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\title Introducing Qt Creator
Qt Creator is an integrated development environment (IDE) that provides you with
tools to design and develop complex applications for multiple desktop and mobile
platforms.
tools to design and develop applications with the Qt application framework. Qt is designed for
developing applications and user interfaces once and deploying them across several
desktop and mobile operating systems. Qt Creator provides you with tools for
accomplishing your tasks throughout the whole application development life-cycle,
from creating a project to deploying the application on the target platforms.
\image qtcreator-overview.png "Qt Creator overview"
......@@ -189,77 +192,105 @@
\l{http://qt.nokia.com/doc/4.7/qmake-tutorial.html#adding-platform-specific-source-files}{scopes}
to select the file to process depending on which platform qmake is run on.
Items such as open files, breakpoints, and watches are stored in
Items such as open files, breakpoints, and watchers are stored in
sessions. They are not considered to be part of the
information shared across platforms.
Qt Creator is integrated with cross-platform systems for build automation:
qmake and CMake. In addition, you can import generic projects that do not use qmake
or CMake, and specify that Qt Creator ignores your build system.
\section1 Creating Projects
But why do you need projects? To be able to build and run applications,
Qt Creator needs the same information as a compiler would need. This information
is specified in the project build and run settings.
Creating a project allows you to:
\list
\o Group files together
\o Add custom build steps
\o Include forms and resource files
\o Specify settings for running applications
\endlist
Setting up a new project in Qt Creator is aided by a wizard that guides
you step-by-step through the project creation process. In the first step, you
select the type of the project from the categories: Qt C++ project, Qt Quick
Project, or other project. Next, you select a location for the project and
specify settings for it.
\image qtcreator-new-qt-quick-project-wizard.png
When you have completed the steps, Qt Creator automatically generates the
project with required headers, source files, user interface descriptions
and project files, as defined by the wizard.
For example, if you choose to create a Qt Quick application, Qt Creator
generates a QML file that you can modify with the integrated \QMLD.
\section2 Adding Libraries
In addition to Qt libraries, you can link your application to other
libraries, such as system libraries or your own libraries. Further, your
own libraries might link to other libraries. To be able to compile your
project, you must add the libraries to your project. This also enables
code completion and syntax highlighting for the libraries.
The procedure of adding a library to a project depends on the the build
The procedure of adding a library to a project depends on the build
system that you use.
Qt Creator provides support for building and running Qt applications for
desktop environment and mobile devices. When you install the \QSDK,
the build and run settings for the Maemo and Symbian targets are set up
automatically. However, you need to install and configure some additional software
on the devices.
\section2 Version Control Systems
\note The only supported build system for mobile applications in Qt
Creator is qmake.
Qt Creator uses the version control system's command line clients to access
your repositories. The following version control systems are supported:
Once your mobile application is ready, you can test it in the Qt Simulator.
You can also connect Maemo and Symbian devices to your development PC and
debug applications on the devices. After you have tested the application,
you can deploy it on mobile devices.
\list
Developing applications for mobile devices is different from developing
desktop applications. For more information, see
\l{Optimizing Applications for Mobile Devices}.
\o Git
\section1 Projects
\o Subversion
But why do you need projects? To be able to build and run applications,
Qt Creator needs the same information as a compiler would need. This information
is specified in the project build and run settings.
\o Perforce
Creating a project allows you to:
\o CVS
\list
\o Mercurial
\o Group files together
\endlist
\o Add custom build steps
The functions available to you in Qt Creator depend on the version control
system. Basic functions are available for all the supported systems. They include
comparing files with the latest versions stored in the repository and displaying the
differences, viewing versioning history and change details, annotating files,
and committing and reverting changes.
\o Include forms and resource files
\section1 Designing User Interfaces
\o Specify settings for running applications
Qt Creator provides two integrated visual editors, \QMLD and \QD.
