11

I usually code in Java and C#, but there is a project that I have to use C++. My question is what is the advantage and disadvantages of using QT Creator over Visual Studio Express or the other way for me, I know there are similar questions like this but they date back to at least 2 years ago.

I have to note that I am writing my system only for windows and I am not intending to make it multi-platform.

Improve this question
6
  • 2
    I'm not sure I understand your question. Visual Studio is an IDE, QT is a toolkit for creating GUI programs. You can write QT programs using Visual Studio if you want. Commented Jan 22, 2013 at 17:00
  • 1
    Visual Studio has some useful native GUI designers, but they aren't part of the Express Edition. OTOH Qt is its own ecosystem entirely and forces you to change your build processes and debug experience (there are Visual Studio plugins to help). Have you considered something more lightweight like wxWindows (cross-platform) or Windows Foundation Classes (Win32-only)? C++ backend plus a C# GUI is also quite a nice approach. Commented Jan 22, 2013 at 17:00
  • 2
    Thanks for your clarification, so could you tell me what are the advantages and disadvantages of using QT with QT Creator comparing to QT with Visual Studio IDE Commented Jan 22, 2013 at 17:12
  • 1
    As Charles' answer points out Qt docs are much better than MS. I notice you're using VS2010. I believe intellisence was left out for VC++ on that one as stated here - big disadvantage to someone not already familiar with it. Commented Jan 22, 2013 at 18:24
  • 1
    @C.Lang: VS2010 Intellisense for C++ works just fine. The information you point to is about C++/CLI which is a different programming language. Commented Jan 22, 2013 at 19:25

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
7

Visual Studio is the better IDE but Qt Creater does for free what VS will not (processing MOC files, UI files, QRC files, tr calls, etc...) Those have to be done manually in VS in pre and post build steps. Creater also has the advantage of being the same on all platforms.

Improve this answer
Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

4 Comments

using qmake to generate visual solutions does the job for free. but I upvote for your 6 first words
Also QtCreator comes with a profiler while VS Express doesn't.
@JBentley You cannot use Addons with Visual Studio Express.
@Korchkidu Good point. Comment removed.
6

I find Qt easier to use and find Qt's documentation better than Microsoft's pretty good documentation. Qt offers a lot of functionality (networking, web browsing, sound, 3D) which feels very focused and well-integrated, whereas using such features in the Microsoft world does work, but feels like each was done by a dozen teams that often did not agree on their approach.

Improve this answer

Comments

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.