Qt 4.8: Installing Qt for X11 Platforms

Qt Reference Documentation

Installation

# Installing Qt for X11 Platforms

Qt for X11 has some requirements that are given in more detail in the Qt for X11 Requirements document.

## Step 1: Installing the License File (commercial editions only)

If you have the commercial edition of Qt, install your license file as `$HOME/.qt-license`.

For the open source version you do not need a license file.

## Step 2: Unpacking the Archive

Unpack the archive if you have not done so already. For example, if you have the `qt-everywhere-opensource-src-4.8.2.tar.gz` package, type the following commands at a command line prompt:

     cd /tmp
     gunzip qt-everywhere-opensource-src-4.8.2.tar.gz        # uncompress the archive
     tar xvf qt-everywhere-opensource-src-4.8.2.tar          # unpack it

This creates the directory `/tmp/qt-everywhere-opensource-src-4.8.2` containing the files from the archive. We only support the GNU version of the tar archiving utility. Note that on some systems it is called gtar.

## Step 3: Building the Library

To configure the Qt library for your machine type, run the `./configure` script in the package directory.

By default, Qt is configured for installation in the `/usr/local/Trolltech/Qt-4.8.2` directory, but this can be changed by using the `-prefix` option.

     cd /tmp/qt-everywhere-opensource-src-4.8.2
     ./configure

Type `./configure -help` to get a list of all available options. The Configuration Options for Qt page gives a brief overview of these.

To create the library and compile all the demos, examples, tools, and tutorials, type:

     make

If `-prefix` is outside the build directory, you need to install the library, demos, examples, tools, and tutorials in the appropriate place. To do this (as root if necessary), type:

     make install

Note that on some systems the make utility is named differently, e.g. gmake. The configure script tells you which make utility to use.

Note: If you later need to reconfigure and rebuild Qt from the same location, ensure that all traces of the previous configuration are removed by entering the build directory and typing `make confclean` before running `configure` again.

## Step 4: Set the Environment Variables

In order to use Qt, some environment variables needs to be extended.

     PATH               - to locate qmake, moc and other Qt tools

This is done like this:

In `.profile` (if your shell is bash, ksh, zsh or sh), add the following lines:

     PATH=/usr/local/Trolltech/Qt-4.8.2/bin:$PATH
     export PATH

In `.login` (in case your shell is csh or tcsh), add the following line:

     setenv PATH /usr/local/Trolltech/Qt-4.8.2/bin:$PATH

If you use a different shell, please modify your environment variables accordingly.

For compilers that do not support rpath you must also extended the `LD_LIBRARY_PATH` environment variable to include `/usr/local/Trolltech/Qt-4.8.2/lib`. On Linux with GCC this step is not needed.

That's all. Qt is now installed.

## Qt Demos and Examples

If you are new to Qt, we suggest that you take a look at the demos and examples to see Qt in action. Run the Qt Examples and Demos either by typing `qtdemo` on the command line or through the desktop's Main menu.

You might also want to try the following links:

- Configuring Qt
- How to Learn Qt
- Tutorials
- Developer Zone
- Deploying Qt Applications

We hope you will enjoy using Qt. Good luck!

Installation