Program won't start on macOS when using the .app

PatrickKox · wrote on 27 Sept 2021, 19:14

Hi all,

I've written a program on my Linux system and it works fine from there, now I've copied my code to an old macbook air and used it to build the mac version on it.

I can start the program from QtCreator or manually from application.app/Contents/MacOS/application but when I double-click the App that was created it doesn't work. There is some feedback from the bar as if it's trying to open the application but then stops.

There is no error message or anything.
The installed version of macOS is BigSur and I'm using Qt 6.1.3

Can anybody help me solve this problem?

SGaist · wrote on 27 Sept 2021, 21:11

Hi and welcome to devnet,

Is it a command line tool or a GUI ?
Are you using widgets or QtQuick ?

PatrickKox · 28 Sept 2021, 13:54

It's a GUI app (with some logging to the console) and it uses Widgets

artwaw · 28 Sept 2021, 14:01

@PatrickKox The most important things:

did you run macdeployqt on the .app package?
did you sign the package in any way?
is this faulty behaviour on your dev machine (with Xcode and such) or on unrelated one?

PatrickKox · 28 Sept 2021, 14:05

@artwaw

Yes, I ran macdeployqt appname.app -dmg
No, I don't even know how to do that
This is on my dev machine (I have no other mac device to test)

artwaw · 28 Sept 2021, 16:06

@PatrickKox can paste your .pro file here please?

mpergand · wrote on 28 Sept 2021, 14:40

@PatrickKox said in Program won't start on macOS when using the .app:

I can start the program from QtCreator or manually from application.app/Contents/MacOS/application but when I double-click the App that was created it doesn't work.

Launch the Console app in the Utility folder.
Double-click on your app on the Desktop.
Look at any messages relative to your app in the Console window.

PatrickKox · 28 Sept 2021, 16:29

@artwaw
QT += core gui sql charts

greaterThan(QT_MAJOR_VERSION, 4): QT += widgets

CONFIG += c++11

//# You can make your code fail to compile if it uses deprecated APIs.
//# In order to do so, uncomment the following line.
DEFINES += QT_DISABLE_DEPRECATED_BEFORE=0x060000 # disables all the APIs deprecated before Qt 6.0.0

SOURCES +=
Hoofdpijnen.cpp
allehoofdpijnaanvallen.cpp
ernstgrafiek.cpp
gebruikersgegevens.cpp
help.cpp
hoofdpijntoevoegen.cpp
initializeDB.cpp
main.cpp
mainwindow.cpp
over.cpp
recentehoofdpijnaanvallen.cpp
symptomengrafiek.cpp

HEADERS +=
Hoofdpijnen.h
allehoofdpijnaanvallen.h
ernstgrafiek.h
gebruikersgegevens.h
help.h
hoofdpijntoevoegen.h
initializeDB.h
mainwindow.h
over.h
recentehoofdpijnaanvallen.h
symptomengrafiek.h

FORMS +=
allehoofdpijnaanvallen.ui
ernstgrafiek.ui
gebruikersgegevens.ui
help.ui
hoofdpijntoevoegen.ui
mainwindow.ui
over.ui
recentehoofdpijnaanvallen.ui
symptomengrafiek.ui

TRANSLATIONS +=
HoofdpijnAgenda_nl_BE.ts
HoofdpijnAgenda_nl_NL.ts
HoofdpijnAgenda_en_US.ts
HoofdpijnAgenda_en_GB.ts
CONFIG += lrelease
CONFIG += embed_translations

//# Default rules for deployment.
qnx: target.path = /tmp/$${TARGET}/bin
else: unix:!android: target.path = /opt/$${TARGET}/bin
!isEmpty(target.path): INSTALLS += target

DISTFILES +=
HoofdpijnAgenda_en_US.ts
HoofdpijnAgenda_nl_BE.ts

RESOURCES +=
Resources.qrc

artwaw · wrote on 28 Sept 2021, 16:29

@PatrickKox said in Program won't start on macOS when using the .app:

core gui sql charts

You should enter the app bundle (using either Finder or console tool, like Midnight Commander) and verify, if in Framework folder all the dependencies are present.
Also, running macdeployqt app_name -verbose=3 -always-overwrite and examining the log might help identify the problems - maybe something is not copied properly?

