[swift-build-dev] Build Linux app on Mac Os X (Daniel Dunbar), Jason Kristian

Tue Aug 16 10:30:36 CDT 2016

I would personally be very interested in seeing a prototype of this, even
if just to explore how it could work.

I do still think we shouldn't tackle the Hypervisor portion directly (you
would basically need to reimplement Docker for Mac to do this, as best I
can tell), but should rely on some other service to provide the ability to
bring up the XPC service you mention.

If it was me, I would probably start by assuming there is a VM somewhere
than can run the same version of swift-build, and build up the ability for
one swift-build to be able to talk to that remote one.

 - Daniel

On Tue, Aug 16, 2016 at 4:56 AM, Jason Kristian via swift-build-dev <
swift-build-dev at swift.org> wrote:

> On 2016-08-16 21:54, Jason Kristian wrote:
>
>> I agree there are tool's out there now to run linux and maybe adding
>> to package manager is not the way to go I was just giving example on
>> one method to configure. The main Idea is to be able to test and build
>> on os x. Now using a vm that is not run on top or docker or vmware ,
>> virtual box etc gives a more seamless usage experience.
>>
>> The way I see it working is via a XCP process that can startup a vm
>> using HyperVisor framework and when running the current folder can be
>> mounted to the VM. this would let you build / run / test .
>>
>> Now going a bit off topic Xcode developer could build on top of this
>> to integrate  with Xcode (i know that not a swift-build-dev product or
>> concern).
>>
>> Im happy to start a proof of concept that this could work only if the
>> community would be interested in a feature like this.
>>
>> What I'm trying to overcome is the time taken daily where I'm creating
>> docker images starting all the time and not able to run test with out
>> setting up a vm.
>> I might be given a project to look at only to see they have different
>> Docker image so Im then having to download that image to run the
>> project.
>>
>> Option 2 - is a quicker option like you said but that is not the issue
>> I was trying to overcome , not just cross compiling but to be able
>> have a project that I can just build and run while at the same time I
>> have a IOS target that is running and calling code in the Linux target
>> while being able test.
>>
>> Now maybe I'm under estimating the work that is required to archive
>> this but what I see this working like will be much loved feature.
>>
>> So please comment. The more opinion's the better.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 2016-08-16 03:00, swift-build-dev-request at swift.org wrote:
>>
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>>> Today's Topics:
>>>
>>>    1. Re: Build Linux app on Mac Os X (Daniel Dunbar)
>>>
>>>
>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>> Message: 1
>>> Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2016 20:09:26 -0700
>>> From: Daniel Dunbar <daniel_dunbar at apple.com>
>>> To: jasonk at apps4u.com.au
>>> Cc: "swift-build-dev at swift.org" <swift-build-dev at swift.org>
>>> Subject: Re: [swift-build-dev] Build Linux app on Mac Os X
>>> Message-ID: <06EF389C-408D-4CD4-85E8-1D78DA5ECA04 at apple.com>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>>>
>>> I think this proposal is a little more complicated than necessary.
>>>
>>> Using Hypervisor directly doesn't really seem in the realm of the
>>> package manager to do, especially when there are nicely packaged tools
>>> like Docker for Mac which basically handle all of that.
>>>
>>> I can imagine an interesting feature where the package manager had the
>>> ability to compile for Linux in one of two ways:
>>>
>>> 1. The approach described, using some kind of virtualization to be
>>> able to actually execute the build on Linux. This would have the
>>> advantage that the tests and executables could also be run. However,
>>> this would also be rather complicated and I'm not sure it is
>>> ultimately the right place to solve this problem.
>>>
>>> 2. We could support cross-compiling to Linux. This would fit clearly
>>> in our feature set, and would also be a lot easier to make robust and
>>> with a good user experience. However, this wouldn't help with the
>>> ability to run tests...
>>>
>>> In either case, I don't know of anyone actively trying to tackle
>>> features in these areas...
>>>
>>>  - Daniel
>>>
>>> On Aug 13, 2016, at 5:46 PM, apps4u via swift-build-dev <
>>>> swift-build-dev at swift.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> HI I submited a proposal to the Swift Mailing list when it a build
>>>> feature. So Ive inclued the original message but Im going to rewrite so I
>>>> could be a bit more clear.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I have a propoal of using the new Hypervisor.framework to enable Swift
>>>> Linux build's on Os X. So at the monment there is a need to use 3rd party
>>>> tools (VM, Docker) to run a linux kernel on Os x to build Swift Liunx
>>>> server app's. Now I was thinking that with the release of
>>>> Hypervisor.framework that this could now be achive in a clean and
>>>> transparent way.
>>>>
>>>> So the main idea is to have the abilty to create a linux target but
>>>> when building and running instead of running on the Mac kernel a small
>>>> liunx kernel can be started as a headless background process and the app
>>>> would build and run within that vm.  So the folder to the project could be
