How to install open source Qt libraries 5 binary version for Windows

Question

This question is specifically about Qt libraries 5.0.0 for Windows (VS 2010 406 MB) at http://qt-project.org/downloads (but I assume it will apply to future 5.x.x versions too), and installing that on a "clean" Windows workstation.

What is needed to get it work? I am after exact minimal set of download packages, meaning an ordered list of "fully qualified" download names, preferably with links to Microsoft downloads.

The latest Qt Creator from same download page will be used as IDE, so Visual Studio is not required to be installed, and indeed it would be better if that can be avoided.

My current understanding is, I will need to find VC++ Express, then find SP1 update for it, then find debugging package to get debugger backend for Qt Creator. Not sure if I need a Windows SDK package, or if I can replace VS with some version of Windows SDK. And no, the qt-project web pages do not answer this, the instructions there are pretty vague for this specific scenario (using the binary library download without the full non-free Visual Studio 2010).

Answer 1

Strictly, all you need is the Windows SDK v7.1 and its SP1 compiler update. Be sure to install the "Debugging tools for Windows" as well (needed by Qt Creator for debugger integration). This will install the commandline compiler and tools included in VS2010.

As an IDE, you can use Qt Creator, which is just awesome for Qt projects and great even for non-Qt projects. Of course you're free to use any IDE you want, it's just that Qt Creator comes with, well, everything: integrated Qt documentation, integrated GUI designer, integrated QML designer, version control integration (svn/git need to be installed seperately).

Alternatively, you will need to find VS2010 Express, and its update, though this will leave you without Qt integration in the IDE (because the free VS versions do not support extensions).

Edit by hyde to add links (tested Jan 2013):

• Visual C++2010 Express can be downloaded from this page (scroll down)
• Visual Studio 2010 Service Pack download page