FAQ on How to implement Qt Hardware Support

What is the difference between Qt 4.8.x and Qt 5?

• 4.8: QtQuick1, Javascript core, QWS (good) and QPA (not good)
• 5.0: QtQuick2, v8, QPA, no QWS, QPA only supporting OpenGL and DirectFB backends

What is the difference between QPA and QWS and when should I use which?

• In general use QWS on 4.8 and QPA on 5.0
• Depending on the use-case QPA on 4.8 is a valid choice as well. Some important limitations and requirements are necessary to consider:
  • QPA on Qt4.8 only makes sense on OpenGL Hardware! If you don’t have OpenGL HW there is absolutely no point in choosing Qt4.8-QPA over Qt4.8-QWS
  • If you have OpenGL HW, there are two distinct use-cases to consider:
    • single-process: The features and limits of QWS and QPA are similar. QWS is older, is therefor considered more stable. Arguments for QPA could be:
      • you have to work on the graphcis/platform-plugin because your OpenGL implementation need special threadment, and(!):
      • you’re thinking about moving to Qt5
    • multi-process: There is currently no officially supported embedded(!) OpenGL-multi-process offering in Qt4.8. Implementing a platform-plugin for QPA is considered to be way simpler then writing QWS-graphics-plugins. Therefor Qt 4.8 QPA is the primary choice if you start your own platform-plugin or work on an existing platform plugin (e.g. the wayland-platform-plugin)

What are the technical differences between QtQuick 1 and QtQuick 2?

• QtQuick 1 is the only choice for Qt4.7 and Qt4.8
• QtQuick 2 comes with and is the primary choice for Qt5.x
• QtQuick 2 is based on a complete new and tailor made graphics stack called scenegraph.
  • This leads to rendering performance of QtQuick2 which is a multiple of the rendering performance of QtQuick1
• Both use the same language (QML) to declare a user interface
• Although the language is the same, QtQuick2 comes with more and improved UI-elements (e.g. a complete new particle-engine)

When should I use OpenGL, OpenVG, DirectFB versus software rendering?

• Use OpenGL and DirectFB for hardware acceleration in 4.8 or 5.0. OpenVG only works on 4.8 (it’s a graphics system only tested on Symbian). Be aware of the hardware acceleration capabilities of your device: if you do something it can’t accelerate you will end up with software rendering (not great performance).

What is the difference between Webkit 1 and Webkit 2 and how are they supported on Qt 4 and Qt 5?

• Webkit 1 runs on both 4.8 and 5.0, Webkit2 only runs on 5.0. Qt Webkit2 is staying up to date with HTML5 features in webkit.org (Qt Webkit 1 is not).

What are the options for implementing multimedia playback in Qt 4 and Qt 5?

• The options are in-process and out-of-process. Most demos are using out-of-process today but if you implement in-process you can apply QtQuick effects to your media. (more from Bhooshan).

When should I use DirectFB versus Wayland?

• In general this questions shouldn’t be answered by “Qt” but by the silicon-vender (which should also be the one providing the BSP)
• The questions is only valid if you want to use OpenGL-HW-acceleration (and you need multi-process)
• Qt has wayland-platform-plugins for Qt4.8 and Qt5
• The Qt5-wayland-plugin get more attention (then the one for Qt4.8) and should be on a par with wayland-development
• [for holder: please comment the directfb-opengl state in Qt4/Qt5]

How do I implement QML 1 or QML 2 in a single process? In multiple processes? Can I implement QML1 and QML2 in the same process?

• foo

What is the difference between in-process multimedia play back versus out-of-process multimedia playback?

• foo

What do I implement differently using QML in full screen versus windowed user interfaces?

• foo

What is the list of issues and their sequence in which I should check them when encountering less than satisfactory performance on my hardware?

• foo

Is OpenVG supported in Qt5?

• No (at least not unless you contribute it).

Where does JIT work in Webkit? (e.g MIPS, ARM, IA)

• foo
• (Holger)

From what and in what sequence should I build my Qt software stack?

• foo
• (e.g. always pull from Webkit trunk because it is moving so fast)
• How do I get Qt running on my board? (Also a session at QCS)
• X86, ARM, MIPS,
• GL/notGL (DFB, OpenVG, Direct3D)

How much time is a Qt port to new hardware going to take?

• foo
• How can I make it faster/easier?
• What thinks are critical? What things are “nice to have”?
• What do I need to do first? Can I do things in stages?
• When doing a Qt port, what technical issues are critical to watch out for?

What tools can I use when and where across Qt4 and Qt5?

• Foo
• QtCreator does not yet work on Qt5.
• How do I get the Tools ready?
• How do I deal with version changes?
• What license issues do I need to consider?
• Do I need to do anything to work well with 3rd party (and/or system) tools?

Performance: How do I identify and resolve driver performance issues?

• foo

Performance: How do I identify code that should be running on the GPU and isn’t?

• foo

Performance: How do I identify and resolve multimedia performance issues?

• foo

Performance: What issues can I safely ignore?

• foo
• Features? Modules? Qt Add Ons?

How do I package and document a fix to upstream it? How do I upstream it?

• foo
• How should I package my work?
• How should I document my work?
• Where / how should I upstream?
• What do I do if a fix cannot be up streamed?
• What testing should I do?
• How should I test?
• Should I do unit tests?
• What are the pros/cons of unit testing?

What is the status of Qt Components for embedded? For Desktop?

• foo

There is only one article in "Hardware FAQ":

D

• Category:Devices