>>>> mounted with in the Linux vm. Hypervisor.framework is perfect for this sort
>>>> of enbeding. It could be inbeded as a XPC proecess so that  Linux VM would
>>>> be used for all project's.
>>>>  The target should be able to be configured by user to pick if it runs
>>>> on OS X or Linux.
>>>>
>>>> This could Also be tied into the Package Manager where there could be a
>>>> option to set the packages target runtime.
>>>>
>>>> Also to start with I don't think this would need to be under full user
>>>> control, What I mean by that I would not let the user pick the Linux OS or
>>>> packages that are installed etc. I think the Linux os should include a
>>>> common set of software eg: CURL, OpenSSL , etc. just the common set of
>>>> software.
>>>>
>>>> or if people think otherwise that it could have full user control of
>>>> Linux OS and installed Software.
>>>>
>>>> But My thought is to keep it simple and small so its as fast as
>>>> possiable and at the end of the Day user should always Test on the
>>>> Production OS which can be done using the current method's of running Linux
>>>> on a VM or Cloud provider or Container.
>>>>
>>>> I think that this would make the developer experance even better and
>>>> add a valuable feature to Swift Package Manager.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Now Where I made the mistake in the other post to bring up XCode how
>>>> this could then enable Builld/Run/Debug of a Linux target. I only brought
>>>> that up to explain the current process which requires docker or some vm
>>>> software to be setup and some build scripts to get it to work which is a
>>>> bit of effort for each project.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> -------------------------------------------
>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> -------------------------------------------
>>>> FROM SWIFT MAILING LIST
>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> -------------------------------------------
>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> -------------------------------------------
>>>>
>>>> Sorry I just noticed the Swift Build mailing list . would that be a
>>>> better place . Now Xcode would not need to be inclued as that's a apple
>>>> product so Im was just using a example on how it could be use the Main
>>>> feature request is to have Swift build use Hypervisor.Framework to work
>>>> with Swift build to be able to build a Linux project on Os X with out
>>>> having to create your own VM or container to run a linux kernel.
>>>>
>>>> So Im going to send this to the Swift Build Mailing list.
>>>>
>>>> August 14 2016 10:17 AM, "Félix Cloutier" <felixcca at yahoo.ca <mailto:
>>>> %22F%C3%A9lix%20Cloutier%22%20<felixcca at yahoo.ca>>> wrote:
>>>> The swift-evolution mailing list is about the language itself, Xcode is
>>>> independent. I don't know where you could try to push that suggestion.
>>>>
>>>> Félix
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Le 13 août 2016 à 16:40:42, apps4u via swift-evolution <
>>>>> swift-evolution at swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution at swift.org>> a écrit
>>>>> :
>>>>> I have a Proposal but I'm not sure if Its the right place to propose
>>>>> but as it has to do with building Swift So I'm going to submit here. So
>>>>> Please let me know if that is not the place to propose this feature. As it
>>>>> includes Xcode.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Ok So this is a proposal for being able to build swift for linux on
>>>>> Mac Os X in Xcode just like a native target.
>>>>>
>>>>> With the release of Hypervisor.framework It would be good if from
>>>>> within Xcode I can create a project with a Linux Target and when clicking
>>>>> Build and run it create a VM running a small linux Kernel using
>>>>> Hypervisor.framework.
>>>>> By using Hypervisor.framework it would be better integrated into the
>>>>> tools as it has a small foot print. The idea would be to have the VM
>>>>> downloaded before a build. The linux VM should be small and only have the
>>>>> required software to test a server and using the hypervisor.framework the
>>>>> project build folder can be attached to the vm at build time so the working
>>>>> with different projects at the same time would not require lots of VM.
>>>>>
>>>>> Now I know that this would be best if integrated into Xcode and this
>>>>> is the Swift Language mailing list but Swift build is part of the Language.
>>>>>
>>>>> This could also be used to debugging. Now Its possible now to use
>>>>> Docker to run a linux vm and have a shared folder for your project and some
>>>>> scripts to kick off the build. But it take time to setup per project and is
>>>>> not the Experience i would expect in Xcode.
>>>>>
>>>>> Now My first thought when I found out about Hypervisor.framework that
>>>>> the reason it was created was to add linux targets to Xcode.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> swift-evolution mailing list
>>>>> swift-evolution at swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution at swift.org>
>>>>> https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution <
>>>>> https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution>__
>>>>> _____________________________________________
>>>>>
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> --
> Jason Kristian | Director | APPS 4 U PTY LTD.
> ph: +61 075699 8109
> mob: +61 0411 389 392
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