Vscode-cpptools: SDL2 VS Code error: Undefined symbols for architecture x86_64 (compiling on MacOS)

[martinlizo]

MacOS 10.13.2
Visual Studio Code 1.43.1
c++
SDL 2

I'm trying to compile a simple program using SDL. SDL functions are not read or can't be found?
This is my super simple code:

#include <SDL2/SDL.h>
#include <stdio.h>

int main() {

    if( SDL_Init( SDL_INIT_VIDEO ) < 0 )
    {
        printf( "SDL could not initialize! SDL_Error: %s\n", SDL_GetError() );
    }
    else
    {
        printf("success! quiting...");
        SDL_Quit();
    }

    return 0;
}

This is what I get:

Undefined symbols for architecture x86_64:
"_SDL_GetError", referenced from:
_main in 01_hello_SDL-0907f8.o
"_SDL_Init", referenced from:
_main in 01_hello_SDL-0907f8.o
"_SDL_Quit", referenced from:
_main in 01_hello_SDL-0907f8.o
ld: symbol(s) not found for architecture x86_64
clang: error: linker command failed with exit code 1 (use -v to see invocation)
[Done] exited with code=1 in 0.143 seconds

I hope someone can help me. I didn't have this problem in Visual Studio for Windows...

[michelleangela]

@martinlizo

In the first issue you reported, I posted a comment on the compiler error. Have you tried the solution from https://stackoverflow.com/questions/18751868/undefined-symbols-for-architecture-x86-64-compiling-problems?

[michelleangela]

@martinlizo

Sorry, I didn't know that SDL is a library. It looks like the option -framework SDL2 will need to be added to the compile arguments as well. This is from https://stackoverflow.com/questions/35407368/sdl-undefined-symbols-for-architecture-x86-64-mac

[martinlizo]

Thank you mechelleangela, how can I do this? I'm very new to VS Code. This has been very frustrating, since I cannot even run a single window...

[michelleangela]

You can try adding the compiler option -framework SDL2 to the arguments list of the g++ compiler command:

Alternatively, you can manually execute the compiler command on a terminal. Example:

$/usr/bin/g++ -framework SDL2 -g /pathToWorkspaceFolder/someSourceFile.cpp -i someIncludePath -o /pathToOutputFolder/outputFile

For more information about using the tasks.json to build, go to https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/cpp/config-clang-mac#_build-helloworldcpp. The build section explains the JSON properties.

[martinlizo]

Thanks, but it's not recognized. I recieve this message:

[michelleangela]

I see from the command arguments that the tasks.json file was passed in or is that the output of tasks.json?

I don't have knowledge on how to compile with SDL. I suggest to do research on how to compile with SDL2 framework using either clang or gcc compilers on a Mac.

[nantha42]

I too have this problem. I use mac os 10.15.1 and vs code 1.44.2.

My task.json
{ "version": "2.0.0", "tasks": [ { "type": "shell", "label": "C/C++: clang++ build active file", "command": "/usr/bin/clang++", "args": [ "-std=c++11", "-stdlib=libc++", "-lSDL2", "-lSDL2_image", "-g", "${file}", "-o", "${fileDirname}/${fileBasenameNoExtension}" ], "options": { "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}" }, "problemMatcher": [ "$gcc" ], "group": { "kind": "build", "isDefault": true } } ] }
Error in output:
`[Running] cd "/Users/nantha/Projc/vscode/sdl/proj1/" && g++ main.cpp -o main && "/Users/nantha/Projc/vscode/sdl/proj1/"main
Undefined symbols for architecture x86_64:
"_SDL_GetError", referenced from:
_main in main-bd57bc.o
"_SDL_Init", referenced from:
_main in main-bd57bc.o
ld: symbol(s) not found for architecture x86_64
clang: error: linker command failed with exit code 1 (use -v to see invocation)

[Done] exited with code=1 in 1.33 seconds`

[nantha42]

It's working now. When I choose Terminal->Run build Task it works, but if I click the Run Code button, I get

I too have this problem. I use mac os 10.15.1 and vs code 1.44.2.

My task.json
{ "version": "2.0.0", "tasks": [ { "type": "shell", "label": "C/C++: clang++ build active file", "command": "/usr/bin/clang++", "args": [ "-std=c++11", "-stdlib=libc++", "-lSDL2", "-lSDL2_image", "-g", "${file}", "-o", "${fileDirname}/${fileBasenameNoExtension}" ], "options": { "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}" }, "problemMatcher": [ "$gcc" ], "group": { "kind": "build", "isDefault": true } } ] }
Error in output:
`[Running] cd "/Users/nantha/Projc/vscode/sdl/proj1/" && g++ main.cpp -o main && "/Users/nantha/Projc/vscode/sdl/proj1/"main
Undefined symbols for architecture x86_64:
"_SDL_GetError", referenced from:
_main in main-bd57bc.o
"_SDL_Init", referenced from:
_main in main-bd57bc.o
ld: symbol(s) not found for architecture x86_64
clang: error: linker command failed with exit code 1 (use -v to see invocation)

[Done] exited with code=1 in 1.33 seconds`

It's working now. When I choose Terminal->Run build Task it works, but if I click the Run Code button, I get the above error.

[Agonz937]

@nantha42 Thank you that helped me out.

[deafwing]

@nantha42 Thank you that helped me out.

Hmm tried your approach and it didn't work ... any other ideas?

[michelleangela]

Closing this issue because it has not had recent activity.