Qt for Android

Shocked by the title? So I am.

Would you like to see Qt supported on this platform? Just two days ago the answer was like "But it's close to impossible".
Now with NDK 1.6 the "little robot" OS opens more to C/C++ native code. I am eager to read some analysis on the topic.

Would that be too big hybrid, considering existence of Qt/S60? Someone can complain about replicating features already existing on the platform (graphics or networking?), but since version 4 Qt is more modular: splitted to libraries and still can be configured to meet certain needs.


Being able to use Qt applications on Android without the hassle of rewriting them in Java would of course be great. And wow, KDE apps on Android? That would be so nice.

Right now smart phone development is a real jungle since you virtually have to rewrite your applications if you are to support several platforms. Qt has the potential to change that.

By gnurou at Wed, 09/30/2009 - 21:58

I'd like to see Qt nicely supported. However, it's not going to be possible to use it for the user interface layer as that would mean we'll see something horrible unnative.

I really hate the idea of introducing code that can segfault and buffer overflow onto a device that runs so many well integrated Java applications.

I'll follow your project if you decide to give it a go though. The Android platform is realistically the best current Linux mobile platform there is.

By Mike Arthur at Wed, 09/30/2009 - 22:41

How does it restrict 'native' C/C++ code in the same way it restricts something running in a VM? Unless the VM isn't very restrictive that just defies logic. I suppose it could use some advanced kernel-level security.

Anyways the obvious way to get Android phones to run Qt is to install a real OS like Maemo. :)

By eean at Thu, 10/01/2009 - 03:32

What? Aren't you done yet? Can I use it already? :-) Oh man. That would be soooo nice...

By Ruurd Pels at Thu, 03/25/2010 - 21:48