\endlist
\image qtcreator-ui-designers.png "Qt Quick Designer and Qt Designer"
You can either create a project from scratch or import an existing
project. Qt Creator generates all the necessary files, depending on the type of
project you create. For example, if you choose to create a graphical user
interface (GUI) application, Qt Creator generates an empty .ui file
that you can modify with the integrated \QD.
Large high-resolution screens, touch input, and significant graphics power
are becoming common in portable consumer devices, such as mobile
phones, media players, set-top boxes, and netbooks. To fully benefit from
these features and to create intuitive, modern-looking, fluid user interfaces,
you can use \l {http://doc.qt.nokia.com/4.7/qtquick.html}{Qt Quick}.
Qt Creator is integrated with cross-platform systems for build automation: qmake and
CMake. In addition, you can import generic projects that do not use qmake or CMake,
and specify that Qt Creator ignores your build system.
Qt Quick consists of a rich set of user interface elements, a declarative
language for describing user interfaces, and a language runtime. A
collection of C++ APIs is used to integrate these high level features with
classic Qt applications.
\section1 Editors
You can edit QML code in the code editor or in the integrated \QMLD.
The integration includes project management and code completion.
Qt Creator comes with a code editor and two integrated visual editors for designing
and building
graphical user interfaces (GUIs) from Qt widgets.
If you need a traditional user interface that is clearly structured and
enforces a platform look and feel, you can use the integrated \QD. You can
compose and customize your widgets or dialogs and test them using different
styles and resolutions.
\section2 Code Editor
\section1 Coding
As an IDE, Qt Creator differs from a text editor in that it knows how to build and run
applications. It understands the C++ and QML languages as code, not just as plain text. This allows
......@@ -284,110 +315,45 @@
\endlist
\section2 UI Designer
Qt Creator provides two integrated visual editors, \QD and \QMLD.
\l{Using Qt Designer}{\QD} is a tool for designing and building graphical user
interfaces (GUIs) from
Qt widgets. You can compose and customize your widgets or dialogs and test
them using different styles and resolutions.
Widgets and forms created with \QD are integrated seamlessly with programmed code,
using the Qt signals and slots mechanism, that lets you easily assign behavior to
graphical elements. All properties set in \QD can be changed dynamically within the code.
Furthermore, features like widget promotion and custom plugins allow you to use your
own widgets with \QD.
UIs that use widgets are clearly structured and enforce a platform look and feel,
which makes them useful for traditional applications. However, they are static, and
do not fully make use of the large high-resolution screens, touch input, and significant
graphics power that are becoming common in portable consumer devices, such as mobile
phones, media players, set-top boxes, and netbooks.
\l{Using Qt Quick Designer}{\QMLD} allows you to easily develop animations by using a
declarative programming
language called \l {http://doc.qt.nokia.com/4.7/qtquick.html}{QML}.
In QML, a user interface is specified as a tree of objects with properties.
You use a visual editor to create items, screens, and applications, as well as define changes
in their state, transitions from one state to another, and user actions that change the
states. \QMLD generates the necessary code for you.
You can use Qt or JavaScript to implement the application logic.
\section1 Languages
You can use the code editor to write code in Qt C++ or in the
\l {http://doc.qt.nokia.com/4.7/qtquick.html}{QML} declarative
programming language.
\section2 QML
You can use QML to build highly dynamic, custom user interfaces from a rich set
of QML elements. Qt Quick helps programmers and designers collaborate to build the
fluid user interfaces that are becoming common in portable consumer devices, such as
mobile phones, media players, set-top boxes and netbooks.
QML declarative programming language.
QML is an extension to JavaScript, that provides a mechanism to declaratively build
an object tree of QML elements. QML improves the integration between JavaScript and
Qt's existing QObject based type system, adds support for automatic property bindings
and provides network transparency at the language level.
\section1 Targets
Qt Creator provides support for building and running Qt applications for
desktop environment (Windows, Linux, and Mac OS) and mobile devices (Symbian, Maemo,
and MeeGo). Build settings allow you to quickly switch between build targets.
When you run an application for a mobile device target with a device
connected to the development PC, Qt Creator generates an installation package,
installs in on the device, and executes it.