Running otool -L app_bundlename.app/Contents/MacOS/app_name will give you a list of the first step dependencies - those are honoured by macdeployqt.
Second level dependencies are not (if you run anything using Postgres SQL I pity you already), running otool on those libraries will give you their dependencies...

Also, setting the environment variable export DYLD_PRINT_LIBRARIES_POST_LAUNCH=1 will print you what is loaded and when.

PatrickKox · wrote on 28 Sept 2021, 18:07

The dependencies for GUI, SQL (I use SQLite3 not Postgres SQL), Widget, Core, Chart and some others are inside the Framework directory.

The output from macdeployqy with -verbose=3 is huge, so I'll look into that during the weekend when I have more time.

But when I run using the export CYLD_PRINT_LIBRARIES_POST_LAUNCH=1 option, I notice several libraries are loaded from /System and not the app folder:

$ ./HoofdpijnAgenda 
dyld: loaded: <CDEE5153-12AA-3A16-9077-D54E0733DB25> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreServicesInternal.framework/Versions/A/CoreServicesInternal
dyld: loaded: <561E6824-17F0-313C-B470-00FD08F0C8DD> /Users/patrickkox/Documents/GitHub/Hoofdpijn-Agenda/build-HoofdpijnAgenda-Qt_6_1_3_for_macOS-Release/HoofdpijnAgenda.app/Contents/PlugIns/platforms/libqcocoa.dylib
dyld: loaded: <FEFBAFBF-EE76-3E63-84CA-95E5F1F26805> /usr/lib/libobjc-trampolines.dylib
dyld: loaded: <87F799AF-A8B9-31FB-9885-7EBDAEBCECC3> /System/Library/Frameworks/FileProvider.framework/Versions/A/FileProvider
dyld: loaded: <D3091C11-4823-34D7-829D-DBA3C7616DE1> /System/Library/Frameworks/Accounts.framework/Versions/A/Accounts
dyld: loaded: <623FEAF8-671F-3812-9EA4-7B30FFC4AE7D> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/GenerationalStorage.framework/Versions/A/GenerationalStorage
dyld: loaded: <CE5694DC-0351-3F11-8850-19A9AB721893> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreSymbolication.framework/Versions/A/CoreSymbolication
dyld: loaded: <DC724AF6-1C92-3913-B6A7-0AA062AE1792> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SymptomDiagnosticReporter.framework/Versions/A/SymptomDiagnosticReporter
dyld: loaded: <FD2F7A55-6308-3495-BC07-A74DDB8F57C9> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/DesktopServicesPriv.framework/Versions/A/DesktopServicesPriv
dyld: loaded: <37533D5B-1AC4-3E2F-B29B-F33D0C463F49> /usr/lib/libsandbox.1.dylib
dyld: loaded: <209049A9-BA50-336B-B43E-050998B5E33D> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/UserManagement.framework/Versions/A/UserManagement
dyld: loaded: <DAEF912D-F2E6-34E7-B93C-708A6CCE0F7E> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/MobileKeyBag.framework/Versions/A/MobileKeyBag
dyld: loaded: <95D77D1F-5373-3C85-BA2A-48923BA260FA> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/ChunkingLibrary.framework/Versions/A/ChunkingLibrary
dyld: loaded: <A0FA2F40-271B-3CC7-8083-A34E21093536> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/DebugSymbols.framework/Versions/A/DebugSymbols
