Qt SDK and Creator version for older operating system versions

[Manuel-2019]

Hello, I hope I am in the right area for my question.

Does anyone know if there is a table from which I can see which highest versions of Qt SDK and Creator I can use on a particular OS version? At the moment I need the suitable versions for OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 Xcode 7.3.1 (7D1014).

Thanks for the support!

[sierdzio]

See the documentation, page "Supported Platforms". Here is an entry for Qt 5.12: https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/supported-platforms.html - your OS is not listed.

So, moving one version back: https://doc.qt.io/qt-5.11/supported-platforms.html macOS 10.11 is supported by Qt 5.11.

As for Qt Creator and installer - no idea... pick something released around the time when Qt 5.11 was released from Qt archive https://download.qt.io/archive/qt/

[Manuel-2019]

Many thanks! I did not realize that the URLs in different versions are symmetrical. Very good to know. The new combination I'll try as soon as possible and report the result.

[Manuel-2019]

For all those who have a similar problem: These are all the links I found to find a matching old Qt version.

If the current installation packages:

https://www.qt.io/download-qt-installer
https://www.qt.io/offline-installers

do not match your OS, try the following:

a) find your OS in "qt supported platforms" documentations:

• https://doc.qt.io/ (Qt Documentation: current version)

https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/supported-platforms.html

• try: https://doc.qt.io/qt-?.?/supported-platforms.html

https://doc.qt.io/qt-5.11/supported-platforms.html

• search: site:qt.io qt 5.11 supported platforms

https://doc-snapshots.qt.io/qt5-5.11/supported-platforms-and-configurations.html

• https://doc.qt.io/archives/ (Qt Documentation Archives: version 2.3, 3.3, 4.3, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 5.5-5.8, 5.10)
• try: https://doc.qt.io/archives/qt-?.?/supported-platforms.html

https://doc.qt.io/archives/qt-4.8/supported-platforms.html
https://doc.qt.io/archives/qt-4.7/supported-platforms.html
https://doc.qt.io/archives/qt-5.5/supported-platforms.html
https://doc.qt.io/archives/qt-5.6/supported-platforms.html
https://doc.qt.io/archives/qt-5.7/supported-platforms.html
https://doc.qt.io/archives/qt-5.8/supported-platforms.html
https://doc.qt.io/archives/qt-5.10/supported-platforms.html

b) select supported SDK from:

https://download.qt.io/archive/qt/ (version 1 to current 5.12)
https://download.qt.io/official_releases/qt/ (version 5.6 and 5.9 to current 5.12)

c) take last modified date of supported SDK from:

https://download.qt.io/archive/qt/ (version 1 to current 5.12)
https://download.qt.io/official_releases/qt/ (version 5.6 and 5.9 to current 5.12)

d) select Qt Creator with modified date up to modified date of SDK from:

https://download.qt.io/archive/qtcreator/ (version 1-4.4)
https://download.qt.io/official_releases/qtcreator (version 4.5 - current 4.9)

---

For example, in my case of OS X El Capitan 10.11.6:

b) Documentation:
https://doc.qt.io/qt-5.11/supported-platforms.html
(
macOS 10.11, 10.12, 10.13 (x86_64)
Clang as provided by Apple
Xcode 8.2 (macOS 10.11), Xcode 8.3.3 (macOS 10.12), Xcode 9 (macOS 10.13)
)

c) SDK:
https://download.qt.io/official_releases/qt/5.11/5.11.3/
(last modified 03-Dec-2018 14:50)

d) Creator:
https://download.qt.io/official_releases/qtcreator/
(last modified 24-Oct-2018 09:50)
https://download.qt.io/official_releases/qtcreator/4.7/4.7.2/

[sierdzio]

Wow, great summary, thanks!

[Manuel-2019]

Additional remark to OS X El Capitan 10.11.6:

e) Xcode:

I. Find Xcode installation packages for OS X El Capitan 10.11.6

• https://developer.apple.com/download/more/
  -- Highest found Xcode for OS X 10.11: Xcode_8.2.1.xip
  -- Highest found Xcode Command Line Tools for Xcode 10.11: Command_Line_Tools_macOS_10.11_for_Xcode_8.2.dmg

II. Which Xcode version is recommended to be installed for Qt 5.11.3?

• https://doc.qt.io/qt-5.11/supported-platforms.html
  -- Xcode 8.2 is needed for Qt Creator 4.7.2, and this Qt Creator is needed for Qt SDK 5.11.3.
  --- (A Xcode 8.2 version for OS X 10.11 can be found at https://developer.apple.com/download/more/.)

