Lunarcloud's Cross-Platform Qt App Template

When I write Qt Apps, or Java apps for that matter, there's a bunch of things I have to do to get it to a starting point that I'm happy about.

Although these are crossplatform languages/tools, it's very easy to write yourself into a specific platform, or easier, to look half-assed on platforms you care less about/ don't use much.

This is why I decided to create a Qt Creator template.

This template should provide something important for each of the big 3 OS's.

Windows
We enable blur behind, extending the glass to the toolbars, and other Windows sexiness found here: http://labs.qt.nokia.com/2009/09/15/using-blur-behind-on-windows/

Also, the taskbar icon and progress bar support from ECWin7 is included for use: http://www.msec.it/blog/?p=100

The only Windows 7 goody that couldn't be integrated was Jumplists. The only Qt implementation is found is a really nice commercial package. http://www.strixcode.com/q7goodies/ NOT INCLUDED - COMMERCIAL.

There's also an rc file and ico.

Mac OSX 
For Mac, I included an empty menu to add actions to, which will show up as the dock's menu.

I also turned on unified title and toolbar, creating the very mac effect of your toolbars being on the outside of the app, like in Finder or iTunes.

There's an included icns icon file.

Kubuntu / Ubuntu / Debian
For the debian family of Linux OS's, I included the files necessary to create a .deb using cdbs tools.
simply cd to your project directory and run

debuild --no-tgz-check

This will create unnecessary files, some of which can be cleared out by running

make clean

There's also a .desktop file,so when you install the deb you've made it'll show up in the gnome/kde menu, and a png icon.

Download
http://code.google.com/p/cross-platform-qt-template/downloads/list

Leaving the Apple World

4 December, I spent my final working hours at Diversified Computers. I worked as an educator, temp web developer, and occasional salesman at the Apple specialist for nearly 3 years.

It was an exciting and interesting experience that led to my involvement with a diverse range of older people. It was always a trying time getting Apple OS 9 users to understand how modern computers work, and fun to help someone learn how to turn their photos into Christmas cards and calendars. One gentleman, who was always concerned with his website and myriad of passwords, always said Cyberduck in the most amusing old man way.

I've moved away from iPhone development in preference of the Android platform, and hopefully someday, the Meego platform. Clearly more fun and more accessible, the tools being available on the big 3 OS's, rather than one.

I've also been dual booting on my macbook again to make development in several of my college courses easier. Honestly, I keep OSX around for testing my Qt apps' portability to OSX.

Not having the Mac Orientation class to teach anymore, I can focus on both studies and my Kubuntu book. Also, I have a feeling my next laptop is likely to be something I get with my Linux Foundation membership discounts to Dell, HP, etc. or System76.

Farewell Apple World, there were plenty of technical and software-human interaction ideas you taught me. Have fun turning your PCs into iPads.

Re: How Should Mac Apps be Distributed?

I just read How Should Mac Apps be Distributed? which is a response to Improving the Mac Installer for Firefox

I see these kind of things all the time. It's one of the main things I make sure to cover during my intro to mac class at Diversified Computers: How to Install applications. People have no idea what the hell "disk image" even means. It's too technical and abstract for them. I don't blame them.

***

Here's my idea for Apple to make their lives easier. Let's make the simplest system simpler.

Take the whole download zip file, extract, and copy to Applications thing, and make it a single button. Kind of like apturl on Ubuntu or One-Click on SuSE Linux.

1-Click example

Ubuntu Apturl

The only difference, is that instead of calling the install from a centralized location, it would download the zip or dmg and automatically move the right files around, or run the right installer (for those that require it).

Afterwards, it should tell you it was successfully installed to the Applications folder, maybe even ask if you want to add it to the dock.

Then websites would have a wonderful "install" button that takes all the steps and reduces it to one!

August

An update…
I turned 21. The party was amazing. I had lot's of fun. Thanks to all that went. Thanks especially to Felix who got wicked dressed up with me. Totally badass top hat. We had a good pool party with a boston creme pie that Noah made. Fantastic cook, he is.

***

My internship this summer at Elbit Systems of America went very well. I had so much fun learning and working with such nice people. I learned a lot about the nitty gritty bits of Windows ( XP, it is a business ) and what I.T. actually does. I'll probably upload my presentation.
I noticed that there are a lot of people in the medical devision of Elbit who are starting to require Kubuntu Linux on their computers so they can develop (in Qt) for customers and such. I find this absolutely enthralling that something I’m interested in is actually being used in the corporate world (or at least the medical world).

I walked in the Cigna 5K with the group from Elbit. It was really fun. I think I’ll run next year. It’s just a simple race north down Elm, over to Canal, then south back to Victory Park. Really a good way to start off the 3 day weekend. (9 hour days = every other Friday off)

***

School is so close. I am so damn excited for this year to begin. I've got a great on-campus apartement, the kitchen is going to be wonderful. I've got some of my books already (thank goodness for the programming book. One book, three classes), and I'm going to get to see a lot more of my friends again. I miss chillin out with my anime club buddies. One more of my friends is joining me over at keene this year, and I'm very excited for it, Nicholas Pascoal. I also kinda miss working at Diversified Computers, so I'm very glad I'll be getting back to work there. Oh, and the nicest part of going back to school? I get to spend more time with Lena.

I bought a bunch more of the sipping chocolate I got at that kitchen place in the Mall of NH. It’s very wonderful. A bit of hot milk, and a bunch of the mix, et violà. It’s so delicious. This is what I’m going to be drinking on cold winter/fall nights.

I can’t wait to go rollerblading with Evan, who is my anime club/ PSP gaming / .hack role-playing buddy. He picked up a pair this summer, which is totally sick. I’ve been practicing by rollerblading from my house to Elm St. Going around Derryfeild park has really helped me learn to control my speed.

***

Lots of computer-y stuff going on this fall. Apple's OSX "Snow Leopard" is coming out. With means for $30 my computer will be twice as fast and I'll get 6 GB of my hard drive back from the OS. Windows 7 is going to bore me, like every windows release. Windows gets more complicated everytime I look at it. I'm glad I quit Microsoft. Kubuntu 9.10 is going to rock my socks halfway to the freakin' moon. Kubuntu 9.10, like snow leopard, is going to fix a huge number of quirks, bugs, and just add overall polish.
I was taken aback the other day, because for the first time in my life, I realized that my Kubuntu Linux computer just worked. Not just that it ran, but that video playback was smooth, with the 3D effects not jittering, all the devices I own work flawlessly, and i haven't had to disable anything to do anything else. I'm quite ambivalent about this. On one hand, I can really advertise linux to anyone who isn't locked into windows for a good reason. On the other, what am I to do with my time? There's nothing broken to fix. I guess I'll have to pick up the C++ and Qt books and start making programs.