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Installing a Compiler for QtCreator

By: Brad

In my previous post we installed Qt and Qt Creator; in this post I’m going to show you how to install a C++ compiler for Qt Creater to use.

Qt Creator is the native IDE for Qt; however, it does not include a compiler. This is because Qt Creator is a cross-platform IDE therefore it needs to support a variety of compilers for different platforms. If you already have a C++ compiler installed you should be able to skip ahead to Creating your first Qt Quick project otherwise please read on.

Assuming that at this point you don’t have a C++ compiler installed then if you go to the Build menu in Qt Creator notice that all the options are disabled and if you navigate to the Tools -> Options… menu which will bring up the Options dialog and in the left hand menu strip select Build & Run and on this screen select the Compilers tab. Noticed that none exist.

QtCreator_8

Therefore the next step is to install a C++ compiler and configure Qt Creator to use it.

Installing Visual Studio and Configuring Qt Creator to use it

We can use Visual Studio 2012’s C++ compiler Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler in Qt Creator (at the time of writing Qt does not support Microsoft Visual Studio 2013).

Installing Visual Studio is pretty straight forward; insert the installation disc and follow the wizard.

The first thing you need to do when going through the Visual Studio 2012 installation wizard is to read and accept the license terms and privacy policy. Once you tick the agreement check box the Next button will be reviled; click the Next button to continue.

VisualStudio2012_1

Now you’ll see a screen that lets you select/de-select optional features. I just leave them all enabled since I have plenty of drive space. Click Install to begin the Visual Studio 2012 installation. When it completes you’ll see the last screen where you can launch Visual Studio via the helpfully named Launch button.

VisualSTudio2012_2
VisualStudio2012_3
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Welcome to Visual Studio 2012. The first time you start Visual Studio 2012 you will be asked to pick a default environment setup; me being accustom to writing .NET applications I picked Visual C# Development Settings. You can also pick if you want to install some, all or none of the help documentation that comes with Visual Studio. Me personally I tend to use the online MSDN articles or our good friend Google so its up to you if you want to take up drive space or not. Once you’ve made your selections click Start Visual Studio.

VisualStudio2012_5

And tada your all done; you should be looking at Visual Studio 2012.

VisualStudio2012

But since this isn’t a walk-through on Visual Studio lets get back to Qt Creator. Navigate to the Tools -> Options… menu which will bring up the Options dialog. In the left hand menu strip select Build & Run and on this screen select the Compilers tab. Noticed that our clever little IDE has auto detected the Microsoft Visual C++ Compilers.

QtCreator_9

Now that you have a C++ compiler installed for QtCreator lets creating your first Qt Quick project. If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them below and I’ll respond when time permits.

Until next time think imaginatively and design creatively

Brad

My interest in computer programming started back in high school and Software Development has remained a hobby of mine ever since. I graduated as a Computer Engineering Technologist and have been working as a Software Developer for many years. I believe that software is crafted; understanding that how it is done is as important as getting it done. I enjoy the aesthetics in crafting elegant solutions to complex problems and revel in the knowledge that my code is maintainable and thus, will have longevity. I hold the designation Certified Technician (C.Tech.) with the Ontario Association of Computer Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT), have been certified as a Professional Scrum Master level 1 (PSM I) and as a Professional Scrum Developer level 1 (PSD I) by Scrum.org as well as designated as an Officially Certified Qt Developer by the Qt Company. For more on my story check out the about page here

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