Qmake

Qmake is a tool that helps simplify the build process for development project across different platforms. Qmake automates the generation of Makefiles so that only a few lines of information are needed to create each Makefile. qmake can be used for any software project, whether it is written in Qt or not.

Qmake generates a Makefile based on the information in a project file. Project files are created by the developer, and are usually simple, but more sophisticated project files can be created for complex projects. Qmake contains additional features to support development with Qt, automatically including build rules for moc and uic. Qmake can also generate projects for Microsoft Visual studio without requiring the developer to change the project file.

Using qmake

Qmake provides a project-oriented system for managing the build process for applications, libraries, and other components. This approach gives developers control over the source files used, and allows each of the steps in the process to be described concisely, typically within a single file. Qmake expands the information in each project file to a Makefile that executes the necessary commands for compiling and linking.