Qt Creator Manual

Building and Running

Qt Creator provides support for building, running, and deploying Qt applications for different target platforms, or using different compilers, debuggers, or Qt versions. Kits define the tools, device type and other settings to use when building and running your project.

  • Building for Multiple Platforms

    Build configurations contain everything you need to compile the sources into binaries. Build configurations use the tools and settings defined in their corresponding kit.

  • Running on Multiple Platforms

    Run configurations start the application in the location where it was copied by the deploy configuration. By default, when you select the Run function, Qt Creator builds the project, deploys it to the device defined in the kit, and runs it there. However, if you have not made any changes to the project since you last built and deployed it, Qt Creator simply runs it again.

  • Deploying to Mobile Devices

    Deploy configurations handle the packaging and copying of the necessary files to a location you want to run the executable at. The files can be copied to a location in the file system of the development PC or a mobile device.

  • Connecting Mobile Devices

    When you install tool chains for device types as part of an SDK, the build and run settings for mobile device types might be set up automatically. However, you might need to install and configure some additional software on the devices to be able to connect to them from the development PC.

Related Topics

  • Customizing the Build Process

    By default, running an application also builds it and deploys it to a location from where it can be run on the device. You can change the relationship between the build, run, and deploy configurations.

  • Using Qt Simulator

    You can use the Qt Simulator to test Qt applications that are intended for mobile devices in an environment similar to that of the device. You can change the information that the device has about its configuration and environment. Qt Simulator does not support any device specific APIs by design. Therefore, applications that run well on Qt Simulator also run on any device that hosts the Qt and Qt Mobility libraries. The Qt Simulator is installed as part of the Qt 4 SDK. After it is installed, you can create a kit with Desktop device type and the Qt Simulator Qt version for building and running your projects.

  • Using Maemo or MeeGo Harmattan Emulator

    You cannot use Qt Simulator to test applications that use device specific libraries, such as native device APIs. To test such applications, use the device emulators or real devices. With the emulators, you can test how your application reacts to hardware controls, such as the power button, and to the touch screen. Usually, it is faster to test on a real device connected to the development PC than to use the emulators. The emulator is installed as part of the Qt 4 SDK.