Hi Gang, I am working on a new IOS app (self-hosted) and I am getting the dreaded black screen on the simulator. The only way I can get the app running on the simulator is by "reset content and Settings". Then it works. I have to do that every single time I make a change on the control panel and want to see the result on the simulator. A bit tedious. Anyone has any idea what's going on and how I can solve this issue? Thanks, Farcat

Sometimes Xcode is just a pain in the backside try deleting the derived data sometimes multiple caches are kept with the same app. You can find it by going to preferences

A pain indeed! Thanks @Kittsy. Would you happen to know where I need to look in preferences, can't see anything related to cache. Although, I forgot to say that I need to copy and paste the configuration data every single time as well as clean the simulator.

It might not be related but when I launch Xcode I get the message: "Xcode wants to connect to developer.apple.com on TCP port 80 (http): -Any connection -Only port 80TCP (http) -Only developer.apple.com -Only developer.apple.com and port 80 TCP (http)" I am working on a new computer and I am just starting to use Xcode on it (didn't get that message on my other computer). Thanks for any advice, Farcat

I've never seen that error sorry, It derived data not cache sorry. I'm not in front of a mac so its blind navigation. Go to preferences in xcode it should have a few tabs I think it's the third The top one is the derived data click teh arrow to go to the file and delete it all, thats like a hard reste of the simulator aswell as the derived data it will have links to logs and such

Pretty good navigation from memory! Unfortunately I have cleared the derived data and nothing, still black screen. It looks like the app doesn't communicate with the control panel since changes happen only when the config data is copied onto Xcode. Anybody came across this? Farcat

What does your BT_config.txt file look like? Anything quasi-normal? Things just sound a bit too odd. Check to see the config file is reasonably good. Cheers! -- Smug

Hi Smug, The file looks fine but I am no expert. It is odd indeed. Do you mind if I email you a copy to have a quick look? Cheers, Farcat

Trust me if refreshing and reseting the simulator makes it work once it is not the code that causing teh problem it's xcode being tempremental . It's just happened to me now jinx. Just force quit xcode to a few cleans

I am not doing anything different than other apps, just on a different machine. I am working on a fresh instal of xcode on a new computer. Do you think that it is worth re-installing xcode? I have already deleted the app and started from scratch with the same result. I am stumped.

Might be worth a shot, if it was the json it would error

I ran json in the validator and it came out OK

So it's fine on initial install but black on subsequent runs? Is that true if you do not refresh? There's an outside chance it's due to something with your online config data - especially if you're using a custom/unofficial plugin as your home screen or you were monkeying with manual overrides of JSON data. Wouldn't necessarily show up on JSON validation. If it consistently does the same thing, it would lead me to believe its more than the simulator being screwy. But if its inconsistent then it very well could be the simulator. I know mine sometimes takes forever to transition from the black screen to actually running the app. Occasionally it won't load at all and I have to quit both the simulator and Xcode and re-open them both.

Hi Chris! No, it was black from the start. It is early stage on this app development, I haven't had a chance to monkey around the config data yet. The only way for me to run the simulator is to reset it, close the simulator, close the app and relaunch. If I then make changes on the control panel it may or may not crash the simulator. For example, I changed the title on a screen and that was OK. I changed the layout to tab and added the 5 relevant screens and it crashes. If I then reset, close and relaunch, the simulator would should me the old version of the app (without the tabs), although I can see the tabs set up on my CP. The home screen is a menu button, I do have a custom-made plugin on the project but no screens made with it yet. I deleted it and it didn't make any difference. I downloaded a fresh source code and started again with the same result. I have Xcode on two machines, this behavior shows on both. Sorry for the long post, Xcode is driving me up the walls! Farcat

do other apps do the same thing? Does the debug start to log anything?

I build another test app and it behaves normally. On the debugger when I run the simulator I get: Thread1: signal SIGABRT "int retVal= UIApplicationMain(argc,argv,@"UIApplication",@"cablecar_appDelegate");"

sounds like definitely something wrong with your code. Do you get any other debug info? Try setting up an exception breakpoint as shown in this how-to: http://ijoshsmith.com/2011/11/28/debugging-exceptions-in-xcode-4-2/

Thanks Chris, I have set up an exception breakpoint as per the instructions. I am not familiar with the debugger, not too sure what I am looking for. Here is a screenshot, just in case you see something obvious. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/79990593/Screen%20Shot%202013-04-23%20at%2011.01.50%20PM.png

Ah - the issue is your plugin isn't updated for the new XCode standards. Are you sure you're using a fresh source code download? The line that caused the error should read: [BT_debugger showIt:self theMessage:@"viewDidLoad"];

Very relieved you found the issue! Thanks! Yes, the source code is very fresh from this afternoon. Do I just over type this code in the debugger?

Yes - but if there's one issue like that, there may be more...

oh oh... You are right: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/79990593/Screen%20Shot%202013-04-23%20at%2011.24.07%20PM.png

Are you on self-hosted by chance?

yes, I am self hosted. I have just done now a new download of the source code with the same error.

Make sure you're running the most up-to-date plugins. Go to "Admin"-->"Manage Plugins"-->"Plugin Maintenance"-->"Download plugins from your buzztouch.com Control Panel". Click the 'Download' button and click 'Update' next to each plugin.

Bingo, the issue was an out of date plugin! I updated, downloaded the source again and now all is well. Thanks a lot for your time Chris! Farcat

no problem - glad you got it working! :)