Due to changes in Xcode 15, publishers using Cocoapods may encounter this error:

DT_TOOLCHAIN_DIR cannot be used to evaluate LIBRARY_SEARCH_PATHS, use TOOLCHAIN_DIR instead (in target 'TARGET' from project 'PROJECT')

Until a Cocoapods fix is available and working, in the meantime, a workaround is readily available. Please add this to your Podfile:

post_install do |installer|
    installer.generated_projects.each do |project|
          project.targets.each do |target|
              target.build_configurations.each do |config|
                  config.build_settings['IPHONEOS_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET'] = '12.0'
                  xcconfig_relative_path = "Pods/Target Support Files/#{target.name}/#{target.name}.#{config.name}.xcconfig"
      file_path = Pathname.new(File.expand_path(xcconfig_relative_path))
      next unless File.file?(file_path)
      configuration = Xcodeproj::Config.new(file_path)
      next if configuration.attributes['LIBRARY_SEARCH_PATHS'].nil?

      configuration.attributes['LIBRARY_SEARCH_PATHS'].sub! 'DT_TOOLCHAIN_DIR', 'TOOLCHAIN_DIR'
      configuration.save_as(file_path)

               end
          end
   end
end

One thing you must do as a publisher is set the Facebook setAdvertiserTrackingEnabled flag appropriately, since Facebook is one of our partners. Here is the official document from Facebook. Generally speaking, one typical you could approach this is if the user has granted the app permission to track them at the OS level, then you would set this flag to true. By default, the flag will be false, meaning that Facebook will not serve any ads. We leave this implementation detail to you in order to give you, the app publisher, more control.

We are releasing a major update to the Freestar SDK later this week that will require publishers to utilize a GDPR TCF 2.0 compliant CMP in order to render ads to users in a GDPR affected country. If the publisher is not utilizing a GDPR TCF 2.0 compliant CMP once upgraded to this SDK version, then ads will not serve to users in a GDPR affected country.

We put together a comprehensive list of FAQs below to help break down how the changes may impact your business. If you have additional questions, please reach out to your dedicated Account Manager and we will be happy to help on a case by case basis.

What is the new SDK version?

4.0.0 for iOS and Android

How do I become GDPR compliant?

In order to be able to serve ads to your users who reside in any EU country, you will need to implement an IAB TCF 2.0 CMP service.

The CMP service is essentially a personal data and privacy form that must be presented to users to collect their consent or dissent. This form can be presented as often as you like throughout the session of your game or app, as you may require your users to see ads. The most typical setup would be for the first visit to an App with an option to edit your preferences through some other call to action.

What if I already have a CMP implemented?

If you already have a CMP implemented, you will need to add Publisher First, Inc. (Freestar’s official legal entity) as a vendor, as well as each of our partners listed here if not already included.

You will need to retrigger the consent form for GDPR affected users once Freestar and additional vendors are added to the vendor list.

If the list of vendors has already been included, no additional effort is required.

How does the Freestar SDK work with a CMP?

Freestar SDK will automatically detect the user's CMP response and act accordingly. More specifically, if the user consents, then Freestar SDK will be allowed to serve ads. If the user dissents, then Freestar SDK will not show ads.

What if I choose not to implement a CMP?

If a CMP is not implemented at all, then Freestar SDK will not show ads to users who reside in a GDPR affected country.

What do I need to do once I choose a CMP?

After you have chosen a CMP Service provider, during configuration and setup of your CMP, you will need to include a list of supported vendors. We recommend that you select ‘Include All Vendors’ rather than choosing specific vendors, as your list of vendors may change over time.

If you choose to add vendors to your list manually, you will need to include Publisher First, Inc. (Freestar’s official legal entity) as a vendor as well as Freestar’s list of supported vendors here.

Does Great Britain still observe GDPR requirements despite leaving the E.U.?

Yes, it does still apply. In anticipation of Brexit, a new domestic data privacy law called the UK-GDPR took effect on 1/31/20. The UK-GDPR is almost word for word completely identical to the EU’s GDPR.

CMP Recommendations:

Consent Manager - https://www.consentmanager.net/ App Consent - https://sfbx.io/en/produits/

Here is a list of IAB approved CMP Service providers you can implement in your game or app: https://iabeurope.eu/cmp-list/

For iOS, please use our iOS test key 91784edd-3492-4111-8742-f71bd3803dd3 (we have a different key for Android, so don't use for both iOS and Android) for all your iOS testing runs and enable test mode.

