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 Installing External Binaries

Most users can use the bundled binaries to run both FEA and MPM calculations. The bundled binaries also include two third-partly libraries needed by the NairnFEA and NairnMPM code engines, thereby avoiding a need for you to install them. For such users, these instructions can be skipped.

Some users, however, might need different binaries. The two possible reasons are that the bundled binaries are not working or that you want to work with source code and perhaps add your own new features. Those users can switch to using external binaries. The process, which is outlined below, also requires building third party libraries needed by the code engines.

Compile Project Binaries

To compile all code engine binaries:

Link to Compiled Binaries

The last step is to tell NairnFEAMPM the location of your compiled code engines. This step changes the code settings. If you compile in XCode, the binaries will be buried in a ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData folder and include a long UUID label for your downloaded project. You can get the name of that folder by looking at XCode's "Report Navigator" tab and expanding the linking command output.

Alternatively, you can keep the code settings pointing the ~/Library/Application Support/NairnFEAMPM folder and copy your compiled binaries into that folder (replacing prior versions). Binaries you compile yourself, however, will not link to the external libraries in that folder (without a lot of extra command-line manipulation). They will, however, link to the libraries you needed to install when compiling them. New binaries copied to that folder will not be overwritten by NairnFEAMPM unless you use the "Reinstall Bundled Files" button in the code settings.

Tip: To check if you install binaries correctly, try the Quick Start sections of either the Finite Element Method or the Material Point Method sections to try pre-loaded example calculations.

Subsequent use of NairnFEAMPM

Once the above steps are done, you can launch NairnFEAMPM and run calculations. At anytime, you can edit the code engine source code and recompile. NairnFEAMPM will automatically use the newly compiled code (as determined by the code settings). There is no need to restart NairnFEAMPM between code engine compilations.

As the nairn-mpm-fea project is updated, you can use switch to the lastest version by updating your checked-out copy and recompiling the code engines; NairnFEAMPM will then be using the latest binaries. You do not need to update NairnFEAMPM, unless a new version of the base application becomes available.