qmake
qmake is a build tool for applications, libraries, and other components.
What qmake is
qmake is a build tool for applications, libraries, and other components. It expands project files into Makefiles, with `.pro` files describing source files, configuration, libraries, and include paths. Templates support application, library, and plugin projects, and qmake supplies build rules for Qt’s moc and uic tools. Projects can reference third-party libraries; for supported libraries such as D-Bus and ogg, qmake can use pkg-config. It can also generate Microsoft Visual Studio project files and, on macOS, Xcode project files. Its iOS features include creating universal binaries, frameworks, and bundles. In Qt 6, qmake remains supported for building Qt applications, but it cannot compile custom Qt plugins or libraries that rely on Qt 5 build-system internals. qmake is free, with the Qt Community Edition available under LGPL or GPL terms. Qt warns that building an untrusted project may execute code on the build machine because developer tools treat processed projects as trusted input.
Good
- Free, with a Community Edition under LGPL or GPL terms
- Templates cover applications, libraries, and plugins
- Can generate Visual Studio and Xcode project files
- Includes iOS support for binaries, frameworks, and bundles
Watch out
- Cannot build certain custom Qt 5-dependent plugins or libraries in Qt 6
- Building untrusted projects can execute code on the build machine
- Community Edition has source-code obligations and limited capability access
Who it suits
qmake suits developers building Qt applications or managing projects that need Makefiles or generated IDE project files. It is also relevant to teams targeting iOS or working with supported third-party libraries.
Verdict
qmake provides project-file-based build management for Qt applications and related components across supported platforms. Check the Qt 6 limitation and treat projects being built as trusted input.
Plans and prices
From qmake's own pricing page, checked 11 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Qt Community Edition | Free | Open-source use under LGPL or GPL · source code must be open to copy, modify, and distribute · limited access to some Qt capabilities |
The facts
Each one read from qmake's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Build security
- Qt warns that developer tools such as qmake treat processed projects as trusted input, so building an untrusted project can execute code on the build machine.checked 11 Oct 2001
- IDE project generation
- qmake can generate Microsoft Visual Studio project files and, on macOS, Xcode project files.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Licensing
- Qt offers commercial and open-source licensing, with the Community Edition available under LGPL or GPL terms.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Mobile targets
- The platform notes describe qmake features for iOS, including creating universal binaries, frameworks, and bundles.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Project files
- qmake project files use `.pro` files that can specify source files, configuration, libraries, and include paths.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Project types
- qmake has templates for building applications, libraries, and plugins.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Purpose
- qmake manages the build process for applications, libraries, and other components by expanding project files into Makefiles.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Qt 6 limitation
- In Qt 6, qmake remains supported for building Qt applications but cannot compile custom Qt plugins or libraries that rely on Qt 5 build-system internals.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Qt tools
- qmake automatically includes build rules for Qt's moc and uic tools.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Security reporting
- Qt directs reports about open-source Qt vulnerabilities to [email protected] and says it does not currently have a bug bounty program.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Security responsibility
- Qt describes application security as a shared responsibility among application developers, Qt Group and Qt Project, and operators or device manufacturers.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Third-party libraries
- Project files can specify third-party libraries and include paths, and qmake can use pkg-config for supported libraries such as D-Bus and ogg.checked 11 Oct 2001
The company
- Headquarters
- Espoo, Finlandchecked 28 Sep 2001
- Maker and location
- Qt Group is headquartered in Espoo, Finland, and its company history page says the first public Qt Framework version was released in 1995.checked 11 Oct 2001
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