qmake

Generate build files for Qt projects

TLDR

Generate Makefile from .pro file

$ qmake [project.pro]

Generate for debug build

$ qmake CONFIG+=debug [project.pro]

Generate for release build

$ qmake CONFIG+=release [project.pro]

Generate Xcode project

$ qmake -spec macx-xcode [project.pro]

Generate Visual Studio project

$ qmake -spec win32-msvc [project.pro] -tp vc

Create new .pro file

$ qmake -project

Show Qt configuration

$ qmake -query

SYNOPSIS

qmake [-o makefile] [-spec spec] [CONFIG+=options] [options] [project.pro]

qmake generates build system files for Qt projects. It reads .pro project files and produces Makefiles or IDE project files.Project files (.pro) declare sources, headers, libraries, and build options. The qmake syntax is declarative, simpler than hand-written Makefiles.Configuration options control build type, features, and platform specifics. Debug and release builds use different compiler flags.Platform specifications target different build systems. Each platform has makespec files defining compiler, linker, and platform settings.IDE integration generates native project files. Xcode projects on macOS, Visual Studio solutions on Windows.Qt modules are linked using QT variable. Network, SQL, widgets, and other modules are added as needed.

PARAMETERS

-o file

Write output to file. If not specified, qmake chooses a suitable name.

-spec spec

Use spec as path to platform and compiler information, overriding QMAKESPEC.

-makefile

Generate Makefile (default mode).

-project

Generate a .pro project file from source files in the current directory.

-tp type

Target project type (e.g., vc for Visual Studio).

-query [var]

Query Qt configuration variables. Without var, lists all values.

-set var value

Set a persistent Qt configuration variable.

-unset var

Unset a persistent Qt configuration variable.

CONFIG+=value

Add configuration option (e.g., debug, release, static).

-r, --recursive

Process subdirectories recursively.

-after

Process command line assignments after project file.

-early

Process command line assignments before project file.

-t template

Override the TEMPLATE variable.

-d

Enable debug output. Multiple -d flags increase verbosity.

-v

Display version information.

-Wall, -Wnone, -Wparser, -Wlogic

Control qmake warning levels.

-cache FILE, -nocache

Use an alternative .qmake.cache file or skip it entirely.

-nodepend

Disable automatic dependency generation.

-help

Display help information (single-dash form is canonical).

INSTALL

sudo apt install qtchooser

sudo dnf install qtchooser

sudo apk add qt5-qtbase-dev

CAVEATS

Being replaced by CMake for new Qt6 projects. Shadow builds recommended for clean source trees. Some features are platform-specific.

HISTORY

qmake has been Qt's build system since the late 1990s, developed by Trolltech (now The Qt Company). While CMake became the primary build system for Qt 6, qmake remains supported and widely used for existing projects.