vcpkg + Qt + Cmake + Visual Studio 2019

2 min read 04-10-2024

Streamlining Your Qt Development with Vcpkg, CMake, and Visual Studio 2019

Developing cross-platform applications with Qt can be a rewarding but complex experience. Managing dependencies and configuring your build environment efficiently is crucial. This article will guide you through a streamlined workflow using Vcpkg, CMake, and Visual Studio 2019, allowing you to focus on building your application.

The Challenge: Simplifying Qt Dependency Management

Traditionally, building Qt projects often involved manually downloading and installing Qt libraries, along with its numerous dependencies. This process can be tedious, prone to errors, and difficult to manage across different platforms and development environments.

Solution: Harnessing the Power of Vcpkg, CMake, and Visual Studio

This article presents a solution using Vcpkg for dependency management, CMake for build system generation, and Visual Studio 2019 as the IDE. This combination offers several advantages:

Simplified Dependency Management: Vcpkg is a powerful package manager that handles the installation and management of Qt and its dependencies, eliminating manual installations and ensuring consistent build environments across platforms.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: CMake is a cross-platform build system generator that allows you to build your project on various platforms, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, without significant code changes.
Visual Studio Integration: Visual Studio 2019 provides a robust IDE experience with powerful features for debugging, code completion, and project management, making development more efficient.

Setting Up Your Environment

1. Install Vcpkg:

Download the Vcpkg source code from https://github.com/microsoft/vcpkg.
Follow the instructions in the README to build and install Vcpkg on your system.

2. Install Qt:

Use Vcpkg to install the Qt library:
```
vcpkg install qt
```

3. Create Your Project:

Create a new folder for your Qt project.

Inside the folder, create a CMakeLists.txt file with the following content:

cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.10)
project(my_qt_project)

find_package(Qt5 REQUIRED COMPONENTS Widgets)
include_directories(${Qt5_INCLUDE_DIRS})

add_executable(my_qt_project main.cpp)
target_link_libraries(my_qt_project Qt5::Widgets)

Create a main.cpp file with the following content:

#include <QApplication>
#include <QWidget>

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    QApplication app(argc, argv);
    QWidget window;
    window.show();
    return app.exec();
}

4. Generate Visual Studio Project Files:

Open a command prompt or terminal in your project directory.
Run the following command to generate Visual Studio project files:
```
cmake -G "Visual Studio 16 2019" .
```

5. Build and Run Your Project:

Open the generated Visual Studio solution file (e.g., my_qt_project.sln).
Build the project (usually by pressing F7 or Ctrl+Shift+B).
Run the project (by pressing F5 or Ctrl+F5).

Explanation and Additional Tips:

The find_package(Qt5 REQUIRED COMPONENTS Widgets) line in CMakeLists.txt searches for the Qt5 package and requires the Widgets module.
The include_directories(${Qt5_INCLUDE_DIRS}) line includes Qt's header files in your project.
The target_link_libraries(my_qt_project Qt5::Widgets) line links your executable to the Qt Widgets library.
To use other Qt modules, simply add them to the COMPONENTS list in find_package and the target_link_libraries line.
For more complex projects, explore CMake's features for managing dependencies, targets, and build configurations.

Conclusion

Vcpkg, CMake, and Visual Studio 2019 offer a powerful combination for streamlining your Qt development workflow. By effectively managing dependencies, generating build systems, and utilizing a comprehensive IDE, you can focus on building robust and feature-rich Qt applications. This streamlined approach enhances development efficiency and promotes cross-platform compatibility, enabling you to deliver your applications effectively.