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!