**Course Title:** Qt 6 Application Development with C++ **Section Title:** Introduction to Qt and C++ Setup **Topic:** Setting up the development environment: Installing Qt Creator and configuring CMake. **Introduction** In this topic, we will guide you through the process of setting up your development environment for Qt 6 application development with C++. This includes installing Qt Creator, a comprehensive IDE for Qt development, and configuring CMake, a build automation tool that streamlines the compilation process. By the end of this topic, you will have a fully functional development environment ready for building and running Qt C++ applications. **Installing Qt Creator** Qt Creator is a powerful Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that provides a comprehensive set of tools for Qt development. It includes a code editor, project manager, debugger, and more. To install Qt Creator, follow these steps: 1. **Download the Qt Online Installer**: Go to the [Qt Download Page](https://www.qt.io/download) and download the Qt Online Installer for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). 2. **Run the Installer**: Execute the downloaded installer and follow the prompts to install Qt Creator. Make sure to select the Qt 6 version during the installation process. 3. **Verify the Installation**: Once the installation is complete, launch Qt Creator to verify that it has been installed correctly. You should see the Qt Creator interface with the Welcome page. **Configuring Qt Creator** After installing Qt Creator, you need to configure it to work with your Qt 6 installation. Here are the steps to follow: 1. **Launch Qt Creator**: Start Qt Creator and navigate to **Tools** > **Options** > **Kits**. 2. **Add a New Kit**: Click on the "Add" button to create a new kit. A kit is a collection of settings that define a specific development environment. 3. **Select the Kit**: In the "Add Kit" dialog box, select "Desktop" (or "Mobile" if you want to develop for mobile platforms) and choose the compiler and Qt version you installed earlier. Click "Next" to proceed. 4. **Configure the Kit**: In the "Kit Settings" dialog box, verify that the Qt version, compiler, and other settings are correct. You can also specify additional settings such as the build directory and Shadow build. Click "OK" to save the kit. **Configuring CMake** CMake is a build automation tool that streamlines the compilation process. Qt Creator uses CMake to build and manage Qt projects. Here's how to configure CMake: 1. **Install CMake**: Download and install CMake from the official [CMake Download Page](https://cmake.org/download/). 2. **Verify the Installation**: Verify that CMake has been installed correctly by opening a terminal or command prompt and typing `cmake --version`. 3. **Configure CMake in Qt Creator**: Navigate to **Tools** > **Options** > **Kits** and select the kit you created earlier. In the "Kit Settings" dialog box, click on the "CMake" tab and specify the CMake executable path. **Practical Example: Creating a New Qt Project** Now that you have installed and configured Qt Creator and CMake, you are ready to create a new Qt project. Here's a step-by-step example: 1. **Launch Qt Creator**: Start Qt Creator and navigate to **File** > **New File or Project** > **Application**. 2. **Choose a Project Template**: Select the "Qt Widgets Application" template and click "Next" to proceed. 3. **Specify Project Details**: Fill in the project details, such as the project name, location, and kit. Click "Finish" to create the project. 4. **Build and Run**: Build and run the project by clicking on the "Build" and "Run" buttons in the Qt Creator toolbar. **Key Takeaways** * Installing Qt Creator provides a comprehensive IDE for Qt development. * Configuring a kit in Qt Creator defines a specific development environment. * CMake is a build automation tool that streamlines the compilation process. * Qt Creator uses CMake to build and manage Qt projects. **Conclusion** In this topic, you learned how to install and configure Qt Creator and CMake for Qt 6 application development with C++. You also created a new Qt project and learned the key concepts involved in setting up your development environment. With a fully functional development environment, you are now ready to learn about the basic structure of a Qt C++ application, which we will cover in the next topic. **If you need help or want to leave a comment, please do so below. We will respond to your inquiries as soon as possible.**