Building Qt projects with Qmake
Building Site
Qt's own build system Qmake is often overlooked for larger projects, but many experienced developers appreciate Qmake support for shadow builds and pre- or post-build dependencies.
Qmake, the build system originally developed by Trolltech for Qt applications, often goes unnoticed. Many developers are happy to use the combination of Qmake and the Qt library for small- to medium-sized projects. But as the projects grow, many Qt developers suddenly switch to the Qmake alternative Cmake, which originated as the build system for ITK (the Insight Segmentation and Registration Toolkit).
The reason most often heard for neglecting Qmake is that it is simply unsuitable for many tasks. In the KDE project, for example, Cmake is the tool of choice for compiling large amounts of source code. (Other build systems, such as Autotools, Ant, and the like play a very small role in Qt development because of the increased integration overhead.) As this article shows, however, Qmake can do so much more than most developers realize.
Qmake versus Cmake
Both Qmake and Cmake create a makefile from a project file, which make and make install then reference. Although the basic approach is similar, the syntax of the build files is very different. The differences between Qmake and Cmake are best illustrated with a Hello World program that includes the component files main.cpp, hellowindow.cpp, hellowindow.h, and hellowindow.ui.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
The Bullet-Proof KDE Software Initiative Is Coming
KDE, Techpaladin, and Kubuntu Focus have announced a new initiative that will provide at least three years of support for KDE Plasma 6.6 LTS and related software.
-
Linux Mint Shares a Possible Kernel Cleanup Solution
For those on Linux Mint who like to keep multiple kernels around but don't want them to take up too much space, you might be getting a new automated tool.
-
CachyOS Gets an Update
CachyOS August 2026 release is now available with the latest version of KDE, some new features, and plenty of improvements.
-
The Linux Kernel Dev Staging Area Now Rejects AI-Generated Patches
Unless a kernel patch is a valid security fix, it will be rejected if it was created using AI.
-
Linux Surpasses Double-Digit Market Share
According to two sources, the Linux operating system has hit a major milestone in market share that naysayers thought would never happen.
-
AI Helped Develop a Linux Exploit
A use-after-free race exploit was discovered and exploited on CentOS Stream 9.
-
Yet Another Linux Kernel Vulnerability Discovered
Affecting millions of systems, a kernel flaw discovered by Qualys could allow users to gain root privileges.
-
Ubuntu 26.10 to Include Ubuntu Certified Hardware Check
If you've ever wondered if your laptop or PC is officially certified to run Ubuntu, that curiosity will soon be met.
-
Substantial Update to IPFire Now Available
The lastest version of IPFire features a fundamental change to how the system handles DNS.
-
Gnome Working on Test Center App to Make Testing Easier
It's now possible to test experimental features on the Gnome desktop without worrying that you'll break things.