Simply including SDL header causes linker error

Question

I was going to migrate my game from glut to sdl.

It's working perfectly in glut but I wanted to use some sdl features.

So I go into my project properties, under the targets header I click the program that will be compiled, build phases, link binary with libraries, add SDL.framework

The exact same as I have done for OpenGL.framework and GLUT.framework

However when I add: #include <SDL/SDL.h> it comes up with a linker error when I try to build:

Undefined symbols for architecture x86_64:
  "_main", referenced from:
      __start in crt1.o
     (maybe you meant: _SDL_main)
ld: symbol(s) not found for architecture x86_64
clang: error: linker command failed with exit code 1 (use -v to see invocation)

Googling simply leads to a fair few results, but no real explanations.

score 8 · Accepted Answer · edited May 09 '13 at 13:34

8

SDL uses a macro to rename your main(..) and should supply its own, usually implemented in SDLmain.m. It should be supplied together with the SDL.framework.

When you download the framework from here http://www.libsdl.org/download-1.2.php Read the ReadMeDevLite.txt in the devel-lite folder.

Another description http://www.meandmark.com/sdlopenglpart2.html

edited May 09 '13 at 13:34

keyser

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answered Aug 15 '11 at 23:33

epatel

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I'm rather new to Mac based development, not even sure what a .m file is, could you explain how I would go about sorting such things out? – Blam Aug 16 '11 at 00:03
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@Blam, A .m file is an Objective-C file. The Mac version of SDL is written in Objective-C. Add the files SDLMain.h and SDLMain.m to your project. They contain glue code you need to compile SDL apps on Mac OS X. – Swift Dev Journal Aug 16 '11 at 18:43

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited Dec 05 '15 at 14:31

2

I have found that when I get the error :

Undefined symbols for architecture x86_64:
"_main", referenced from:
implicit entry/start for main executable
(maybe you meant: _SDL_main)

I have forgotten to go to Project -> Build Phases -> Compile Sources and add SDLMain.m to the list. This solved the problem for me right away.

edited Dec 05 '15 at 14:31

Andrei

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answered May 30 '13 at 00:05

Terry Rice

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Simply including SDL header causes linker error

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