Create mobile apps with Qt Creator

Easy Apps

© Lead Image © Denys Rudyi, 123RF.com

© Lead Image © Denys Rudyi, 123RF.com

Article from Issue 197/2017
Author(s):

Find out how to create a cross-platform app with the veteran tool Qt Creator.

Qt has been around for more than 20 years. During this time, developers have used several approaches to develop graphical interfaces. More specifically, you might recall Qt Widgets [1], Qt Quick [2], and Qt Quick Controls 2 [3]. Qt beginners who want to build mobile, cross-platform apps might perhaps be confused by this diversity, especially since all the technologies are still in use.

Qt runs on different platforms: Desktop, embedded, and mobile. For desktop applications (OS X, Windows, Linux), developers are more likely to go for Qt Widgets, which offers native controls for the user interface. In contrast, Qt Quick, based on an OpenGL implementation, seeks to abstract the UI controls to deploy Qt across platforms. Mobile apps developed with Qt Quick do not look native, nor is their performance very convincing. This changed, however, with Qt 5.7, which introduced the lightweight Qt Quick Controls 2. The name is a bit deceptive, because it is not a new version of Qt Quick, but a completely new development.

Mobile Controls

Qt Quick Controls 2 comes with many additional controls and with new containers that simplify development. Navigation elements, now standard in mobile applications, are also on board. Table 1 shows an overview of the elements provided by Qt Quick Controls 2.

[...]

Use Express-Checkout link below to read the full article (PDF).

Buy this article as PDF

Express-Checkout as PDF
Price $2.95
(incl. VAT)

Buy Linux Magazine

SINGLE ISSUES
 
SUBSCRIPTIONS
 
TABLET & SMARTPHONE APPS
Get it on Google Play

US / Canada

Get it on Google Play

UK / Australia

Related content

  • Firefox for Mobile (Fennec)

    Firefox goes mobile – a “desktop” browser in the palm of your hand.

  • Q-DVD-Author

    Authoring video DVDs with Linux was a problem for a long time, but a few useful tools are closing the gap. And Q-DVD-Author gives you a handy front-end for controlling the process.

  • Cinnamon and Mate

    The Cinnamon and Mate desktop systems have stirred up plenty attention around the Linux world. We'll show you around these innovative new desktop systems and help you decide which is right for you.

  • Tutorials – Cordova Sensor

    Frameworks like Cordova make creating simple mobile apps quite easy. Making apps that use your phone's sensor is slightly trickier, but, thanks to a new universal standard, things are not as hard as you may think.

  • Perl — Responsive Web Design

    Make your blog look good on both desktop monitors and modern smartphones with high-resolution graphics by adding CSS and media queries to change the layout on the fly.

comments powered by Disqus
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.

Learn More

News