iOS - can't link with a main executable file (release)?

Question

I recently updated XCode to V 11.1, and since updating, for some reason when I run my app in release mode, I'm thrown the following error:

ld: can't link with a main executable file '/Users/me/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/myapp-btokobigvkxtgwgcjrapocxlexno/Build/Products/Release-iphoneos/myapp.app/myapp' for architecture armv7 clang: error: linker command failed with exit code 1 (use -v to see invocation)

I have absolutely no clue how to resolve this - and I can't run my app in release mode without it (and yes, I'm using a Distribution profile). Help would be much appreciated. I've browsed a few other answers but none seem to solve this issue.

When I navigate to that file path, 'myapp' is simply an icon with a circle and a slash through it (can't be a good sign). This same thing occurs even after I clean the build folder. When I try to rebuild in release mode, the build fails and throws me the above yet again.

See full error:

Ld /Users/admin/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/myapp-btokobigvkxtgwgcjrapocxlexno/Build/Intermediates.noindex/myapp.build/Release-iphoneos/myappTests.build/Objects-normal/armv7/Binary/myappTests normal armv7 (in target 'myappTests' from project 'myapp') cd /Users/admin/Desktop/myapp /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Toolchains/XcodeDefault.xctoolchain/usr/bin/clang -target armv7-apple-ios8.4 -bundle -isysroot /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneOS.platform/Developer/SDKs/iPhoneOS13.1.sdk -L/Users/admin/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/myapp-btokobigvkxtgwgcjrapocxlexno/Build/Products/Release-iphoneos -F/Users/admin/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/myapp-btokobigvkxtgwgcjrapocxlexno/Build/Products/Release-iphoneos -F/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneOS.platform/Developer/SDKs/iPhoneOS13.1.sdk/Developer/Library/Frameworks -F/Users/admin/Desktop/myapp/Pods/FirebaseAnalytics/Frameworks -F/Users/admin/Desktop/myapp/Pods/GoogleAppMeasurement/Frameworks -F/Users/admin/Desktop/myapp/Pods/GoogleMaps/Base/Frameworks -F/Users/admin/Desktop/myapp/Pods/GoogleMaps/Maps/Frameworks -F/Users/admin/Desktop/myapp/Pods/GooglePlaces/Frameworks -L/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneOS.platform/Developer/usr/lib -F/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneOS.platform/Developer/Library/Frameworks -filelist /Users/admin/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/myapp-btokobigvkxtgwgcjrapocxlexno/Build/Intermediates.noindex/myapp.build/Release-iphoneos/myappTests.build/Objects-normal/armv7/myappTests.LinkFileList -Xlinker -rpath -Xlinker @executable_path/Frameworks -Xlinker -rpath -Xlinker @loader_path/Frameworks -dead_strip -bundle_loader /Users/admin/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/myapp-btokobigvkxtgwgcjrapocxlexno/Build/Products/Release-iphoneos/myapp.app/myapp -Xlinker -object_path_lto -Xlinker /Users/admin/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/myapp-btokobigvkxtgwgcjrapocxlexno/Build/Intermediates.noindex/myapp.build/Release-iphoneos/myappTests.build/Objects-normal/armv7/myappTests_lto.o -fobjc-arc -fobjc-link-runtime -lc++ -licucore -lsqlite3 -lz -framework Accelerate -framework CFNetwork -framework CoreData -framework CoreGraphics -framework CoreImage -framework CoreLocation -framework CoreTelephony -framework CoreText -framework Foundation -framework GLKit -framework ImageIO -framework OpenGLES -framework QuartzCore -framework Security -framework StoreKit -framework SystemConfiguration -framework UIKit -framework XCTest -lPods-myappTests -Xlinker -dependency_info -Xlinker /Users/admin/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/myapp-btokobigvkxtgwgcjrapocxlexno/Build/Intermediates.noindex/myapp.build/Release-iphoneos/myappTests.build/Objects-normal/armv7/myappTests_dependency_info.dat -o /Users/admin/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/myapp-btokobigvkxtgwgcjrapocxlexno/Build/Intermediates.noindex/myapp.build/Release-iphoneos/myappTests.build/Objects-normal/armv7/Binary/myappTests

ld: can't link with a main executable file '/Users/admin/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/myapp-btokobigvkxtgwgcjrapocxlexno/Build/Products/Release-iphoneos/myapp.app/myapp' for architecture armv7 clang: error: linker command failed with exit code 1 (use -v to see invocation)

Answer 1

Finally found the fix in my case. Hopefully this answer is helpful to others.

Product > Scheme > Edit Scheme, and then tap the 'Build' category on the left hand side.

Under your appTests targets, uncheck "Run".

Problem solved.

Answer 2

Could you say where do you find the slashed icon - it may be a sign Xcode tries to look at a wrong path. You may easily verify it with right-click on the project from Project Navigator, show in Finder.
I recommend Changing deployment target to 8.4.
A solution might be going to Product > Scheme > Edit Scheme, choose Build and uncheck 'Run'