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xcode#Xcode_7.0_-10.x(since_Free_On-Device_Development)
  -- The minimum version of macOS for running Xcode version 8.2.1 is OS X 10.11.5.
  --- (In my case, Xcode version 8.2.1 works fine on OS X 10.11.6)

• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xcode#Xcode_7.0
  -- Xcode 7 came with OS X 10.11.
  --- (Forget about this for the reasons mentioned above!)

• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xcode#Xcode_8.0
  -- Xcode 8 came with OS X 10.12.
  --- (Forget about this for the reasons mentioned above!)

==> Conclusion: Trust the Xcode version mentioned in the Qt documentation!

III. Test which Xcode version works with the Qt 5.11.3 installation package

Used:

• Installed version: Command_Line_Tools_macOS_10.11_for_Xcode_8.2.dmg in default "/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools"
• Installed version: Xcode_7.3.1.dmg in "/Developer/Xcode/Xcode-7.3.1-7D1014.app"
• Installed version: Xcode_8.2.1.xip in "/Developer/Xcode/Xcode-8.2.1-8C1002.app"
• Used with Qt installation package qt-opensource-mac-x64-5.11.3.dmg
• Application to install Qt SDK and Creator from used Qt installation package: qt-opensource-mac-x64-5.11.3.app
• Shell command to switch Xcode Command Line Tools: sudo xcode-select -s [path]
• Shell command to test where Xcode Command Line Tools are located: xcode-select -p

Trial A:
sudo xcode-select -s /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools
xcode-select -p
--> "/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools"
qt-opensource-mac-x64-5.11.3.app
--> "You need to install Xcode version 8.2 (or newer) and set up Xcode command line tools. Download Xcode from https://developer.apple.com"

Trial B:
sudo xcode-select -s /Developer/Xcode/Xcode-7.3.1-7D1014.app
xcode-select -p
--> "/Developer/Xcode/Xcode-7.3.1-7D1014.app/Contents/Developer"
qt-opensource-mac-x64-5.11.3.app
--> (no message occurred)

Trial C:
sudo xcode-select -s /Developer/Xcode/Xcode-8.2.1-8C1002.app
xcode-select -p
--> "/Developer/Xcode/Xcode-8.2.1-8C1002.app/Contents/Developer"
qt-opensource-mac-x64-5.11.3.app
--> (no message occurred)

==> Conclusion:

1. The Xcode Command Line Tools (Command_Line_Tools_macOS_10.11_for_Xcode_8.2.dmg) do not contain an OS X SDK.
2. The full Xcode (Xcode_8.2.1.xip) includes a) the Xcode Tools itself, b) the OS X SDK, and c) the Xcode Command Line Tools.
3. Due to the lack of OS X SDK in the Xcode Command Line Tools, Qt requires a full Xcode installation.
4. Qt (presumably?) also uses tools that are only included in the full Xcode installation.
5. Therefore the separate Xcode Command Line Tools (Command_Line_Tools_macOS_10.11_for_Xcode_8.2.dmg) are not needed.
6. Install Xcode_8.2.1.xip. It contains the OS X SDK macosx10.12.
7. Since Xcode 7.3.1 is not criticized by either the Qt installation nor the Qt Creator, this package can also be installed. It contains the OS X SDK macosx10.11.
8. Install all desired full Xcode versions (e.g. Xcode_7.3.1.dmg, Xcode_8.2.1.xip) and Xcode Command Line Tools versions (e.g. Command_Line_Tools_macOS_10.11_for_Xcode_8.2.dmg) before (!) installing Qt (e.g. qt-opensource-mac-x64-5.11.3.dmg) so that the Qt Creator automatically can find and use them during its setup process.

