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Forum Update on Monday, May 27th 2025

How do I setup a kit to crosscompile for Raspbian for the Pi3?

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  • sneubertS sneubert

    @graniteDev

    to add to SGaist, the mentionted guide is not using Qt for Device Creation (boot to Qt).
    Your are right the guide states it´s not intended for running desktop-style, windowed Qt apps under X11 but as it´s an howto on setting up a crosscompiler for raspbian your are free to choose the platform plugin used to display your app. For XCB see http://doc.qt.io/qt-5/embedded-linux.html#xcb
    Maybe you have to add some additional libs to be able to compile xcb (http://doc.qt.io/qt-5/linux-requirements.html).
    But once again, even if you use the eglfs plugin it´s not using boot to Qt! You are only not using a window manager. BTW this is independent from the decision using widgets or quick, if you use vc4 on the rpi

    G Offline
    G Offline
    graniteDev
    wrote on last edited by
    #8

    @sneubert
    Alright, I'll have to try to figure this out. I'm not familiar enough with Qts inner workings as on the desktop, you download Qt Creator, chose your version of Qt, and then your set.

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    • G Offline
      G Offline
      graniteDev
      wrote on last edited by
      #9

      I've not been able to get passed this part of the instructions from this link https://wiki.qt.io/RaspberryPi2EGLFS

      git clone git://code.qt.io/qt/qtbase.git -b <qt-version>
      cd qtbase
      ./configure -release -opengl es2 -device <rpi-version> -device-option CROSS_COMPILE=~/raspi/tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-raspbian/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf- -sysroot ~/raspi/sysroot -opensource -confirm-license -make libs -prefix /usr/local/qt5pi -extprefix ~/raspi/qt5pi -hostprefix ~/raspi/qt5 -v
      

      And I modified it to be as so to fit my configuration and run it inside the raspi/qtbase/ directory

      ./configure -release -opengl es2 -device linux-rasp-pi3-g++ -device-option CROSS_COMPILE=/home/brandon/development/raspi/tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-raspbian/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf- -sysroot /home/brandon/development/raspi/sysroot -opensource -confirm-license -make libs -prefix /usr/local/qt5pi -extprefix /home/brandon/development/raspi/qt5pi -hostprefix /home/brandon/development/raspi/qt5 -v
      

      It runs for a while, lots of text flying passed the screen, and then it stops, and says it this:

      Project ERROR: Cannot run target compiler '/home/brandon/development/raspi/tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-raspbian/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++'. Output:
      ===================
      sh: 1: /home/brandon/development/raspi/tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-raspbian/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++: not found
      ===================
      Maybe you forgot to setup the environment?
      
      

      I don't have the compiler, but I don't know why it's missing. I have not had any issues with the instructions up to this point - but since I'm completely baffled by what exactly the instructions are having me do, I don't know how fix this.

      For the record, it's completely maddening how difficult it is to get setup to build for the pi. I don't understand why this is so difficult when Qt makes so easy on everything else.

      aha_1980A 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • G graniteDev

        I've not been able to get passed this part of the instructions from this link https://wiki.qt.io/RaspberryPi2EGLFS

        git clone git://code.qt.io/qt/qtbase.git -b <qt-version>
        cd qtbase
        ./configure -release -opengl es2 -device <rpi-version> -device-option CROSS_COMPILE=~/raspi/tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-raspbian/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf- -sysroot ~/raspi/sysroot -opensource -confirm-license -make libs -prefix /usr/local/qt5pi -extprefix ~/raspi/qt5pi -hostprefix ~/raspi/qt5 -v
        

        And I modified it to be as so to fit my configuration and run it inside the raspi/qtbase/ directory

        ./configure -release -opengl es2 -device linux-rasp-pi3-g++ -device-option CROSS_COMPILE=/home/brandon/development/raspi/tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-raspbian/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf- -sysroot /home/brandon/development/raspi/sysroot -opensource -confirm-license -make libs -prefix /usr/local/qt5pi -extprefix /home/brandon/development/raspi/qt5pi -hostprefix /home/brandon/development/raspi/qt5 -v
        

        It runs for a while, lots of text flying passed the screen, and then it stops, and says it this:

        Project ERROR: Cannot run target compiler '/home/brandon/development/raspi/tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-raspbian/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++'. Output:
        ===================
        sh: 1: /home/brandon/development/raspi/tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-raspbian/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++: not found
        ===================
        Maybe you forgot to setup the environment?
        
        

        I don't have the compiler, but I don't know why it's missing. I have not had any issues with the instructions up to this point - but since I'm completely baffled by what exactly the instructions are having me do, I don't know how fix this.

        For the record, it's completely maddening how difficult it is to get setup to build for the pi. I don't understand why this is so difficult when Qt makes so easy on everything else.

        aha_1980A Offline
        aha_1980A Offline
        aha_1980
        Lifetime Qt Champion
        wrote on last edited by
        #10

        @graniteDev said in How do I setup a kit to crosscompile for Raspbian for the Pi3?:

        I don't have the compiler, but I don't know why it's missing.

        Huh? Either you have it, or not. In your configure line, you told configure to use the toolchain CROSS_COMPILE=~/raspi/tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-raspbian/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf-.

        Did you mean .../usr/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf- ?

        Or where is your cross-toolchain installed?

        Qt has to stay free or it will die.

        G 1 Reply Last reply
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        • aha_1980A aha_1980

          @graniteDev said in How do I setup a kit to crosscompile for Raspbian for the Pi3?:

          I don't have the compiler, but I don't know why it's missing.

          Huh? Either you have it, or not. In your configure line, you told configure to use the toolchain CROSS_COMPILE=~/raspi/tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-raspbian/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf-.

          Did you mean .../usr/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf- ?

          Or where is your cross-toolchain installed?

          G Offline
          G Offline
          graniteDev
          wrote on last edited by
          #11
          This post is deleted!
          aha_1980A 1 Reply Last reply
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          • G graniteDev

            This post is deleted!

            aha_1980A Offline
            aha_1980A Offline
            aha_1980
            Lifetime Qt Champion
            wrote on last edited by
            #12

            @graniteDev

            You still didn't answer my question:

            Or where is your cross-toolchain installed?

            In other words, where is arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++ located?

            So I honestly don't know if that's right or wrong because i'm not at all familiar with this process.

            If you like it or not, cross-compiling is an advanced topic which requires deep understanding of the involved tools.

            You should probably start cross-compiling a "hello world" application before trying a large library like Qt.

            Qt has to stay free or it will die.

            1 Reply Last reply
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            • G Offline
              G Offline
              graniteDev
              wrote on last edited by
              #13

              So i search for the compiler after digging into the details and the error appears to be in error. That entire path that it says doesn't exist, does exist.

              /home/brandon/development/raspi/tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-raspbian/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++

              I can cd into that last bin directory and there are about 2 dozen compilers in there and arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++ is in there. for some reason it appends g++ to the string which is why the instructions have you only put " arm-linux-gnueabihf-"

              So now I understand better what it wants, but not why it can't find it.

              aha_1980A 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • G graniteDev

                So i search for the compiler after digging into the details and the error appears to be in error. That entire path that it says doesn't exist, does exist.

                /home/brandon/development/raspi/tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-raspbian/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++

                I can cd into that last bin directory and there are about 2 dozen compilers in there and arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++ is in there. for some reason it appends g++ to the string which is why the instructions have you only put " arm-linux-gnueabihf-"

                So now I understand better what it wants, but not why it can't find it.

                aha_1980A Offline
                aha_1980A Offline
                aha_1980
                Lifetime Qt Champion
                wrote on last edited by
                #14

                @graniteDev

                Ok, so the paths are 100% the same? Does the compiler arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++ have the executable bit set? Sometimes you also have to call an "enviroment-setup" script to use the cross toolchain, not sure if that applies to your toolchain also.

                Btw: arm-linux-gnueabihf- is the cross-toolchain-prefix, which tells you that the compiler produces "arm" executables for linux. "hf" stands for hardware floating point support and "gnueabi", I honestly would have to google it ;) g++ is just the GNU GCC C++ compiler. Your normal compiler is therefore called g++, and the cross-compiler is called arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++.

                Qt has to stay free or it will die.

                G 1 Reply Last reply
                1
                • aha_1980A aha_1980

                  @graniteDev

                  Ok, so the paths are 100% the same? Does the compiler arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++ have the executable bit set? Sometimes you also have to call an "enviroment-setup" script to use the cross toolchain, not sure if that applies to your toolchain also.

                  Btw: arm-linux-gnueabihf- is the cross-toolchain-prefix, which tells you that the compiler produces "arm" executables for linux. "hf" stands for hardware floating point support and "gnueabi", I honestly would have to google it ;) g++ is just the GNU GCC C++ compiler. Your normal compiler is therefore called g++, and the cross-compiler is called arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++.

