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LLVM on iOS

Build LLVM for iOS (physical device and simulator)

From the official instructions:

git clone https://github.com/llvm/llvm-project.git # Alternatively, download and extract the monorepo source code from https://releases.llvm.org/download.html
cd llvm-project
mkdir build
cd build
cmake -G <generator> [options] ../llvm

Our script buildllvm-iOS.sh and buildllvm-iOS-Simulator.sh build LLVM, Clang and LLD for iOS and iOS simulator respectively. We disable various stuffs such as terminfo since there is no terminal in iOS; otherwise, there will be problem when linking in Xcode. Needs:

Once the tools are ready, run the script in the llvm-project top folder (or llvm-project-VERSION if you download the source zipped package instead of cloning). Once the build process is completed, the library and include headers should be available at ~/Download/LLVM-iOS or ~/Download/LLVM-iOS-Simulator.

Before being able to use in Xcode, in the built folder, we first need to move the lib/clang/ and lib/cmake and lib/*.dylib out of lib/:

cd ~/Download/LLVM-iOS
mkdir lib2
mv lib/clang lib2/
mv lib/cmake lib2/
mv lib/*.dylib lib2/

Otherwise, iOS will crash when loading dynamic libraries.

Our Sample iOS Project

We provide a sample iOS app project in the Sample/ folder; no license attached so feel free to do whatever you want with it. In this project, we use Clang's C interpreter example located in examples/clang-interpreter/main.cpp of Clang source code to interpret a simple C++ program. (The file was renamed to Interpreter.cpp to fit in with iOS development style.) The code is pretty much copied verbatim except for some minor modifications, namely:

  1. We change the main function name to clangInterpret since iOS app already has main function.

  2. We comment out the last line

// llvm::llvm_shutdown();

so that you can call clangInterpret again in the app. Originally, the example was a one-shot command line program where this makes sense.

  1. We add a third parameter
llvm::raw_ostream &errorOutputStream

to clangInterpret and replace all llvm::errs() with errorOutputStream so we can capture the compilation output and pass it back to the app front-end to display to users.

In the latest version, you should be able to edit the program, interpret it and see the output.

Edit the program screenshot Interpret the program screenshot

Read on for details on how to create and configure your own project.

Usage in iOS App Xcode Project

  1. Create a new iOS app project in Xcode, say Sample and copy the built folder, say ~/Download/LLVM-iOS-Simulator, to the root folder of your project:
cp ~/Download/LLVM-iOS-Simulator LLVM  # Assuming at Sample project folder

We shall assume the target folder is LLVM. Note that you must copy the LLVM-iOS-Simulator when running on simulator.

  1. Add the LLVM static libraries to your project by right click on the Sample project, choose Add files to "YOUR PROJECT NAME" and select the LLVM/lib folder. Enable Create groups but not Copy items if needed.

  2. Next, we add LLVM/include to header search path. Go to Build settings your project, click on All and search for header. You should find Header Search Paths under Search Paths. Add a new item $(PROJECT_DIR)/LLVM/include.

Header Search Paths Setting

  1. Finally, you probably want to write your app in Swift but LLVM library is written in C++ so we need to create a bridge to expose LLVM backend to your app Swift frontend. This is accomplished via Objective-C i.e. Swift -> Objective-C -> C++. Add to your project a new header file, say LLVMBridge.h and the implementation Objective-C++ file, say LLVMBridge.mm. We set Objective-C bridging header to expose the Objective-C (and hence, C++) code to Swift. Go to Build settings your project and search for bridg and you should find Objective-C Bridging Header under Swift Compiler - General. Set it to Sample/LLVMBridge.h or a header file of your choice (but that header should include LLVMBridge.h).

Objective-C Bridging Header Setting

Now you are ready to make use of LLVM glory.

Further Readings

You might want to start with Anthony Nguyen's Using C++ in Objective-C iOS app: My first walk for a quick intro on how to make use of C++ in Swift. This is the basis for our Sample app.

More advanced coverage on interoperability could be found in Understanding Objective-C and Swift interoperability by RDerik and Advanced ObjC <-> Swift Interoperability by Nikita Lutsenko.

Last but not least, Apple's Programming with Objective-C is fairly useful in helping us write the Objective-C bridging class: Once we pass to C++, we are in our home turf.