Deploying to Remote Linux

You can specify settings for deploying applications to generic remote Linux devices in the project configuration file and in the Projects mode, in Run Settings.

The files to be installed are listed in the Deployment step, the Files to deploy field. The Source File Path field displays the location of the file on the development PC. The Target Directory field displays the directory where the file is installed on the device. Text in red color indicates that the information is missing.

If the build system did not automatically detect the source and target directories, select Override deployment data from build system, and then select Add to enter them manually. To remove the selected paths from Files to deploy, select Remove.

Adding Missing Files

The process to add files to deploy depends on the build system you use. For more information, see Specifying Project Contents.

CMake Builds

When using CMake as the build system, use the install command in the CMakeLists.txt file to add the missing files.

For example, add the following lines to the CMakeLists.txt file to install the binary of your project to the /opt directory on the remote device:

set(INSTALL_DESTDIR "/opt")

install(TARGETS <target>
    RUNTIME DESTINATION "${INSTALL_DESTDIR}"
    BUNDLE DESTINATION "${INSTALL_DESTDIR}"
    LIBRARY DESTINATION "${INSTALL_DESTDIR}"
)

qmake Builds

When using qmake, edit the INSTALLS variable in the project .pro file.

When you run the application, Qt Creator copies the necessary files to the device and starts the application on it.

For example, add the following lines to the .pro file to copy the binary of your project to the /opt directory on the remote device:

target.path = /opt
INSTALLS += target

To deploy additional files, add them to further targets that you also add to INSTALLS.

Deploy Steps

When you run the application on the device, Qt Creator first uploads the necessary files to it, as specified by the deploy steps.

Uploading Files

By default, Qt Creator copies the application files to the device by using the SSH file transfer protocol (SFTP), as specified by the Upload files via SFTP step.

If you have a lot of data to copy, select Details in the Upload Files via SFTP step, and then select the Incremental deployment check box. Qt Creator takes note of the deployment time and only copies files that have changed since the last deployment. However, when you make major changes on the device, such as removing files from the device manually or flashing a new disk image, or when you use another device with the same IP address, deselect the check box once, to have Qt Creator deploy all files again.

Creating a Tarball

To only create a tarball and not copy the files to the device, select Add Deploy Step > Create tarball. Then remove all other deploy steps.

The Deploy tarball via SFTP upload step specifies that Qt Creator uploads the tarball to the device and extracts it.