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<td ><a href="index.html">Qt 5.9</a></td><td >Qt for macOS - Building from Source</td></tr></table><table class="buildversion"><tr>
<td id="buildversion" width="100%" align="right">Qt 5.9.4 Reference Documentation</td>
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<h3><a name="toc">Contents</a></h3>
<ul>
<li class="level1"><a href="#step-1-install-the-license-file-commercially-licensed-qt-only">Step 1: Install the License File (Commercially Licensed Qt Only)</a></li>
<li class="level1"><a href="#step-2-unpack-the-archive">Step 2: Unpack the Archive</a></li>
<li class="level1"><a href="#step-3-build-the-qt-library">Step 3: Build the Qt Library</a></li>
<li class="level1"><a href="#step-4-set-the-environment-variables">Step 4: Set the Environment Variables</a></li>
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<h1 class="title">Qt for macOS - Building from Source</h1>
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<p>Qt for macOS has some requirements that are given in more detail in the <a href="osx-requirements.html">Qt for macOS Requirements</a> document.</p>
<p>The following instructions describe how to install Qt from the source package. You can download the Qt 5 sources from the <a href="http://qt.io/download">Downloads</a> page. For more information, visit the <a href="gettingstarted.html">Getting Started with Qt</a> page.</p>
<a name="step-1-install-the-license-file-commercially-licensed-qt-only"></a>
<h2 id="step-1-install-the-license-file-commercially-licensed-qt-only">Step 1: Install the License File (Commercially Licensed Qt Only)</h2>
<p>If you use Qt with a commercial license, the Qt tools look for a local license file. If you are using a binary installer or the commercial Qt Creator, your licenses are automatically fetched and stored in your local user profile (<code>$HOME/Library/Application Support/Qt/qtlicenses.ini</code> file).</p>
<p>If you do not use any binary installer or Qt Creator, you can download the respective license file from your <a href="https://account.qt.io/">Qt Account</a> Web portal and save it to your user profile as <code>$HOME/.qt-license</code>. If you prefer a different location or file name, you need to set the <code>QT_LICENSE_FILE</code> environment variable to the respective file path.</p>
<a name="step-2-unpack-the-archive"></a>
<h2 id="step-2-unpack-the-archive">Step 2: Unpack the Archive</h2>
<p>Unpack the archive if you have not done so already. For example, if you have the <code>qt-everywhere-opensource-src-%VERSION%.tar.gz</code> package, type the following commands at a command line prompt:</p>
<pre class="cpp">
cd <span class="operator">/</span>tmp
gunzip qt<span class="operator">-</span>everywhere<span class="operator">-</span>opensource<span class="operator">-</span>src<span class="operator">-</span><span class="operator">%</span>VERSION<span class="operator">%</span><span class="operator">.</span>tar<span class="operator">.</span>gz <span class="preprocessor"># uncompress the archive</span>
tar xvf qt<span class="operator">-</span>everywhere<span class="operator">-</span>opensource<span class="operator">-</span>src<span class="operator">-</span><span class="operator">%</span>VERSION<span class="operator">%</span><span class="operator">.</span>tar <span class="preprocessor"># unpack it</span>
</pre>
<p>This creates the directory <code>/tmp/qt-everywhere-opensource-src-%VERSION%</code> containing the files from the archive.</p>
<a name="step-3-build-the-qt-library"></a>
<h2 id="step-3-build-the-qt-library">Step 3: Build the Qt Library</h2>
<p>To configure the Qt library for your machine type, run the <code>./configure</code> script in the package directory.</p>
<p>By default, Qt is configured for installation in the <code>/usr/local/Qt-%VERSION%</code> directory, but this can be changed by using the <code>-prefix</code> option.</p>
<pre class="cpp">
cd <span class="operator">/</span>tmp<span class="operator">/</span>qt<span class="operator">-</span>everywhere<span class="operator">-</span>opensource<span class="operator">-</span>src<span class="operator">-</span><span class="operator">%</span>VERSION<span class="operator">%</span>
<span class="operator">.</span><span class="operator">/</span>configure
</pre>
<p>By default, Qt is built as a framework, but you can built it as a set of dynamic libraries (dylibs) by specifying the <code>-no-framework</code> option.</p>
<p>Qt can also be configured to be built with debugging symbols. This process is described in detail in the <a href="debug.html">Debugging Techniques</a> document.</p>
<p>The <a href="configure-options.html">Configure Options</a> page contains more information about the configure options.</p>
<p>To create the library and compile all the examples and tools, type:</p>
<pre class="cpp">
make
</pre>
<p>If <code>-prefix</code> is outside the build directory, you need to install the library, examples, and tools in the appropriate place. To do this, type:</p>
<pre class="cpp">
sudo make <span class="operator">-</span>j1 install
</pre>
<p>This command requires that you have administrator access on your machine.</p>
<p><b>Note: </b>There is a potential race condition when running make install with multiple jobs. It is best to only run one make job (-j1) for the install.</p><a name="step-4-set-the-environment-variables"></a>
<h2 id="step-4-set-the-environment-variables">Step 4: Set the Environment Variables</h2>
<p>In order to use Qt, some environment variables need to be extended.</p>
<pre class="cpp">
PATH <span class="operator">-</span> to locate qmake<span class="operator">,</span> moc and other <span class="type">Qt</span> tools
</pre>
<p>This is done like this:</p>
<p>In <code>.profile</code> (if your shell is bash), add the following lines:</p>
<pre class="cpp">
PATH<span class="operator">=</span><span class="operator">/</span>usr<span class="operator">/</span>local<span class="operator">/</span><span class="type">Qt</span><span class="operator">-</span><span class="operator">%</span>VERSION<span class="operator">%</span><span class="operator">/</span>bin:$PATH
<span class="keyword">export</span> PATH
</pre>
<p>In <code>.login</code> (in case your shell is csh or tcsh), add the following line:</p>
<pre class="cpp">
setenv PATH <span class="operator">/</span>usr<span class="operator">/</span>local<span class="operator">/</span><span class="type">Qt</span><span class="operator">-</span><span class="operator">%</span>VERSION<span class="operator">%</span><span class="operator">/</span>bin:$PATH
</pre>
<p>If you use a different shell, please modify your environment variables accordingly.</p>
<p><b>That's all. Qt is now installed.</b></p>
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