Turn on test mode:

FSTR_TEST_ADS
	

You will usually get 100% fill on all ad units.

It is not recommended to use your production key for testing runs as that is strictly prohibited by our partners and bad things may happen to us on the business side of things.
Do not forget to uninstall and re-install your app when changing keys on your device.

When you are satisfied with your testing, please make a release build with your production key, and turn test mode off. Publish to store.

iOS 14 changed the way advertising works on iOS devices. Ad effectiveness tracking requires the usage of SKAdNetwork APIs. To enable this, SKAdNetwork keys should be included in your app's Info.plist file.

Please see our list: https://github.com/freestarcapital/SDK_documentation_iOS/wiki/iOS-14-SKAdNetwork-IDs

Currently, we do not support the building of our SDK on M1 macs. This will be addressed in an upcoming release.

Recently, in Xcode 12.2, Apple made some breaking changes in Xcode related to build settings. By default, arm64 architecture is now added to ARCHS_STANDARD. In addition, they have removed support for VALID_ARCHS setting from Xcode. Apple also added, in Xcode 12, a new build setting called Excluded Architectures. The reason Apple added arm64 is to support simulator on M1 Mac hardware. However this causes build issues running simulator on Intel Macs. As a result, publishers running Xcode on Intel Macs will need to make usage of the EXCLUDED_ARCHS build setting, for simulator testing, to exclude the arm64 simulator. So, if your Xcode build is failing with arm64 simulator errors in the log, such as:

building for iOS Simulator, but linking in object file built for iOS, file for architecture arm64

then, it is suggested to use this cocoapods post install hook in your Podfile:

  post_install do |installer|
      installer.pods_project.build_configurations.each do |config|
          config.build_settings["EXCLUDED_ARCHS[sdk=iphonesimulator*]"] = "arm64"
      end
  end

This is a temporary fix and should address the issue of build failures resulting from Xcode attempting to build (arm64) simulator on Intel Macs. As of our latest SDK release, we do this automatically in the podspec via xcconfigs, however not every SDK vendor has adopted this workaround. This post install hook is only needed if you are running Xcode 12 on Intel hardware and wanting to run simulator, and you have a cocoapods dependency that is not Xcode 12 / arm64 compliant.

If your app integrated the Firebase SDK, reference the Firebase version compatible with current release 7.0

pod 'Firebase/Core', '~> 7.0'

For further reference:
https://github.com/CocoaPods/CocoaPods/issues/10104
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/63607158/xcode-12-building-for-ios-simulator-but-linking-in-object-file-built-for-ios/63955114#63955114

If Yahoo is being added as a demand partner in your Podfile, then it is required to add an entry into your Info.plist. See example below:

<key>VerizonAdsSourceAppId</key>
<string>Replace_this_with_your_App's_App_Store_ID</string>

If you would like to make usage of Google Open Bidding (OB) adapters for FreestarAds, please contact your account manager (AM) for further instructions. We do not advise including OB adapters into your project without first consulting with your AM.

When using cocoapods integration for your project, it is important to keep in mind, our SDK depends on the usage of dynamic libraries, so putting the use_frameworks! config in your Podfile is an SDK requirement:

Podfile:

use_frameworks!

However, there might be certain situation(s) where static linkage is required for certain dependencies. If that is the case, then follow these steps:

1. add use_frameworks! :linkage => :static to your Podfile.
2. install cocoapods-pod-linkage plugin
3. if you are using TAM adapter, add this line pod "FMDB", :linkage => :dynamic to your Podfile:

use_frameworks! :linkage => :static

pod "FreestarAds-TAM"
pod "FMDB", :linkage => :dynamic
...

Apple has made changes in Xcode 14.3 that break current Cocoapods installations. There are two different solution paths. First one, is to migrate your Xcode project to use SPM. But if SPM migration is not an option, a workaround is required to resolve this build error:

Add this to your Podfile:

post_install do |installer|
    installer.generated_projects.each do |project|
          project.targets.each do |target|
              target.build_configurations.each do |config|
                  config.build_settings['IPHONEOS_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET'] = '13.0'
               end
          end
   end
end