Crashlytics : Binary Images section missing in production ENV – A Comprehensive Guide to Fixing the Issue

Are you struggling with the frustrating error “Binary Images section missing in production ENV” in Crashlytics? You’re not alone! This issue can be a real headache for developers, especially when trying to diagnose and fix crashes in their mobile apps. Fear not, dear reader, for we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll delve into the causes of this issue and provide step-by-step instructions to resolve it.

What is Crashlytics and why is the Binary Images section important?

Crashlytics is a popular mobile app monitoring and crash reporting tool by Google. It helps developers track and fix crashes, improves app performance, and provides valuable insights into user behavior. The Binary Images section is a critical component of Crashlytics, as it contains essential information about the app’s binary images, such as the dSYM files, which are used to symbolicate crashes.

The Binary Images section is crucial because it:

• Enables Crashlytics to accurately identify crashes and provide detailed reports.
• Allows developers to debug and fix issues more efficiently.
• Ensures that crash reports are correctly attributed to specific app versions.

Why is the Binary Images section missing in production ENV?

There are several reasons why the Binary Images section might be missing in your production environment:

1. Incorrect dSYM upload: The dSYM files might not be uploaded correctly to Crashlytics, resulting in an empty Binary Images section.
2. Missing or incorrect framework: The Crashlytics framework might not be correctly integrated into your project, leading to issues with binary image detection.
3. App Store processing: During the App Store review process, Apple might re-sign your app, causing the Binary Images section to disappear.
4. Bitcode-enabled apps: If your app uses Bitcode, the Binary Images section might not be visible in Crashlytics.

Resolving the issue: Step-by-Step Guide

Fear not, dear reader! We’ll walk you through a series of steps to resolve the issue and get your Binary Images section back in action.

Step 1: Verify dSYM upload

To ensure that your dSYM files are uploaded correctly, follow these steps:

Podfile
pod 'Crashlytics', '~> 3.14.0'

In your terminal, navigate to your project directory and run:

pod install

Next, in your Xcode project, go to Product > Archive, and select the archived app.

In the Organizer window, click on Distribute App > Export, and select the .xcarchive file.

Open the Terminal and navigate to the directory where the .xcarchive file is located. Run the following command:

ditto -ck --sequesterRsrc --keepParent `pwd`/YourApp.xcarchive dSYMs

This will generate a dSYMs folder containing the dSYM files. Upload these files to Crashlytics using the following command:

./Crashlytics.framework/submit   dSYMs

Step 2: Check framework integration

Verify that the Crashlytics framework is correctly integrated into your project:

#import 

- (BOOL)application:(UIApplication *)application didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:(NSDictionary *)launchOptions {
    [Crashlytics startWithAPIKey:@"YOUR_API_KEY"];
    return YES;
}

Make sure that you’ve replaced YOUR_API_KEY with your actual Crashlytics API key.

Step 3: Handle App Store processing

To ensure that the Binary Images section remains intact during the App Store review process:

Create a new file called dSYMsExport.plist in your project directory with the following content:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
    <dict>
        <key>dSYMs</key>
        <string>$(DWARF_DSYM_FOLDER_PATH)/$(DWARF_DSYM_FILE_NAME)</string>
    </dict>
</plist>

In your Xcode project, go to Product > Archive, and select the archived app.

In the Organizer window, click on Distribute App > Export, and select the .xcarchive file.

In the Export Options window, select the dSYMsExport.plist file created earlier.

Step 4: Handle Bitcode-enabled apps

If your app uses Bitcode, you might need to modify your Crashlytics integration:

Podfile
pod 'Crashlytics', '~> 3.14.0'
pod 'Fabric', '~> 1.10.2'

In your Xcode project, go to Build Settings > Build Options, and set:

DEBUG_INFORMATION_FORMAT = dwarf-with-dsym

In your terminal, run:

BITCODE_GENERATION_MODE=bitcode ./Crashlytics.framework/run your_api_key your_api_secret

Conclusion

Voilà! By following these steps, you should now have a fully functional Binary Images section in your Crashlytics dashboard. Remember to double-check your dSYM uploads, framework integration, and handling of App Store processing and Bitcode-enabled apps.

With this comprehensive guide, you should be able to resolve the frustrating “Binary Images section missing in production ENV” issue in Crashlytics. If you’re still experiencing difficulties, feel free to reach out to the Crashlytics support team or your friendly neighborhood developer community.

Common Issues	Solutions
Incorrect dSYM upload	Verify dSYM upload, check framework integration, and handle App Store processing
Missing or incorrect framework	Check framework integration and verify dSYM upload
App Store processing	Handle App Store processing by creating a dSYMsExport.plist file
Bitcode-enabled apps	Modify Crashlytics integration and set DEBUG_INFORMATION_FORMAT to dwarf-with-dsym

Happy debugging, and may your Binary Images section be forever filled with valuable insights!

Frequently Asked Questions

Got stuck with Crashlytics and can’t find the Binary Images section in your production environment? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Here are some frequently asked questions and answers to help you troubleshoot the issue: