The Boot to Qt software stack is a light-weight, Qt-optimized, full software stack for embedded Linux systems that is installed into the actual target device. The Boot to Qt software stack is using the traditional embedded Linux kernel built with Poky, the reference distribution of Yocto Project. The software stack is designed for great customization possibilities. It contains only components required in the embedded device, resulting in smaller image sizes while keeping valuable development tools available.

See the target device specific Installation Guides for detailed information about how to install the Boot to Qt software stack and flash the device.

IMPORTANT: Make sure to follow the Boot to Qt software stack Installation Guide for your target device closely!

Boot to Qt Supported Target Devices

The Boot to Qt software stack installation contains a set of pre-built images for supported devices that are listed in Supported Target Devices and Development Hosts. Thus in order to utilize Qt's functionality in a supported device, you only need to install the Boot to Qt software stack to your host platform and flash the device's memory card or internal memory with the pre-built image.

You should note that the usage of the stack is not limited to the TQC Supported devices. You can use tools provided by Yocto Project to build a custom image with the Boot to Qt software stack for your target device.

With the pre-built Boot to Qt images, you can quickly start to develop applications on you target hardware. However, the Boot to Qt images are not meant for production without additional changes. If you need help with customization of the Boot to Qt images for your use case, contact Qt Professional Services.

For supported target devices in older Qt for Device Creation releases, see Qt Documentation Archives.

Essential Use Cases and Features

The Boot to Qt software stack is ideal for the following use cases:

• Evaluating Qt on real embedded environments using one of the pre-built images.
• Getting the embedded development environment up and running in no time. Later, the stack can be customized to production by building embedded Linux images including proprietary Yocto Project recipes.

The Boot to Qt software stack installation provides the following embedded specific features:

• Pre-built Boot to Qt software stack for immediate prototyping. See Supported Target Devices and Development Hosts for a list of devices.
• Qt Virtual Keyboard that is a complete virtual keyboard solution supporting word-prediction and multiple languages.
• Direct on-device debugging. See Remote Debugging.
• One-click deployment to embedded targets.
• Yocto Project recipes for customizing the pre-built image. For more information, see Building Your Own Embedded Linux Image.
• Over-the-Air updates. For more information, see Over-The-Air Update.

Contents of Manual

• Supported Target Devices and Development Hosts
• Development Environment
• Development Host Requirements
  • Requirements for Linux/X11
  • Requirements for Windows
  • Requirements for macOS
  • Requirements for Emulator
• Installation Guides
  • Toradex Devices
  • NVIDIA Jetson TX2
  • Intel NUC
  • Qt Board Support Packages
• Qt Device Creation Demos
• Tutorial: Deploying Your First Project with Boot to Qt
• Using Boot to Qt Software Stack
  • Deploying Qt Projects with Boot to Qt
  • Boot to Qt and Qt Modules
  • Building Your Own Embedded Linux Image
  • Linking to Static Builds of Qt
  • Adding New Device Configurations
  • Using Meta-Qt5
  • Qt Board Support Packages
  • Package Manager in Boot to Qt
  • Enabling Web Server in Boot to Qt Image
• Customization
• ChangeLog
• Troubleshooting
• Known Issues
• License Information

Reference Documentation

• Qt Device Utilities
• Qt Automotive Suite
• Qt Configuration Tool