                  G Offline
                  G Offline
                  graniteDev
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #15

                  @aha_1980

                  Double checked, yes it has the execution bit set for own, group and everyone else. I've added that bin to the path for good measure.

                  Here is something odd. If I cd into that bin directory and

                  ./arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++
                  

                  the result

                  bash: ./arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++: No such file or directory
                  

                  What seriously is wrong? The file is right in that directory! It even autocompletes for me! I really don't get this.

                  aha_1980A 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • G graniteDev

                    @aha_1980

                    Double checked, yes it has the execution bit set for own, group and everyone else. I've added that bin to the path for good measure.

                    Here is something odd. If I cd into that bin directory and

                    ./arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++
                    

                    the result

                    bash: ./arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++: No such file or directory
                    

                    What seriously is wrong? The file is right in that directory! It even autocompletes for me! I really don't get this.

                    aha_1980A Offline
                    aha_1980A Offline
                    aha_1980
                    Lifetime Qt Champion
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #16

                    @graniteDev

                    Puh, that's getting a tough one. But I don't give up yet. Can you please do a file ./arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++ in that directory and post the output here?

                    Qt has to stay free or it will die.

                    G 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • aha_1980A aha_1980

                      @graniteDev

                      Puh, that's getting a tough one. But I don't give up yet. Can you please do a file ./arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++ in that directory and post the output here?

                      G Offline
                      G Offline
                      graniteDev
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #17

                      @aha_1980

                      No problem:

                      ./arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++: ELF 32-bit LSB executable, Intel 80386, version 1 (SYSV), dynamically linked, interpreter /lib/ld-linux.so.2, for GNU/Linux 2.6.15, stripped
                      

                      ok....is it a problem that that says intel and I'm running amd?

                      aha_1980A 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • G graniteDev

                        @aha_1980

                        No problem:

                        ./arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++: ELF 32-bit LSB executable, Intel 80386, version 1 (SYSV), dynamically linked, interpreter /lib/ld-linux.so.2, for GNU/Linux 2.6.15, stripped
                        

                        ok....is it a problem that that says intel and I'm running amd?

                        aha_1980A Offline
                        aha_1980A Offline
                        aha_1980
                        Lifetime Qt Champion
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #18

                        @graniteDev

                        Ok, I think you your problem is, that this toolchain is for 32-Bit PC (i.e. x86), while you are probably running a 64 bit system (i.e. x86_64, you can check with the arch command).

                        It might be possible to get this to run, but I'd rather recommend you to get a toolchain that directly runs on your system. you avoid the memory limits of 32 bit architecture with that also.

                        So far...

                        Qt has to stay free or it will die.

                        G 2 Replies Last reply
                        0
                        • aha_1980A aha_1980

                          @graniteDev

                          Ok, I think you your problem is, that this toolchain is for 32-Bit PC (i.e. x86), while you are probably running a 64 bit system (i.e. x86_64, you can check with the arch command).

                          It might be possible to get this to run, but I'd rather recommend you to get a toolchain that directly runs on your system. you avoid the memory limits of 32 bit architecture with that also.

                          So far...

                          G Offline
                          G Offline
                          graniteDev
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #19

                          @aha_1980 Hmm...ok, maybe I missunderstood some of the instruction when it talked about 64bit. I assumed it was talking about the pi, which is 32bit, but yeah it's a brand new Ryzen machine, it's 64 bit.

                          I'll have to come back to this later today, but thank you for that. I'll let you know what I find.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          1
                          • aha_1980A aha_1980

                            @graniteDev

                            Ok, I think you your problem is, that this toolchain is for 32-Bit PC (i.e. x86), while you are probably running a 64 bit system (i.e. x86_64, you can check with the arch command).

                            It might be possible to get this to run, but I'd rather recommend you to get a toolchain that directly runs on your system. you avoid the memory limits of 32 bit architecture with that also.

                            So far...

