Compiling for macOS - what compilers are supported please?

[Perdrix]

Does Qt require the use of XCode's C/C++ compiler? Can either of llvm or g++ be used instead?

What other options are there?
Thanks
David

[Pl45m4]

@Perdrix

Compile Qt itself or compile Qt apps on macOS?

Here it says:

The build environment on macOS is defined entirely by the Xcode version used to build your application. Xcode contains both a toolchain (compiler, linker, and other tools), and a macOS platform-SDK (headers and libraries). Together these define how your application is built.

Note: The version of macOS that you are running Xcode on does not matter. As long as Apple ships a given Xcode version that runs on your operating system, the build environment will be defined by that Xcode version.
https://doc.qt.io/qt-6/macos.html

• https://doc.qt.io/qt-6/macos.html#build-environment
• https://doc.qt.io/qt-6/macos-building.html

Compiling with QtCreator on Mac:

• https://doc.qt.io/qtcreator/creator-tool-chains.html

[J.Hilk]

@Perdrix the QtFramework does not require any particular compiler. It does require c++17 features (IIRC).

IF you're willing to compile it yourself you can use any c++ compiler you want. If you want to use the precompiled libs than yes, apple clang and therefore Xcode, or at least the command line tools, are a must.

Don't worry, no-one really likes Xcode.

[Perdrix]

My apologies - that should be clearer - if I've DL'ed the pre-built version of Qt 6.8.0, do I have to use XCode's supplied compiler to build my code or can I use other compilers.

Why? I need to use SIMD which the clang compiler shipped with XCode doesn't (AFAIK) support.

Thanks
David

[SGaist]

Hi,

Non Apple clang is officially unsupported territory. It's also untested.
Xcode is the IDE/Suite of tools but the compiler is clang for quite some time now.