How to use the command 'lipo' (with examples)

The lipo command is a tool for handling Mach-O Universal Binaries on macOS. It allows you to create, list, extract, and display information about universal binaries. Universal binaries contain executable code for multiple architectures, which enables them to run on different CPUs. The lipo command is commonly used in the development of macOS and iOS applications.

Use case 1: Create a universal file from two single-architecture files

Code:

lipo path/to/binary_file.x86_64 path/to/binary_file.arm64e -create -output path/to/binary_file

Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to combine two single-architecture files into a single universal file. A universal file can run on different architectures, allowing your application to be compatible with multiple CPU types.

Explanation:

• lipo: The command itself.
• path/to/binary_file.x86_64: The path to the first single-architecture file. Replace with the actual path to your x86_64 architecture file.
• path/to/binary_file.arm64e: The path to the second single-architecture file. Replace with the actual path to your arm64e architecture file.
• -create: Specifies that you want to create a universal file.
• -output path/to/binary_file: Specifies the path and name of the output universal file. Replace with the desired output path and name.

Example output: The command will create a new universal file at the specified output path, combining the code from the x86_64 and arm64e architecture files into a single file.

Use case 2: List all architectures contained in a universal file

Code:

lipo path/to/binary_file -archs

Motivation: This use case is useful when you need to determine which architectures are included in a universal file. Knowing the supported architectures can help you understand the compatibility of the file with different CPUs.

Explanation:

• lipo: The command itself.
• path/to/binary_file: The path to the universal file. Replace with the actual path to your universal file.
• -archs: Specifies that you want to list all the architectures contained in the universal file.

Example output: Running the command will display a list of architectures, such as “arm64” and “x86_64”, indicating the supported CPUs in the universal file.

Use case 3: Display detailed information about a universal file

Code:

lipo path/to/binary_file -detailed_info

Motivation: This use case is useful when you need to obtain detailed information about a universal file, including the sizes of each architecture and other attributes. This information can help you analyze and troubleshoot issues related to the file.

Explanation:

• lipo: The command itself.
• path/to/binary_file: The path to the universal file. Replace with the actual path to your universal file.
• -detailed_info: Specifies that you want to display detailed information about the universal file.

Example output: Running the command will display a detailed output with information about each architecture present in the universal file, including the file offset, architecture name, and file size.

Use case 4: Extract a single-architecture file from a universal file

Code:

lipo path/to/binary_file -thin arm64e -output path/to/binary_file.arm64e

Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to extract a specific architecture from a universal file. Extracting a single-architecture file allows you to work with a specific CPU type or perform specific actions related to that architecture.

Explanation:

• lipo: The command itself.
• path/to/binary_file: The path to the universal file. Replace with the actual path to your universal file.
• -thin arm64e: Specifies that you want to extract the arm64e architecture from the universal file. Replace “arm64e” with the desired architecture.
• -output path/to/binary_file.arm64e: Specifies the path and name of the output single-architecture file. Replace with the desired output path and name.

Example output: The command will extract the arm64e architecture from the universal file and generate a new single-architecture file at the specified output path.

Conclusion:

The lipo command is a powerful tool for handling Mach-O Universal Binaries on macOS. It allows you to manipulate universal files by creating, extracting, listing architectures, and displaying detailed information. These use cases provide practical examples of how to use the lipo command in various scenarios related to universal binaries.