                            G Offline
                            G Offline
                            graniteDev
                            wrote on last edited by graniteDev
                            #20

                            @aha_1980

                            arch command on my desktop:
                            x86_64

                            the pi:
                            armv7l

                            aha_1980A Pablo J. RoginaP 2 Replies Last reply
                            0
                            • G graniteDev

                              @aha_1980

                              arch command on my desktop:
                              x86_64

                              the pi:
                              armv7l

                              aha_1980A Offline
                              aha_1980A Offline
                              aha_1980
                              Lifetime Qt Champion
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #21

                              @graniteDev

                              Hmm...ok, maybe I missunderstood some of the instruction when it talked about 64bit. I assumed it was talking about the pi, which is 32bit

                              Don't worry, as said, cross compiling is advanced stuff ;)

                              arch command on my desktop:
                              x86_64

                              Ok, that proves it.

                              Qt has to stay free or it will die.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • G graniteDev

                                @aha_1980

                                arch command on my desktop:
                                x86_64

                                the pi:
                                armv7l

                                Pablo J. RoginaP Offline
                                Pablo J. RoginaP Offline
                                Pablo J. Rogina
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #22

                                @graniteDev

                                arch command on my desktop:
                                x86_64

                                If you're following the suggested RaspberryPi2EGLFS guide, in step #10 please pay attention to

                                If your system is 64 bit you may also edit device option to:

                                Upvote the answer(s) that helped you solve the issue
                                Use "Topic Tools" button to mark your post as Solved
                                Add screenshots via postimage.org
                                Don't ask support requests via chat/PM. Please use the forum so others can benefit from the solution in the future

                                G 1 Reply Last reply
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                                • Pablo J. RoginaP Pablo J. Rogina

                                  @graniteDev

                                  arch command on my desktop:
                                  x86_64

                                  If you're following the suggested RaspberryPi2EGLFS guide, in step #10 please pay attention to

                                  If your system is 64 bit you may also edit device option to:

                                  G Offline
                                  G Offline
                                  graniteDev
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #23

                                  @Pablo-J.-Rogina

                                  Ok so I added the options for 64 bit, and looks like it all worked and compiled. So then I went to do the next step which is a test build, but there is no ~/raspi/qt5/bin/qmake

                                  That directory doesn't exist, so now I really don't know what the hell to do. The previous steps created the qt5 and qt5pi folders so if there are missing directories, now what?

                                  1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • G Offline
                                    G Offline
                                    graniteDev
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #24

                                    Ok so I got a lot farther using a different set of instructions, in fact I got to actually building in Qt Creator!!

                                    However Qt Creator is failing to upload the file to the raspberry pi:

                                    mkdir: cannot create directory ‘/opt/widgettest’: Permission denied
                                    21:09:40: Failed to upload file "/home/brandon/development/build-widgettest-RaspPi-Release/widgettest".
                                    21:09:40: Deploy step failed.
                                    Error while building/deploying project widgettest (kit: RaspPi)
                                    When executing step "Upload files via SFTP"
                                    

                                    How do I give Qt permission to do this? Do I need to dissable some security on the pi? Or add "sudo" to some commands in Qt?

                                    1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • SGaistS Offline
                                      SGaistS Offline
                                      SGaist
                                      Lifetime Qt Champion
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #25

                                      You should either use credentials for your Pi that allows to write in that folder, or change the folder for something the user you use to connect to your RPi can write to.

                                      Interested in AI ? www.idiap.ch
                                      Please read the Qt Code of Conduct - https://forum.qt.io/topic/113070/qt-code-of-conduct

                                      A 1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • SGaistS SGaist

                                        You should either use credentials for your Pi that allows to write in that folder, or change the folder for something the user you use to connect to your RPi can write to.

                                        A Offline
                                        A Offline
                                        Asha
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #26

                                        even i am also getting same problem,I am very new this qt creator,I am using the ubuntu ,can you say step by step please..

                                        Pablo J. RoginaP 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • A Asha

                                          even i am also getting same problem,I am very new this qt creator,I am using the ubuntu ,can you say step by step please..

                                          Pablo J. RoginaP Offline
                                          Pablo J. RoginaP Offline
                                          Pablo J. Rogina
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #27

                                          @asha said in How do I setup a kit to crosscompile for Raspbian for the Pi3?:

                                          can you say step by step please..

                                          What have you done so far? Any errors you can share here?

                                          Just in case, please refer to any of these guides:

                                          1. Cross-compile and deploy Qt 5.12 for Raspberry Pi
                                          2. RaspberryPi2EGLFS

                                          Upvote the answer(s) that helped you solve the issue
                                          Use "Topic Tools" button to mark your post as Solved
                                          Add screenshots via postimage.org
                                          Don't ask support requests via chat/PM. Please use the forum so others can benefit from the solution in the future

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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