Download Qt Free: The Best Framework for Open Source Development

How to Download Qt Free

Qt is a powerful development framework for creating cross-platform applications and embedded devices. It offers a comprehensive set of C++ library classes, APIs, tools, and components that make software development easier and faster. Whether you are a beginner or a professional, you can use Qt to create stunning user interfaces, high-performance applications, and innovative solutions.

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But how can you download Qt free and start using it for your projects? In this article, we will explain what Qt is, how to choose the right license for your project, how to download Qt open source, and how to contribute to the Qt community. Let's get started!

What is Qt and Why Use It?

Qt is a software development framework that enables you to create applications and embedded devices that run on all major desktop platforms and most mobile or embedded platforms. It was originally developed by Trolltech in 1995 and is now maintained by The Qt Company and the Qt Project. Qt is written in C++ and supports multiple programming languages, such as Python, Java, JavaScript, and QML.

Qt has many advantages over other frameworks, such as:

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• It produces highly readable, maintainable, and reusable code with high runtime performance and small footprint.

• It provides a rich set of widgets, controls, graphics, multimedia, networking, database, and testing modules that cover most common use cases.

• It supports a declarative approach for building dynamic user interfaces with QML and Qt Quick.

• It offers a unified development environment with Qt Creator IDE, Qt Design Studio, and other tools for designing, coding, debugging, testing, and deploying applications.

• It has a large and active community of developers, users, and contributors who provide support, feedback, and improvements.

Qt Framework

The Qt framework contains the core functionality of Qt, such as the library classes, the APIs, and the platform abstraction layer. The framework is divided into two categories: Qt Essentials and Qt Add-Ons. The Qt Essentials define the foundation of Qt on all platforms and are available under both open source and commercial licenses. The Qt Add-Ons provide additional functionality for specific domains or platforms and are available under various licenses.

The following table shows some of the most important modules in the Qt framework:

ModuleDescription

Qt CoreCore non-graphical classes used by other modules.

Qt GUIBase classes for graphical user interface components. Includes OpenGL.

Qt MultimediaClasses for audio, video, radio and camera functionality.

Qt NetworkClasses to make network programming easier and more portable.

Qt QuickA declarative framework for building highly dynamic applications with custom user interfaces.

Qt SQLClasses for database integration using SQL.

Qt OpenGLOpenGL support classes. Deprecated in favor of the QOpenGL classes in the Qt GUI module.

Qt Wayland CompositorProvides a framework to develop a Wayland compositor.

Qt SensorsProvides access to sensor hardware and motion gesture recognition.

Qt WebViewDisplays web content in a QML application by using APIs native to the platform, without the need to use a web engine.

Qt WebEngineProvides a web browser engine that makes it easy to embed content from the World Wide Web into your Qt application.

Qt WebSocketsProvides WebSocket communication compliant with RFC 6455.

Qt XMLClasses for handling XML documents and streams. Deprecated in favor of QXmlStreamReader and QXmlStreamWriter classes in the Qt Core module.

Qt Tools

Qt also provides a set of tools that help you develop, build, test, and deploy your applications. Some of the most important tools are:

• Qt Creator: An integrated development environment (IDE) that supports code editing, debugging, testing, version control, and project management.

• Qt Design Studio: A UI design and development tool that enables you to create fluid, animated, and responsive UIs using Qt Quick.

• Qt Assistant: A documentation browser that provides access to the Qt reference documentation and examples.

• Qt Linguist: A tool for translating Qt applications into different languages.

• Qt Installer Framework: A tool for creating installers and offline packages for your Qt applications.

• Qt Maintenance Tool: A tool for updating or uninstalling Qt components on your system.

How to Choose the Right License for Your Project

Before you download Qt, you need to decide which license suits your project best. Qt offers two types of licenses: open source and commercial. Depending on your project requirements, you may choose one or the other, or a combination of both.

Open Source License

If you want to use Qt for free and contribute to the Qt community, you can choose the open source license. The open source license allows you to use Qt for any kind of project, as long as you comply with the terms and conditions of the license. The open source license also grants you access to the source code of Qt and the right to modify and distribute it.

The open source license for Qt is either the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL) version 3 or the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2 or 3. The LGPL allows you to link your application with Qt dynamically without affecting your own license, while the GPL requires you to license your application under the same terms as Qt. You can choose either license depending on your preference and compatibility with your project.

Commercial License

If you want to use Qt for a proprietary project or a project that is not compatible with the open source license, you can choose the commercial license. The commercial license allows you to use Qt without any restrictions on your project type, distribution, or licensing. The commercial license also provides you with additional benefits, such as technical support, security updates, and exclusive features.

The commercial license for Qt is a paid subscription that varies depending on your project size, scope, and duration. You can choose from different plans and options that suit your needs and budget. You can also request a free trial or a quote from The Qt Company before you purchase the commercial license.

