[SR-14245] Allow `binaryTarget`s to declare `dependencies` in the Swift packages

[swift-ci]

Previous ID	SR-14245
Radar	rdar://problem/74616586
Original Reporter	RonanMc20 (JIRA User)
Type	Improvement

Additional Detail from JIRA

Votes	14
Component/s	Package Manager
Labels	Improvement
Assignee	None
Priority	Medium

md5: ba6217da9eadde076a638765bd2e2d45

Issue Description:

Description

Currently the binary target feature in the Swift Package Manager only works for single binary dependencies. The API for `Target` is shaped so that its own static method for returning a `.binaryTarget` does not take a `dependencies` array like the standard `.target` method.

Setting the `dependencies` property on a `Target` type when that type is `binary` results in a crash to the SPM.

There is a workaround for the including dependencies in binary targets but it includes adding a dummy target to your `package.swift` and the result also generates warnings in an integrator's xcode project.

The desired change to the SPM is to allow `binaryTarget`s to declare `dependencies` in their `package.swift` files.

This thread has good detail on the issue and the known workaround for it: https://forums.swift.org/t/swiftpm-binary-target-with-sub-dependencies/40197/11

[typesanitizer]

@swift-ci create

[phatblat]

Interested to see this implemented. The errors when a binary dependency is missing are very confusing. Wondering where to file an issue for better error messages.

[mattmassicotte]

I'm actually running into this issue now, and it's fairly painful. Would really love to see a way to handle this better.

[Narayane]

Hi @tomerd,

any news to schedule and process this enhancement request?

Thanks.

[mattmassicotte]

I added an evolution pitch to make this change: https://forums.swift.org/t/accepting-spm-binary-target-dependencies/60619