A complete reference on Qt5

tomy

Hello guys,

Isn't there a complete reference on Qt5 yet?
Apparently we should wait for a decade to see a new complete book on qt5!

micland

You mean a paper based book or what?
Or what are you missing on http://doc.qt.io/?

dream_captain

The actual list of books can be found here https://wiki.qt.io/Books.

VRonin

I think the "official" reference is now http://qmlbook.github.io/ but I'm not sure it's a great starting point but that's just my opinion

tomy

@micland: Yes. A complete reference.

@dream_captain : But none of the Qt5 books is a complete one. What I need I think is something like a new version of Introduction to Design Patterns in C++ with Qt (2nd Edition)

@VRonin: For what platform is that QML book useful?

VRonin

@tomy said in A complete reference on Qt5:

@VRonin: For what platform is that QML book useful?

That is maintained by the Qt community. Interface design is QML focused, as you noticed, so it fits all platform (even mobile and embedded).

tomy

But the question is, is this book suitable for a beginner of Qt?

mrjj

@tomy
Yes, its beginner friendly if you want to use QML.

tomy

@mrjj: Let me ask you a question. For what platforms can we write real applications using that QML?
And another question, what skills do we need to be able to correctly start reading it?

mrjj

@tomy
QML support most platforms.
What do you mean by real application?
QML is very good for mobile and modern GUIs but
might not be as suitable for a traditional desktop application.

Mostly basic programming skills as it also give intro to editor etc.
It follows very good after
http://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qmlapplications.html

tomy

@mrjj
By real applications, I meant those which are in the market.
To summarize the matter, can we say QML is the best choice to use C++ to create apps for platforms like iOS, Android and Windowsphones?

And is Introduction to Design Patterns in C++ with Qt (2nd Edition) a good and complete reference to write apps for Windows, Linux and Unix?

Do you agree?

VRonin

I wouldn't downgrade QML to "the mobile GUI"

I learned everything I know from "C++ GUI Programming with Qt 4" and "Advanced Qt Programming: Creating Great Software with C++ and Qt 4" which have their big flaws of course and they do not cover QML at all. I wouldn't consider the recent "cookbook" as a great reference though.

I personally don't think there is a complete reference in one place

SGaist

Hi,

Qt 5 is not a revolution it's an evolution from Qt 4 so to summarize a bit:

Good books for Qt 4 still applies for Qt 5 with some minor adaptation from time to time
QML can be used for both desktop and mobile application. It's up to you to decide whether widgets or Qt Quick fits your use case better.
The usual architecture of a QML application is: GUI with Qt Quick for all the nice bells and whistles you have at disposal and backend code in C++ for performance.

If you want a big example of QML + Qt, take a look at KDE

tomy

@VRonin: By "which have their big flaws of course", did you mean that big flaws is that, those two books don't cover QML?
& @SGaist:
Now guys, what would be your advice for a person if they wanted to be able to create apps for many platforms, like: Windows, iOS, Android, Embedded systems, Linux and Unix?
To me, I should start reading these two books at the same time:

C++ GUI Programming with Qt 4 (2nd Edition) - The official C++/Qt book
Qt5 Cadaques

Do you agree completely?

VRonin

@tomy said in A complete reference on Qt5:

@VRonin: By "which have their big flaws of course", did you mean that big flaws is that, those two books don't cover QML?

No, bigger ones unfortunately, for example:

Threading (using QThread) chapters in those books should be burnt and forgotten
the HTTP/FTP part of C++ GUI Programming has been made (almost) obsolete in Qt5
same thing for the Audio/Video part of Advanced Qt Programming
the delegate painting in AQP still hurts my eyes if I look at it.

C++ GUI Programming with Qt 4 (2nd Edition) - The official C++/Qt book

Qt5 Cadaques

Do you agree completely?

I think I do. But I wouldn't discard AQP, the entire model/view and QGraphicsScene frameworks are treated so much better in there

tomy

I think I do. But I wouldn't discard AQP, the entire model/view and QGraphicsScene frameworks are treated so much better in there

I don't know of AQP. Do you suggest me to read also another book (this one on AQP) with the previous two? If so, wouldn't it be too hard for a beginner of Qt to read 3 books at the same time?

VRonin

AQP is just short for "Advanced Qt Programming: Creating Great Software with C++ and Qt 4" I would read it last. start with C++ GUI Programming if you go through it you'll be able to design Qt desktop applications (so widows, mac, linux). Qt5 Cadaques will introduce you to QML and how to design UI with it for all devices type and platforms. AQP will give you more insight on how to efficiently use Qt most popular framework, after reading this you'll start despising any use of QTableWidget (and relatives) and how little sense the difference in model columns management differences from QtWidgetsa and QML makes.

tomy

OK, thank you.

But only a little misunderstanding. Do you suggest me to read the books (C++ GUI Programming Qt4 & Qt5 Cadaques) simultaneously or first reading the book C++ GUI Programming and after finishing it, start to read Qt5 Cadaques?

VRonin

@tomy I'd say C++ GUI Programming first but that's my personal opinion

mrjj

I must second @VRonin that
C++-GUI-Programming-with-Qt-4 is great to read first.

http://www.bogotobogo.com/cplusplus/files/c-gui-programming-with-qt-4-2ndedition.pdf