How to Download Qt Open Source

If you have decided to use Qt under the open source license, you can download it from the official website or from other sources. There are three main ways to download Qt open source:

Using Qt Online Installer

The easiest way to download Qt open source is to use the Qt online installer. The online installer is a small executable file that downloads and installs the latest version of Qt and its components on your system. You can choose which components you want to install and customize your installation settings.

To use the online installer, follow these steps:

• Go to and click on "Download".

• Select your operating system and download the online installer file.

• Run the online installer file and follow the instructions on the screen.

• Accept the open source license agreement and choose which components you want to install.

• Wait for the installation to finish and launch Qt Creator or any other tool you installed.

Cloning Qt Git Repository

If you want to get the latest development version of Qt or contribute to the Qt project, you can clone the Qt git repository. The git repository contains the source code of Qt and its modules, as well as documentation, examples, tests, and tools. You can clone the entire repository or only specific modules depending on your needs and preferences.

To clone the Qt git repository, follow these steps:

• Install git on your system if you don't have it already.

• Go to and browse the available repositories.

• Choose the repository you want to clone and copy its URL.

• Open a terminal or command prompt and navigate to the directory where you want to clone the repository.

• Type git clone [URL] and press enter. Replace [URL] with the URL of the repository you copied.

• Wait for the cloning process to finish and enter the cloned directory.

• Run ./init-repository to initialize the submodules and fetch the dependencies.

• Build Qt from source by following the instructions in the README file or on the Qt website.

Downloading Qt Source Code Archives

If you want to download a specific version of Qt or have a slow or unreliable internet connection, you can download Qt source code archives. The source code archives are compressed files that contain the source code of Qt and its modules for a given release. You can download them from the official website or from other mirrors and extract them on your system.

To download Qt source code archives, follow these steps:

• Go to and browse the available versions of Qt.

• Select the version you want to download and click on it.

• Select the subdirectory that matches your operating system and architecture.

• Select the file that has "src" in its name and download it.

• Extract the downloaded file to a directory of your choice.

• Build Qt from source by following the instructions in the README file or on the Qt website.

How to Contribute to Qt Community

If you use Qt open source, you can also contribute to the Qt community by reporting bugs, submitting patches, joining forums, and more. By contributing, you can help improve Qt, learn new skills, meet other developers, and have fun. Here are some ways you can contribute to the Qt community:

Reporting Bugs and Vulnerabilities

If you encounter any problems or issues while using Qt, you can report them to the Qt bug tracker. The bug tracker is a web-based tool that allows you to submit, view, comment, and track bug reports. You can also report security vulnerabilities to The Qt Company through a separate channel.

To report bugs and vulnerabilities, follow these steps:

• Create an account on if you don't have one already.

• Login to your account and click on "Create" at the top right corner.

• Select the project and component that are relevant to your bug report.

• Fill in the required fields, such as summary, description, priority, severity, etc.

• Attach any files or screenshots that can help reproduce or illustrate the bug.

• Click on "Create" at the bottom right corner to submit your bug report.

• If you want to report a security vulnerability, do not use the bug tracker. Instead, send an email to with a detailed description of the vulnerability and how to exploit it. The Qt Company will respond to your email as soon as possible.

Submitting Patches and Improvements

If you have made any changes or improvements to Qt source code, you can submit them to the Qt project for review and inclusion. The Qt project uses Gerrit as a code review tool that allows you to upload your patches, get feedback from other developers, and merge your changes into the main branch. You can also use Gerrit to review other people's patches and provide comments or suggestions.

To submit patches and improvements, follow these steps:

• Create an account on if you don't have one already.

• Login to your account and click on "Settings" at the top right corner.

• Select "Agreements" from the left menu and sign the Contributor License Agreement (CLA) if you haven't done so already. The CLA is a legal document that grants The Qt Company and the Qt Project permission to use your contributions to Qt.

• Select "SSH Public Keys" from the left menu and add your SSH public key if you haven't done so already. The SSH public key is used to authenticate your identity when you push your patches to Gerrit.

• Clone the Qt git repository or the specific module you want to work on to your local machine. See the previous section on how to clone the Qt git repository.

• Create a new branch for your changes and make your modifications to the source code.

• Commit your changes locally and push them to Gerrit using the command git push origin HEAD:refs/for/dev. Replace dev with the name of the branch you want to merge your changes into.

• Go to and find your patch in the list of open changes. Click on it to see the details and feedback.

• Address any comments or suggestions from other developers and update your patch accordingly. You can push new versions of your patch using the same command as before.

• Wait for your patch to be approved and merged by a maintainer of the Qt project. You will receive an email notification when this happens.

Joining Qt Forums and Mailing Lists

If you have any questions, suggestions, or feedback about Qt, you can join the Qt forums and mailing lists. The Qt forums and mailing lists are online platforms where you can communicate with other Qt users and developers, share your experiences, ask for help, and learn new things. You can also help others by answering their questions, providing tips, or sharing your knowledge.

To join the Qt forums and mailing lists, follow these steps:

• Create an account on if you don't have one already.

• Login to your account and browse the available categories and topics. You can also search for keywords or tags that interest you.

