using Git version number in app

mzimmers

Hi all -

I'm trying to automate the versioning of my application by using the value stored in a git tag. I found this article, which looks like a good start, but isn't working for me.

Here's what I've tried (from the article): in my project file, I've added this:

GIT_VERSION = $$system(git --git-dir="C:/wifibutton"/.git --work-tree="C:/wifibutton" describe --always --tags)
DEFINES += APP_VERSION=\\"$$GIT_VERSION\\"

If I'm reading the article correctly, APP_VERSION should be available to me in my c++ code. But when I try this:

    QString version(APP_VERSION);

I get an "expected expression" error, which suggests to me that APP_VERSION isn't finding its way into my code space. Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks...

SGaist

Hi,

Getting a string in a define on the command line can be pretty tricky because of the quote escaping you have to do.

One simpler thing you can do is to generate a header from a template.

mzimmers

Hi SGaist - can you please elaborate?

SGaist

You have a nice example here.

Basically, you have a header template which contains the variables you want to substitute and in your build folder you'll get the header you want with the content you wanted.

mzimmers

Very, very interesting. Never knew about that QMAKE_SUBSTITUTES.

In my project file:

GIT_VERSION = $$system(git --git-dir="C:/wifibutton"/.git --work-tree="C:/wifibutton" describe --always --tags)
win32
{
    // this is to remove characters that could prevent compilation.
    GIT_VERSION ~= s/-\d+-g[a-f0-9]{6,} 
}
QMAKE_SUBSTITUTES += config.h.in

and config.h.in:

#ifndef CONFIG_H_IN
#define CONFIG_H_IN

#define APP_VERSION '"$$GIT_VERSION"'

#endif // CONFIG_H_IN

and in my source code:

    QString version(APP_VERSION);
    // etc.

Thanks!