[swift-evolution] For discussion: Including source code alongside binaries

[Alexey Demedetskiy]

Why not use _just_ source code and let Xcode / Package Manager to do the job of building? 

Or you to want have binary distribution and source code for debug?


- Alexey Demedetskiy

> Hello everyone,
> 
> I would like to start a discussion on the possibility of enabling compelling Swift binaries that embed the source code from which they've been compiled.
> 
> The value of having source code embedded alongside the binary isdebugging aid - A developer will be able to download 3rd party framework, include it into his Xcode project and then drill down in a debug session into the framework code, having Xcode showing him the source code from which the current breakpoint instruction was built.
> 
> This feature exists in the java world where you can compile a Jar file, having each .class contain it's .java counter part. I //think// it's stored in this propertyhttps://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jvms/se7/html/jvms-4.html#jvms-4.7.11. This allows opening the Jar of a target library in eclipse and instantly seeing what the code is doing.
> 
> The alternatives today are either decompilers, or.dSYM both are good but not great as each requires manually steps in either management or enforcing corrects of the results.
> 
> Would the community be interested in such a "plug and play" approach for attaching source code to build frameworks / applications / stand alone binaries ?
> 
> Is it feasible to expect such a thing from native apps? if not, can it be an Xcode level feature when only .packages (Framework/Application) will be added support for shipping the .dSYM and Xcode will know to do the lifting to make it just work for the developer?
> 
> 
> tnx,
> -m
> 
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