you try to install B4i-Bridge?

There is no error. All compiles fine but when I am not in the office and need to get an update to the iPhone the browser link shows an update available but clicking on the install icon reports the 'local' IP address of the server which obviously I cannot connect to. So I can remote compile, great but then cannot install and test.

Your hosted service works great but I cannot use bought libraries using it. A bit of a problem.

Any ideas would be welcome..

 

[Erel]

Commercial libraries can be uploaded to the hosted builder.

You will need to use a dynamic dns service and configure your router and computer firewall.

 

[abarnett]

Commercial libraries can be uploaded to the hosted builder.

You will need to use a dynamic dns service and configure your router and computer firewall.

The library I am using at the moment is Alberto's iComboBox but my understanding is that I have a paid version, so only the trial version would get loaded to the hosted builder.

I have a fixed IP address for the site and Mac server. My B4i can see it and will compile to it without problems, just cant debug or install remotely.