dyld: loaded: <D3B2F86B-1440-3F86-863D-521EFB5E6BF8> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Sharing.framework/Versions/A/Sharing
dyld: loaded: <E1BB392A-D496-383C-9B5A-08D695D14FD9> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Versions/A/Apple80211
dyld: loaded: <92FFE128-151C-33EB-9179-234F9F976F32> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/AuthKit.framework/Versions/A/AuthKit
dyld: loaded: <5B68EF6B-DE46-36B1-8928-111D92C948CD> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreUtils.framework/Versions/A/CoreUtils
dyld: loaded: <17C7352E-2EF3-36BE-8BF9-B9AF2541B02D> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreWLAN.framework/Versions/A/CoreWLAN
dyld: loaded: <E5F9D822-9999-3521-A812-6ED6E4B4F7C3> /System/Library/Frameworks/IOBluetooth.framework/Versions/A/IOBluetooth
dyld: loaded: <30F0EC33-A723-3637-BAEE-746E62173413> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreWiFi.framework/Versions/A/CoreWiFi
dyld: loaded: <16382BEE-19B6-3AE5-B450-D037B7D7C19F> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CorePhoneNumbers.framework/Versions/A/CorePhoneNumbers
dyld: loaded: <2D63F3D0-8E51-3337-8EB7-A774020B129C> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/DiskManagement.framework/Versions/A/DiskManagement
dyld: loaded: <A3631052-9D44-308F-BF87-E501AB409692> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/AppleIDAuthSupport.framework/Versions/A/AppleIDAuthSupport
dyld: loaded: <B1E75E61-0B7E-3036-931E-4D0C8E6307FC> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/KeychainCircle.framework/Versions/A/KeychainCircle
dyld: loaded: <5198B786-444D-3CA6-85AC-6555688B0DBC> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/MediaKit.framework/Versions/A/MediaKit
dyld: loaded: <367204EF-650E-36BE-8D0F-9DF6E79E5DB0> /System/Library/Frameworks/DiscRecording.framework/Versions/A/DiscRecording
dyld: loaded: <D84C72BA-171F-37D1-9099-294DF04347A2> /usr/lib/libCoreStorage.dylib
dyld: loaded: <7D24C26A-8165-33ED-8255-43B52148CD29> /usr/lib/libcsfde.dylib
dyld: loaded: <87EAE8D8-A80C-3BE3-87EF-A1AA20876D7F> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/ProtectedCloudStorage.framework/Versions/A/ProtectedCloudStorage
dyld: loaded: <B6D754F1-9575-3000-BF81-55B0B7A83804> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/EFILogin.framework/Versions/A/EFILogin
dyld: loaded: <097C1991-EEC4-374E-A686-826E479A2A07> /System/Library/Frameworks/AudioUnit.framework/Versions/A/AudioUnit
dyld: loaded: <1A427F92-B95A-3077-853B-09688553DA70> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreBluetooth.framework/Versions/A/CoreBluetooth
dyld: loaded: <0391A7F9-5CAD-399A-92E4-5B1A4A2DED43> /usr/lib/libMatch.1.dylib
dyld: loaded: <D5D0AD69-E651-3BE2-B87A-4A035DCD9DBF> /System/Library/Frameworks/Accelerate.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/vImage.framework/Versions/A/Libraries/libCGInterfaces.dylib
