Introduction

Sometimes it is useful to compare the exact build command that was executed in certain builds with other builds in App Center, or locally.

To do this, it helps to know where to look in App Center's logs for the relevant commands. What they look like and how to find them varies depending on the framework your app is built with.

Native iOS (Objective-C/Swift)

Here is an example output from a Native iOS build:

=====================================================================
Task         : Xcode
Description  : Build, test, or archive an Xcode workspace on macOS. Optionally package an app.
Version      : 4.130.0
Author       : Microsoft Corporation
Help         : More Information
=====================================================================
[command]/usr/bin/xcodebuild -version
Xcode 10.2
Build version 10E125
[command]/usr/bin/xcodebuild -sdk iphoneos -workspace /Users/vsts/agent/2.149.2/work/1/s/SampleiOS.xcworkspace -scheme SampleiOS clean DSTROOT=/Users/vsts/agent/2.149.2/work/1/output/build/build.dst OBJROOT=/Users/vsts/agent/2.149.2/work/1/output/build/build.obj SYMROOT=/Users/vsts/agent/2.149.2/work/1/output/build/build.sym SHARED_PRECOMPS_DIR=/Users/vsts/agent/2.149.2/work/1/output/build/build.pch CODE_SIGN_STYLE=Manual

Native Android (Java/Gradle)

Here is an example output from a Native Android Build:

=====================================================================
Task         : Gradle
Description  : Build using a Gradle wrapper script
Version      : 1.128.0
Author       : Microsoft Corporation
Help         : More Information
=====================================================================
SYSTEMVSSCONNECTION exists true
[command]/Users/vsts/agent/2.150.0/work/1/s/gradlew -DMOBILECENTER_KEYSTORE_PASSWORD=*** -DMOBILECENTER_KEY_ALIAS=*** -DMOBILECENTER_KEY_PASSWORD=*** -DMOBILECENTER_BUILD_VERSION=12 -DAPPCENTER_KEYSTORE_PASSWORD=*** -DAPPCENTER_KEY_ALIAS=*** -DAPPCENTER_KEY_PASSWORD=*** -DAPPCENTER_BUILD_VERSION=12 clean :app:assembleRelease :app:testRelease :app:lintRelease

React Native (iOS)

Since React Native links to Xcode to compile, the output from it will look very similar to that of a Native iOS Application:

=====================================================================
Task         : Xcode
Description  : Build, test, or archive an Xcode workspace on macOS. Optionally package an app.
Version      : 4.130.0
Author       : Microsoft Corporation
Help         : More Information
=====================================================================
[command]/usr/bin/xcodebuild -version
Xcode 10.2
Build version 10E125
##[warning]Output directory for build output (binaries) ignored. Specifying an output directory is incompatible with the 'archive' action.
[command]/usr/bin/xcodebuild -sdk iphoneos -project /Users/vsts/agent/2.149.2/work/1/s/ios/SampleReactNative.xcodeproj -scheme SampleReactNative clean archive -archivePath /Users/vsts/agent/2.149.2/work/1/output/build/archive/SampleReactNative.xcarchive -UseModernBuildSystem=NO CODE_SIGNING_ALLOWED=NO

Note: For reproducing locally, make sure that you also install the package dependencies from the package.json file:

Using npm:

npm install

Using yarn:

yarn install

React Native (Android)

Since React Native links to the Android SDK to compile, the output from it will look very similar to that of a Native Android Application.

=====================================================================
Task         : Gradle
Description  : Build using a Gradle wrapper script
Version      : 1.128.0
Author       : Microsoft Corporation
Help         : More Information
=====================================================================
SYSTEMVSSCONNECTION exists true
[command]/Users/vsts/agent/2.149.2/work/1/s/android/gradlew -DMOBILECENTER_BUILD_VERSION=5 -DAPPCENTER_BUILD_VERSION=5 -p android clean :app:assembleRelease :app:lintRelease

Note: For reproducing locally, make sure that you also install the package dependencies from the package.json file:

Using npm:

npm install

Using yarn:

yarn install

Xamarin (iOS or Android)

Below is some example output from a Xamarin.iOS build. The key lines to examine are those following the [command] brackets, though the heading is useful to help you find the correct location.

=====================================================================
Task         : Xamarin.iOS
Description  : Build an iOS app with Xamarin on macOS
Version      : 1.131.0
Author       : Microsoft Corporation
Help         : More Information
=====================================================================
[command]/Library/Frameworks/Mono.framework/Versions/5_18_2/bin/msbuild /version /nologo
[command]/Library/Frameworks/Mono.framework/Versions/5_18_2/bin/msbuild /Users/vsts/agent/2.150.3/work/1/s/Xamarin.UITest/FormsGallery/FormsGallery.sln /p:Configuration=Debug /p:Platform=iPhoneSimulator /t:Rebuild

Xamarin.Android is almost identical in format, except the references to iOS are for Android instead:


=====================================================================
Task         : Xamarin.Android
Description  : Build an Android app with Xamarin
Version      : 1.151.0
Author       : Microsoft Corporation
Help         : More Information
=====================================================================
[command]/Library/Frameworks/Mono.framework/Versions/5_18_2/bin/msbuild /version /nologo
[command]/Library/Frameworks/Mono.framework/Versions/5_18_2/bin/msbuild /Users/vsts/agent/2.150.3/work/1/s/Xamarin.UITest/FormsGallery/FormsGallery/FormsGallery.Android/FormsGallery.Android.csproj /t:PackageForAndroid /p:Configuration=Debug