How to Effectively Use Common Source Files in Your Qt Subdirs Projects

Discover the best practices for sharing source files among multiple `Qt` projects without cluttering your workspace. Learn how to configure your project structure to enhance productivity.
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How to Effectively Use Common Source Files in Your Qt Subdirs Projects

When developing multiple projects in Qt, it's common to face the challenge of sharing source files without redundancy. This guide focuses on how to manage common source files efficiently in a subdirectory structure, ensuring better code maintainability and cleanliness in your development environment.

The Structure of Your Projects

Let's begin with the structure of your projects. Suppose you have two projects and you want to share some source files between them. Here’s an example of a project directory layout:

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main: The root directory for your Qt application.

project1 and project2: The individual projects where the common source files will be utilized.

shared: The directory containing the common source code files (*.cpp, *.h, etc.).

Configuring Your Project Files

Each project*.pro file will link to the common.pri file, where you define the necessary paths to include your shared files. Here's an example of what you would include in your project1.pro and project2.pro files:

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The common.pri file may look like this:

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Why the Files Might Be "Ownerless"

When you set up your project this way, you might notice that the files in the shared directory don’t show up in the Projects view of Qt Creator. This is because those files do not belong to any particular project; they are merely included in your projects through the common.pri settings.

Making Shared Files Visible in Qt Creator

Here’s How to Display Them:

Open Qt Creator: Navigate to the Projects view.

Locate the Common Folder: If there is a visible folder for common, right-click on it.

Add the Shared Directory: Select the option Add existing directory... and point it to the shared folder. This will make all the common files appear in the Projects view, allowing easier access and visibility.

Best Practices: Consider Using Static Libraries

Although it’s functional to use common source files as described, best practices suggest that you consider encapsulating these shared files in a static library instead. Here’s why:

Modularity: Encapsulating the shared code into a library keeps your project structure organized.

Reusability: Libraries can be reused across different projects without needing to keep source files in sync.

Easier Management: Updating shared code becomes simpler when managed through a library.

Conclusion

Using common source files in Qt subdirectories can streamline your workflow and reduce redundancy. While it’s possible to include shared files directly in your projects as demonstrated, consider optimizing your approach by using a static library for better maintainability.

By following these steps and recommendations, you can improve your development experience and enhance collaboration in your Qt projects. Happy coding!

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