dyld: loaded: <8A59B9FA-55F7-325B-9801-88342C26A8D7> /Users/patrickkox/Documents/GitHub/Hoofdpijn-Agenda/build-HoofdpijnAgenda-Qt_6_1_3_for_macOS-Release/HoofdpijnAgenda.app/Contents/PlugIns/styles/libqmacstyle.dylib
dyld: loaded: <B18084DB-3288-345F-8E7E-A157971C196B> /Users/patrickkox/Documents/GitHub/Hoofdpijn-Agenda/build-HoofdpijnAgenda-Qt_6_1_3_for_macOS-Release/HoofdpijnAgenda.app/Contents/PlugIns/sqldrivers/libqsqlite.dylib
Databestand hoofdpijnen.sqlite3 geopend.
QSqlDatabasePrivate::removeDatabase: connection 'qt_sql_default_connection' is still in use, all queries will cease to work.
dyld: loaded: <A1880566-53BD-3F97-8F4A-0D8B5D04FC8F> /Users/patrickkox/Documents/GitHub/Hoofdpijn-Agenda/build-HoofdpijnAgenda-Qt_6_1_3_for_macOS-Release/HoofdpijnAgenda.app/Contents/PlugIns/imageformats/libqjpeg.dylib
dyld: loaded: <6FD6B5FC-A78E-357E-8CDB-69D06595B0BE> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/login.framework/Versions/A/login
Databestand hoofdpijnen.sqlite3 geopend.
dyld: loaded: <E03494F6-D023-376D-8177-7600A8CF6873> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/ViewBridge.framework/Versions/A/ViewBridge
dyld: loaded: <D700B323-61F9-35B6-83DC-4D272DAFEB50> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CrashReporterSupport.framework/Versions/A/CrashReporterSupport
dyld: loaded: <B1623916-5735-37BC-B424-0EFAD8662D74> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/OSAnalytics.framework/Versions/A/OSAnalytics
dyld: loaded: <A7FFAFB5-B0AB-312E-8EB6-FAF56D76FB7D> /usr/lib/libRosetta.dylib
dyld: loaded: <42D309FD-1717-3D9C-A5F7-EE9FAF163162> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/RemoteServiceDiscovery.framework/Versions/A/RemoteServiceDiscovery
dyld: loaded: <3A006E5D-FE72-3D34-B887-4EF7824B5A4B> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Symbolication.framework/Versions/A/Symbolication
dyld: loaded: <BBD3F65B-90E9-3107-A8E8-81D708226D26> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/MallocStackLogging.framework/Versions/A/MallocStackLogging
dyld: loaded: <06BB02D5-50F4-359B-AA41-42D08FE267CD> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/AccessibilityBundles.framework/Versions/A/AccessibilityBundles
dyld: unloaded: <A1880566-53BD-3F97-8F4A-0D8B5D04FC8F> /Users/patrickkox/Documents/GitHub/Hoofdpijn-Agenda/build-HoofdpijnAgenda-Qt_6_1_3_for_macOS-Release/HoofdpijnAgenda.app/Contents/PlugIns/imageformats/libqjpeg.dylib
dyld: unloaded: <561E6824-17F0-313C-B470-00FD08F0C8DD> /Users/patrickkox/Documents/GitHub/Hoofdpijn-Agenda/build-HoofdpijnAgenda-Qt_6_1_3_for_macOS-Release/HoofdpijnAgenda.app/Contents/PlugIns/platforms/libqcocoa.dylib
dyld: unloaded: <B18084DB-3288-345F-8E7E-A157971C196B> /Users/patrickkox/Documents/GitHub/Hoofdpijn-Agenda/build-HoofdpijnAgenda-Qt_6_1_3_for_macOS-Release/HoofdpijnAgenda.app/Contents/PlugIns/sqldrivers/libqsqlite.dylib
dyld: unloaded: <8A59B9FA-55F7-325B-9801-88342C26A8D7> /Users/patrickkox/Documents/GitHub/Hoofdpijn-Agenda/build-HoofdpijnAgenda-Qt_6_1_3_for_macOS-Release/HoofdpijnAgenda.app/Contents/PlugIns/styles/libqmacstyle.dylib

