Using homebrew installed SDL2 with Xcode

Question

I have installed SDL2 using Homebrew but now I don't know how to make sure Xcode can use it! I imported the created library and added it to the build phases tab of my project. But when I try to build I get the error 'SDL2/SDL.h' not found

score 31 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 19 '15 at 00:15

31

To be able to use SDL2 on Xcode you must set two things (which are required for SDL in general):

where to find header files (so that Clang can compile with -Iheader/path)
where to find the .dylib to link it to the project (since with brew you don't have a real .framework)

To know the correct paths you should invoke sdl2-config --cflags and sdl2-config --libs. On my system these produce:

:~jack$ /usr/local/bin/sdl2-config --cflags
-I/usr/local/include/SDL2 -I/usr/X11R6/include -D_THREAD_SAFE

:~jack$ /usr/local/bin/sdl2-config --libs
-L/usr/local/lib -lSDL2

Now just paste the first one into other C flags and the other one into other linker flags field of your project and you are ready to go.

You could set them up in the correct fields, which is Header Search Paths for -I and Library Search Path for -l but the result will be the same.

answered Jan 19 '15 at 00:15

Jack

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Sorry been really busy so I couldn't respond! Thanks for the answer a few questions though when I add the paths to other C flags and other linker flags I can access SDL but is it not nested like `#include ` How can I make sure this works? And also what paths should I put into header search paths and library search paths if I wanted to do it the correct way? Because I tried doing it but didn't get it to work just yet. – Jaap Wijnen Jan 22 '15 at 23:09
Oh and also how do I get this to work with SDL_ttf as well? Because I can't find it! The nesting of SDL2/SDL.h and using the correct field worked out though thanks! – Jaap Wijnen Jan 22 '15 at 23:13
Ok nevermind I just made a few mistakes sorry! Thanks for the answer! – Jaap Wijnen Jan 22 '15 at 23:32
Just a side note, if you add only the header and lib directories to your project's `Headr Search Paths` and `Library Search Paths`, you will get error, respectively, because in order to Xcode the use those libraries, you need to tell Xcode that, for example, use `-lSDL2` library, so I advise you to use the first method that the above answer provides. – Our Jan 28 '18 at 10:33

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 13 '21 at 01:49

Install installed homebrew from https://brew.sh
Type in terminal brew install sdl2
Then show the path of framework (in xCode select project file >> build settings >> header search paths) and using cmd+shift+g type /usr/local/include
In 'General' 'Frameworks & Libraries' put libSDL2-2.0.0.dylib (its here /usr/local/Cellar/sdl2/2.0.14_1/lib)
And most important check 'Disable Library Validations' in 'Signing & Capabilities'

After these steps code started to work for me.

Don't duplicate your answers. If you (or someone else) decide to update/modify it later, you'll have to go over ever single one. I suggest posting it once, then posting a link in comments of the other question. — HolyBlackCat, Jan 13 '21 at 07:04

score 1 · Answer 3 · edited May 02 '20 at 06:48

brew search sdl2
brew install sdl2 sdl2_image sdl2_mixer sdl2_net sdl2_ttf
config xcode Build Settings --> All --> Search Paths --> Header Serch Paths
--> /usr/local/include
config Xcode General ->add Frameworks and Libraries --> libSDL2-2.0.0.dylib
test your code

#include <iostream>
#include <SDL2/SDL.h>
#include <SDL2/SDL_image.h>

using namespace std;

int main() {

    if(SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO) < 0) {
        cout << "SDL init failed." << endl;
        return 1;
    }

    cout << "SDL Init succeeded." << endl;

    SDL_Quit();

    return 0;
}

Using homebrew installed SDL2 with Xcode

3 Answers3

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