Benjamin Baka - Getting Started with Qt 5: Introduction to programming Qt 5 for cross-platform application development

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First published: February 2019

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ISBN 978-1-78995-603-0

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Benjamin Baka is a full-stack software developer and is passionate about cutting-edge technologies and elegant programming techniques. He has 10 years in different technologies, from C++, Java, Ruby, Python to Qt. Some of the projects he's working on can be found on his GitHub page. He is currently working on exciting technologies all from the camp of mPedigree Network.

Nibedit Dey is a techno-entrepreneur and innovator with over 8 years of experience in
building complex software-based products using Qt and C++. Before starting his
entrepreneurial journey, he worked for L&T and Tektronix in different research and
development roles. Additionally, he has reviewed The Modern C++ Challenge, Hands-on GUI programming with C++ and Qt5, and Hands-On High Performance Programming with Qt 5books for Packt.

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There are many buzzwords in computing today, most of which revolve around various software technologies and concepts. Browsers have become the preferred means of accessing information and consuming all manner of data. But there is still a void that can only be filled by standalone applications that must be installed and run on an operating system. The browser itself as an application cannot be accessed through a browser and bears witness to this assertion.

Applications such as VLC, Adobe Photoshop, Google Earth, and QGIS are a few examples of applications that run directly on an operating system. Interestingly enough, these well-known software brands are built with Qt.

Qt (pronounced "cute") is a cross-platform application framework and widget toolkit that is used in creating graphical user interface applications that run on a number of different hardware and operating systems. The aforementioned applications were written using this same toolkit.

The main aim of this book is to introduce Qt to the reader. Through the use of simple and easy-to-understand examples, it will walk the user from one concept to the next without focusing too much on theory. The size of the book requires us to be concise in our presentation of materials. Coupled with the ample examples presented, we hope to shorten the path to understanding and learning how to use Qt.

Anyone looking to embark on the development of graphical user interface applications will find this book useful. No prior exposure to other toolkits is required in order to understand this book. However, having such skills will prove useful.

The book does, however, presume that you have a working knowledge in the use of C++. If you can express your thoughts in developing algorithms and the use of object-oriented programming, you will find the content easy to consume.

Expert or intermediate persons with Qt knowledge should seek more detailed materials that are available out there. This book is not a reference guide, and should only be used as introductory material.