• Select a topic that matches your question or comment and click on it. You can also create a new topic by clicking on "New Topic" at the top right corner.

• Write your message and click on "Submit" at the bottom right corner. You can also attach files or images to your message if needed.

• Wait for other users or developers to reply to your message and engage in the conversation. You can also reply to other messages that interest you.

• If you want to join a mailing list, go to and select the mailing list that suits your interests. You can also subscribe to multiple mailing lists if you want.

• Enter your email address and a password and click on "Subscribe" at the bottom of the page. You will receive a confirmation email with a link to activate your subscription.

• Click on the link in the confirmation email and follow the instructions on the screen. You can also customize your subscription settings, such as delivery mode, digest options, etc.

• To send a message to a mailing list, simply write an email to the address of the mailing list. For example, if you want to send a message to the qt-interest mailing list, write an email to .

• To receive messages from a mailing list, simply check your email inbox regularly. You can also filter or sort your messages by sender, subject, date, etc.

Conclusion

In this article, we have learned how to download Qt free and start using it for our projects. We have also learned how to choose the right license for our project, how to contribute to the Qt community, and how to join the Qt forums and mailing lists. We hope that this article has helped you get started with Qt and that you enjoy developing with it.

FAQs

• Q: How do I update Qt?

• A: If you have installed Qt using the online installer, you can use the Qt Maintenance Tool to update Qt components on your system. The Qt Maintenance Tool is located in the same directory as the online installer file. Simply run it and follow the instructions on the screen. If you have downloaded Qt from other sources, you will need to download and install the new version manually.

• Q: How do I uninstall Qt?

• A: If you have installed Qt using the online installer, you can use the Qt Maintenance Tool to uninstall Qt components from your system. The Qt Maintenance Tool is located in the same directory as the online installer file. Simply run it and follow the instructions on the screen. If you have downloaded Qt from other sources, you will need to delete the Qt directory and any related files manually.

• Q: How do I get help with Qt?

• A: If you need help with Qt, you can use the following resources:

• The Qt documentation: . It contains the reference documentation, tutorials, guides, examples, and FAQs for Qt.

• The Qt forums: . It is a place where you can ask questions, share your experiences, and learn from other Qt users and developers.

• The Qt mailing lists: . It is a place where you can communicate with other Qt users and developers via email.

• The Qt bug tracker: . It is a place where you can report bugs, request features, and track the progress of the Qt project.

• The Qt code review: . It is a place where you can submit patches, review code, and contribute to the Qt project.

• The Qt IRC channel: . It is a place where you can chat with other Qt users and developers in real time.

• Q: How do I learn Qt?

• A: If you want to learn Qt, you can use the following resources:

• The Qt documentation: . It contains the reference documentation, tutorials, guides, examples, and FAQs for Qt.

• The Qt for beginners: . It is a guide that introduces you to the basics of Qt development.

• The Qt examples and demos: . It is a collection of code samples and applications that demonstrate how to use various features of Qt.

• The Qt training courses: . It is a list of online and offline courses that teach you how to use Qt effectively.

• The Qt books: . It is a list of books that cover different aspects of Qt development.

• Q: How do I create a GUI application with Qt?

• A: If you want to create a GUI application with Qt, you can use the following steps:

• Launch Qt Creator and create a new project. Choose "Qt Widgets Application" or "Qt Quick Application" depending on whether you want to use C++ or QML for your user interface.

• Design your user interface using the integrated UI designer or by writing code. You can use widgets, controls, layouts, graphics, animations, and more to create your UI.

• Write your application logic using C++, Python, Java, JavaScript, or QML. You can use signals and slots, properties, models, views, delegates, and more to implement your functionality.

• Build and run your application using the integrated compiler and debugger. You can also test your application using the integrated testing tools.

• Deploy your application using the integrated deployment tools. You can create installers, packages, or standalone executables for different platforms.

• Q: How do I create an embedded device with Qt?

• A: If you want to create an embedded device with Qt, you can use the following steps:

• Choose a hardware platform that supports Qt. You can use one of the supported boards or devices listed on or use your own custom hardware.

• Install Qt for Device Creation on your development machine. Qt for Device Creation is a commercial product that provides a complete solution for creating embedded devices with Qt. It includes Qt libraries, tools, and pre-built software stacks for various platforms.

• Create your device image using the Qt Automotive Suite or the Boot to Qt software stack. The Qt Automotive Suite is a product that provides a ready-made platform for creating in-vehicle infotainment systems with Qt. The Boot to Qt software stack is a minimal Linux-based platform that boots directly into a Qt application.

• Flash your device image to your hardware using the integrated flashing tools. You can also use your own flashing tools if you prefer.

• Create your application using Qt Creator or any other IDE. You can use the same steps as creating a GUI application with Qt, except that you need to select the appropriate kit and device for your project.

• Deploy and debug your application using the integrated deployment and debugging tools. You can also use remote logging, profiling, and testing tools to optimize your application.

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