artwaw · wrote on 28 Sept 2021, 18:12

Loading from /System is ok, that's where some system parts are (like c:\Windows\system32).

Silly question but does your program run from QtCreator on Mac? Preferably in debug mode?

PatrickKox · 28 Sept 2021, 18:41

Yes, It runs perfectly from QtCreator on mac (both the debug and release versions), in fact that's how I build the program on my mac.

artwaw · 28 Sept 2021, 19:05

@PatrickKox I thought so much...

It is absolutely odd, if the program would crash you should see system info that it crashed, with lots of data about it (often also with name of the method that caused the crash). When I think of it, this should also happen when one of the libraries is missing. Unless it is not crucial library...

Simple way would be to put log messages into routines on entry, for example, that would log to the text file - this could give you at least some idea about where it dies. I think in the worst case you can log to the system console and then search through it but that's tedious work.

SGaist · 28 Sept 2021, 19:15

Do you get the same issue with a default widget application ?

PatrickKox · 28 Sept 2021, 19:11

@artwaw

How would I start it from the console?
When I manually start it from application.app/Contents/MacOS/Application it runs fine.

and when I double click or open from the filemanager the icon starts bouncing for a few seconds and nothing happens.

The only way I can start from the GUI, is by right-clicking and selecting Show Package Content, and double click the executable in the Contents/MacOS directory.

Could this indicate that macOS for some reason doesn't know what it must execute when I double-click the .app in Finder?

artwaw · 28 Sept 2021, 19:25

@PatrickKox No no, I meant the Console, system application showing logs and stuff (cmd+space, "console"). I believe srterr ends up there, when you use system log. But I find it too troublesome to filter through stuff in it, so I just write to text file. It is lame but it works.

artwaw · wrote on 28 Sept 2021, 19:14

@PatrickKox Additionally, it might be gatekeeper stopping you from running unsigned code (that's the reason I asked do you sign the bundle).
But on dev machine it should work, problem starts when you distribute the bundle. After you run it and it dies check system preferences -> security and privacy -> tab "general". It might be that there is an option where you have to allow this bundle to run (but gatekeeper should also display a warning and notification that you run "potentially dangerous code").

PatrickKox · S SGaist 28 Sept 2021, 19:05

@SGaist
No, a blank Widget app works without any problem.

PatrickKox · 28 Sept 2021, 20:06

@artwaw
Ah, Sorry I thought you were talking about the terminal (since some people also refer to it as the console).

Anyway, It seems to give a SegFault when I start it.

Process:               HoofdpijnAgenda [5166]
Path:                  /Volumes/*/HoofdpijnAgenda.app/Contents/MacOS/HoofdpijnAgenda
Identifier:            com.yourcompany.HoofdpijnAgenda
Version:               0
Code Type:             X86-64 (Native)
Parent Process:        bash [5160]
Responsible:           Terminal [3369]
User ID:               501

Date/Time:             2021-09-27 20:57:19.111 +0200
OS Version:            macOS 11.5.2 (20G95)
Report Version:        12
Anonymous UUID:        8E37DB9C-E5D3-B90F-44FA-F8CA1022523D

Sleep/Wake UUID:       D133E950-78B6-472C-A3AF-10A530D9F01D

Time Awake Since Boot: 8100 seconds
Time Since Wake:       5200 seconds

System Integrity Protection: enabled

Crashed Thread:        0  Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread

Exception Type:        EXC_BAD_ACCESS (SIGSEGV)
Exception Codes:       KERN_INVALID_ADDRESS at 0x0000000000000000
Exception Note:        EXC_CORPSE_NOTIFY

Termination Signal:    Segmentation fault: 11
Termination Reason:    Namespace SIGNAL, Code 0xb
Terminating Process:   exc handler [5166]

But why does it work when started from QtCreator or the terminal?

edit:
wait... This is when it actually runs (Terminal and QtCreator), when I start from Finder, there is nothing added to Console (at least not to the crash reports)

I do however see this

Sep 28 21:27:47 Patricks-MacBook-Air com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (application.com.yourcompany.HoofdpijnAgenda.12886989148.12886989233[16445]): Service exited with abnormal code: 1

artwaw · wrote on 28 Sept 2021, 20:06

@PatrickKox said in Program won't start on macOS when using the .app:

Exception Type: EXC_BAD_ACCESS (SIGSEGV)
Exception Codes: KERN_INVALID_ADDRESS at 0x0000000000000000
Exception Note: EXC_CORPSE_NOTIFY

Termination Signal: Segmentation fault: 11
Termination Reason: Namespace SIGNAL, Code 0xb
Terminating Process: exc handler [5166]

It does end with segfault.