configure-qtcreator for Debian cross toolchains

DISCLAMER: This repository is still work in progress

This repository contains utilities to setup a toolchain for Debian cross compiliation, aswell as the automatic configuration of a QtCreator Kit that allows working with the newly installed toolchain.

Currently the supported target platforms are:

• Debian Bullseye armhf

Requirements

Requirements for the host system are:

• Up-to-date Bullseye installation
• Root capabilites
• A QtCreator installation

Install the following dependencies on your hostsystem:

sudo apt install -y debootstrap binfmt-support qemu-user-static

Building the sysroot and installing the cross toolchain

To build a sysroot containing armhf headers, libraries etc.:

git clone https://github.com/optimeas/debian-cross-toolchain
cd debian-cross-toolchain
mkdir ~/sysroots
sudo ./build-sysroot.sh ~/sysroots/bullseye-armhf

Then install the debian cross toolchain on your host system:

sudo apt install -y g++-arm-linux-gnueabihf gdb-multiarch make

You are now able to crosscompile applications for the Debian armhf platforms.

Example: Manually compiling, depolying and debugging a Qt C++ application via the CLI

To demonstrate the workflow to compile an application. This section covers the steps to take.

We may use the example hello-world Qt project hosted on the optimeas github repositories

git clone https://github.com/optimeas/helloworld.git --recursive
cd helloworld

Then follow the usual steps to configure, generate and build with CMake, except you pass the CMake-Toolchain file of your sysroot on the configure step.

cmake -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=${HOME}/sysroots/bullseye-armhf/bullseye-armhf-sysroot/toolchain.cmake -Bbuild -S. 
cmake --build build 

Deploying the application on an armhf device via ssh

This subsection covers the depolyment to a target armhf device, via ssh

First install the application into a temporary folder:

cmake --build build --target install 

Then copy the install tree via ssh:

scp -r ./tmp/* root@${TARGET_IP}:/

or if the install tree is not writable:

scp -r ./tmp/* root@${TARGET_IP}:/

For the final step install the dependancies

Adding the kit to your QtCreator installation

TBD in the future....