# Qt Creator IDE

:::warning Qt Creator has been replaced by [VSCode](https://px4.gitbook.io/px4-user-guide/development/getting_started/dev_env/vscode) as the officially supported (and recommended) IDE for PX4 development. :::

[Qt Creator](https://www.qt.io/download-open-source) is a popular cross-platform open-source IDE that can be used to compile and debug PX4.

## Qt Creator Functionality

Qt creator offers clickable symbols, auto-completion of the complete codebase and building and flashing firmware.

![](https://4155462212-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LArEa7z2SPawfl3HpCD%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5e2d2ad9a8fde57b53a9fe6f92fd90da63e0552f%2Fqtcreator.png?alt=media)

The video below shows how it is used.

@[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkk8zttWxEI\&rel=0\&vq=hd720)

## IDE Setup

### Qt Creator on Linux

Before starting Qt Creator, the [project file](https://gitlab.kitware.com/cmake/community/-/wikis/doc/cmake/Generator-Specific-Information#codeblocks-generator) needs to be created:

```sh
cd ~/src/PX4-Autopilot
mkdir ../Firmware-build
cd ../Firmware-build
cmake ../PX4-Autopilot -G "CodeBlocks - Unix Makefiles"
```

Then load the CMakeLists.txt in the root PX4-Autopilot folder via **File > Open File or Project** (Select the CMakeLists.txt file).

After loading, the **play** button can be configured to run the project by selecting 'custom executable' in the run target configuration and entering 'make' as executable and 'upload' as argument.

### Qt Creator on Windows

:::note Windows has not been tested for PX4 development with Qt Creator. :::

### Qt Creator on Mac OS

Before starting Qt Creator, the [project file](https://gitlab.kitware.com/cmake/community/-/wikis/doc/cmake/Generator-Specific-Information#codeblocks-generator) needs to be created:

```sh
cd ~/src/PX4-Autopilot
mkdir -p build/creator
cd build/creator
cmake ../.. -G "CodeBlocks - Unix Makefiles"
```

That's it! Start *Qt Creator*, then complete the steps in the video below to set up the project to build.

@[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pa0gS30zNw\&rel=0\&vq=hd720)