---

My final result for OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 is:

First installation step:
Used Xcode installation package was Xcode_8.2.1.xip
resulting in Xcode 8.2.1, build version 8C1002
with SDKs
(
iOS SDKs: iOS 10.2 -sdk iphoneos10.2
iOS Simulator SDKs: Simulator - iOS 10.2 -sdk iphonesimulator10.2
macOS SDKs: macOS 10.12 -sdk macosx10.12
tvOS SDKs: tvOS 10.1 -sdk appletvos10.1
tvOS Simulator SDKs: Simulator - tvOS 10.1 -sdk appletvsimulator10.1
watchOS SDKs: watchOS 3.1 -sdk watchos3.1
watchOS Simulator SDKs: Simulator - watchOS 3.1 -sdk watchsimulator3.1
)

Second installation step:
Used Qt installation package was package qt-opensource-mac-x64-5.11.3.dmg
resulting in Qt SDK 5.11.3
with Qt Creator 4.7.2
(
Based on Qt 5.11.2 (Clang 8.0 (Apple), 64 bit)
Erstellt am Oct 23 2018 14:00:18
Revision 66ed57ce3e
)

Qt examples have been built successfully.

---

Addendum to the Qt SDK and Creator installation for OS X

I. The Qt installation packages for OS X

1. The used Qt installation packages for OS X (qt-opensource-mac-x64-5.11.3.dmg) contains the matching Qt Creator, which means it does not need to be separately searched for and downloaded and installed, as assumed above. The Qt installation package qt-opensource-mac-x64-5.11.3.dmg contains the Qt Creator 4.7.2.

2. After the Qt installation, you may use the "MaintenanceTool.app" application in the Qt folder to completely remove (or reduce or add components to) a Qt installation.

II. Xcode installation - here for my case of OS X El Capitan 10.11.6. However, the following should apply to OS X Mavericks 10.9 and higher [1].

1. Install any desired full Xcode versions (e.g. Xcode_7.3.1.dmg, Xcode_8.2.1.xip) - resulting in Xcode application bundles - and any Xcode Command Line Tools versions (e.g. Command_Line_Tools_macOS_10.11_for_Xcode_8.2.dmg) - resulting in Xcode command line tools only - before (!) installing Qt (e.g. qt-opensource-mac-x64-5.11.3.dmg) so that the Qt Creator automatically can find and use them during its setup process.
   1.1 You receive a warning from the Qt installer (qt-opensource-mac-x64-5.11.3.app) if the path of the currently used Xcode command line tools does not point to a full Xcode containing Xcode command line tools: "You need to install Xcode version 8.2 (or newer) and set up Xcode command line tools. Download Xcode from https://developer.apple.com" --> See above "e) Xcode:".
   1.2 The default installation path of Xcode Command Line Tools (e.g. Command_Line_Tools_macOS_10.11_for_Xcode_8.2.dmg) is "/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools".
   1.3 The installation path of the command line tools within a Xcode application bundle (after installing a full Xcode such as Xcode_7.3.1.dmg, Xcode_8.2.1.xip) is the pathname of the Xcode application bundle.

2. Get and switch the path to the currently used Xcode command line tools, if you have more then one installed.
   2.1 Use shell command "xcode-select -p" to get the path of the currently used Xcode command line tools.
   2.2 Use shell command "sudo xcode-select -s [path]" to set the path to the currently used Xcode command line tools.
   2.3 E.g. use shell command "sudo xcode-select -s /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools" to set the path to the default path of the separate installed "Xcode Command Line Tools 8.2 for OS X 10.11".
   2.4 E.g. use shell command "sudo xcode-select -s /Developer/Xcode/Xcode7.3.1-8C1002.app" to set the path to the installed full "Xcode 7.3.1".
   2.5 E.g. use shell command "sudo xcode-select -s /Developer/Xcode/Xcode8.2.1-8C1002.app" to set the path to the installed full "Xcode 8.2.1".

3. get information of installed SDKs and compilers
   3.1 Use shell command "gcc -v" to get the version of the compiler.
   3.2 Use shell command "clang -v" to get the version of the compiler.
   3.3 Use shell command "xcodebuild -version" to get information to the currently used Xcode (e.g. Xcode 8.2.1, Build version 8C1002)
   3.4 Use shell command "xcodebuild -version -sdk" to get information to all currently used SDKs
   3.5 Use shell command "xcodebuild -version -sdk macosx10.11" to get information to SDK of OS X 10.11.
   3.6 Use shell command "xcodebuild -version -sdk macosx10.12" to get information to SDK of OS X 10.12.

Links:
[1] https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/technotes/tn2339/_index.html
[2] https://stackoverflow.com/questions/15371925/how-to-check-if-command-line-tools-is-installed
[3] https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/180957/determine-xcode-command-line-tools-version

[aha_1980]

@Manuel-2019 thanks for that awesome report!