How to Symbolicate Crash Logs in Xcode

28 February 2025 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Xcode

Symbolicating crash logs is a critical step in debugging applications. It translates cryptic memory addresses into readable function names, making it easier to understand what went wrong. Since Xcode 6, the process of viewing and symbolicating crash logs has changed. This guide will walk you through the steps to symbolicate crash logs using the latest methods.

Step-by-Step Guide to Symbolicate Crash Logs

Follow these instructions to effectively symbolicate crash logs:

1. Prepare Your Files:
   • Create a new folder and copy the Foo.app and Foo.app.dSYM from your .xcarchive into this folder.
   • Also, copy the crash report you wish to symbolicate into this folder.
2. Extract Information:
   • Open the crash report in a text editor and locate the Binary Images section.
   • Copy the first address listed (e.g., 0xd7000).
3. Symbolicate Using Terminal:
   • Navigate to your folder using Terminal.
   • Run the following command, replacing the placeholders with your specific data:

     xcrun atos -o Foo.app/Foo -arch arm64 -l 0xd7000 0x0033f9bb

   • This will provide readable symbols for the specified address.
4. Batch Symbolication:
   • Create a text file with all the addresses you need to symbolicate.
   • Run:

     xcrun atos -o Foo.app/Foo -arch arm64 -l 0xd7000 -f addr.txt

   • This will symbolicate all addresses at once.

Troubleshooting

Before proceeding with the above steps, ensure that your setup is correct. The final call stack entry for Thread 0 should match your app’s main() function. If not, verify your load address and architecture options.

Alternative Methods

If the above method is not suitable, consider using the built-in tools within Xcode:

• In Xcode, navigate to Window > Devices, select your device, and view device logs.
• Ensure your crash file ends with a .crash extension.
• Drag and drop the crash file into the device log window for automatic symbolication.

Enhancing Efficiency with Repeato

For developers seeking a faster and more efficient approach to testing and debugging, Repeato offers a compelling solution. As a no-code test automation tool, Repeato allows you to create, run, and maintain automated tests for your apps using computer vision and AI. Its ability to run command line scripts and support for data-driven testing makes it an excellent choice for developers looking to streamline their testing processes. By incorporating automation into your workflow, you can quickly identify and resolve issues, much like the process of symbolicating crash logs. Learn more about how Repeato can enhance your testing strategy by visiting our documentation.

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