You can publish the installation packages on the \l{https://publish.ovi.com/info/}{Ovi Store}.
For Symbian devices, the packages must be signed.
\section1 Tools
Qt Creator is integrated with a set of helpful tools, such as version control
systems and Qt Simulator.
\section2 Version Control Systems
Qt Creator uses the version control system's command line clients to access
your repositories. The following version control systems are supported:
\list
\o Git
\section1 Building
\o Subversion
\o Perforce
\o CVS
Qt Creator is integrated with cross-platform systems for build automation:
qmake and CMake. In addition, you can import generic projects that do not use qmake
or CMake, and specify that Qt Creator ignores your build system.
\o Mercurial
Qt Creator provides support for building and running Qt applications for
desktop environment (Windows, Linux, and Mac OS) and mobile devices (Symbian and Maemo).
Build settings allow you to quickly switch between build targets.
\endlist
When you install the \QSDK, the build and run settings for the Maemo and Symbian
targets are set up automatically. However, you need to install and configure some
additional software on the devices to be able to connect to them from the
development PC.
The functions available to you in Qt Creator depend on the version control
system. Basic functions are available for all the supported systems. They include
comparing files with the latest versions stored in the repository and displaying the
differences, viewing versioning history and change details, annotating files,
and committing and reverting changes.
\note The only supported build system for mobile applications in Qt
Creator is qmake.
\section2 Qt Simulator
\section1 Testing
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.
If you install Qt Creator as part of \QSDK, the GNU Symbolic Debugger
is installed automatically and you should be ready to start debugging after
you create a new project. However, you can change the setup to use debugging
tools for Windows, for example.
You can connect mobile devices to your development PC and debug processes
running on the devices.
The Qt Simulator is installed as part of the \QSDK. After it is
installed, you can select it as a build target in Qt Creator.
You can test applications that are intended for mobile devices in the Qt
Simulator and Maemo Emulator, but you also need to test the applications
on real devices.
\section1 Debuggers
\section2 Debuggers
Qt Creator does not include a debugger. It provides a debugger plugin that acts
as an interface between the Qt Creator core and external native debuggers:
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deeper understanding is used to present objects of such classes in
a useful way.
If you install Qt Creator as part of a \QSDK, the GNU Symbolic Debugger
is installed automatically and you should be ready to start debugging after
you create a new project. However, you can change the setup to use debugging
tools for Windows, for example.
\section3 QML Script Console
You can connect mobile devices to your development PC and debug processes
running on the devices.
You can use the Qt Creator \gui Debug mode to inspect the state of
the application while debugging JavaScript functions. You can set breakpoints,
view call stack trace, and examine locals and watchers.
When the application is interrupted by a breakpoint, you can use the \gui {QML
Script Console} to execute JavaScript expressions in the current context. You can
type JavaScript expressions and use them to get information about the state of the
application, such as property values.
If you change property values or add properties in the code editor, the
changes are updated in the running application when they are saved.
\section3 QML Observer
While the application is running, you can use the \gui {QML Observer} view to
explore the object structure, debug animations, and inspect colors. When debugging
complex applications, you can use the observe mode to jump to the position in code
where an element is defined.
\section2 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.
The Qt Simulator is installed as part of the \QSDK. After it is
installed, you can select it as a build target in Qt Creator.
\section2 Maemo Emulator
The Maemo emulator emulates the Nokia N900 device environment. You can test
applications in conditions practically identical to running the application
on a Nokia N900 device with the software update release 1.2 (V10.2010.19-1).
However, it is faster to test on a real device connected to the development
PC.
The Maemo Emulator is installed as part of the \QSDK. After it is
installed and configured, you can start it from Qt Creator.
\section1 Deploying
Qt Creator deploy configurations handle the packaging of the application as an
executable and copying it to a location developers want to run the executable at.
The files can be copied to a location in the file system of the development PC
or to a mobile device.
Qt Creator allows you to create installation packages for Symbian and Maemo
devices that are suitable for publishing on Ovi Store and other channels.
*/
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