Qt Project: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Collaborative effort to develop the Qt software framework}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}

{{Infobox organization

| name = Qt Project

| logo = Qt logo neon = Qt_logo_20152022.svg

| logo_size = 64px

| founder = [[Nokia]]

| founded_date = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2011|10|21|formatdf=dmyyes}}

| type = Community

| key_people = =

| focus = [[Free software]]

| products = [[Qt (framework)|Qt]], [[Qt Creator]]

| method = Development and documentation

| homepage = [http://qt.io/ The Qt Company]

}}

The '''Qt Project''' is an open collaboration effort to coordinate the development of the [[Qt (framework)|Qt software framework]]. Initially founded by [[Nokia]] in 2011,<ref name="open governance">{{cite web|url=http://dot.kde.org/2011/10/21/kde-applauds-qts-move-open-governance |title=KDE Applauds Qt’sQt's Move to Open Governance |publisher=KDE.News |author=Lydia Pintscher |date=21 October 2011 |accessdateaccess-date=2013-05-08}}</ref> the project is now led by [[The Qt Company]], a subsidiary of [[Digia]] since it acquired Qt software technologies, trademarks and personnel from Nokia.<ref name="DigiaQt">{{cite web |url=http://www.digia.com/en/Home/Company/News/Digia-to-acquire-Qt-from-Nokia/ |title=Digia to acquire Qt from Nokia |publisher=Digia.com |access-date= |accessdate=2013-03-19 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305042902/http://www.digia.com/en/Home/Company/News/Digia-to-acquire-Qt-from-Nokia/ |archivedatearchive-date=5 March 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

== History ==

{{See also|List of Qt releases}}

[[File:KDE Mascot Konqi for Qt.png|thumb|KDE mascot [[Konqi]] showing its Qt heart.]]

Haavard Nord and Eirik Chambe-Eng (the original developers of Qt and the CEO and President, respectively, of [[Trolltech]]) began development of "Qt" in 1991, three years before the company was incorporated as Quasar Technologies, then changed the name to Troll Tech and then to Trolltech.<ref name="oreilly-qt">{{cite web|url=http://safari.oreilly.com/0131872494/pref04|title=A Brief History of Qt|accessdateaccess-date=20 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630213541/http://safari.oreilly.com/0131872494/pref04|archive-date=30 June 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Until version 1.45 the source code of Qt was released under the ''Qt Free Edition License''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://quickgit.kde.org/?p=qt1.git&a=blob&h=2b98366d82a95f66988a7206290120e8c698ea40&f=LICENSE&o=plain|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014010101/https://quickgit.kde.org/?p%3Dqt1.git%26a%3Dblob%26h%3D2b98366d82a95f66988a7206290120e8c698ea40%26f%3DLICENSE%26o%3Dplain|title=Qt Free Edition License|year=1992|publisher=Trolltech|accessdateaccess-date=14 October 2016|dead-url-status=yesdead|archivedatearchive-date=14 October 2016}}</ref> This was viewed as not compliant with the open source principle by the [[Open Source Initiative]] and the free software definition by [[Free Software Foundation]] because, while the source was available, it did not allow the redistribution of modified versions.

Controversy arose around 1998 when it became clear that [[KDE|KDE’sKDE's]] [[K Desktop Environment 1|K Desktop Environment]] was going to become one of the leading [[desktop environment]]s for [[Linux]]. As it was based on Qt, many people in the [[free software movement]] worried that an essential piece of one of their major operating systems would be proprietary.

With the release of versionQt 2.0, the license was changed to the [[Q Public License]] (QPL), a [[free software]] license but one regarded by the [[Free Software Foundation]] as incompatible with the GPL. A compromise was found between KDE and Trolltech whereby Qt would not be able to fall under a more restrictive license than the QPL, even if Trolltech was bought out or went bankrupt. This led to the creation of the KDE Free Qt Foundation which guarantees that Qt would fall under a [[BSD-style license]] should no free/open source version of Qt be released during a period of 12 months.<ref name="foundation">{{cite web|url=http://www.kde.org/community/whatiskde/kdefreeqtfoundation.php |title=Free Qt Foundation |publisher=KDE |access-date= |accessdate=2013-05-08}}</ref>

In 2000, Qt 2.2 was released under the GPL v2, ending all controversy regarding GPL compatibility.<ref name="Qt2.2-GPL">{{cite web |url=http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reports/2269/1/ |title=Trolltech to Release Qt Under GPL - Decision Alters Linux GUI Landscape - Reports |publisher=LinuxPlanet |date=2000-09-04 |accessdateaccess-date=2013-05-08 |archive-date=24 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324223759/http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reports/2269/1/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On {{date|2008-01-28|format=dmy}} January 2008 Nokia announced tothat it would acquire Trolltech.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nokia.com/A4136001?newsid=1185531|title=Nokia to acquire Trolltech to accelerate software strategy |date=28 January 2008|accessdateaccess-date=28 January 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Paul |first=Ryan |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2008/01/nokia-buys-trolltech-will-become-a-patron-of-kde/ |title=Nokia to buy Trolltech, will become a patron of KDE |publisher=Ars Technica |date=2008-01-28 |accessdateaccess-date=2013-05-08}}</ref>

On {{date|14 January 2009-01-14|format=dmy}} Qt version 4.5 was [[Software relicensing|relicensed]], adding [[LGPL]] as licensing option.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dot.kde.org/2009/01/14/qt-everywhere-45-be-relicensed-lgpl |title=Qt Everywhere: 4.5 To Be Relicensed As LGPL |publisher= |date=14 January 2009 |accessdateaccess-date=2013-05-08}}</ref>

The Qt Project was founded on {{date|21 October 2011-10-21|format=dmy}}.<ref name="open governance" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Meyer |first=David |url=httphttps://www.zdnet.com/article/nokia-gives-qt-open-source-governance-3040094261/ |title=Nokia gives Qt open-source governance |publisher=ZDNet |date=2011-10-24 |accessdateaccess-date=2013-05-08}}</ref> In August 2012 Digia announced tothat it would acquire all rights to Qt and take Nokia’sNokia's role within the Qt Project.<ref name="DigiaQt" />

== Governance ==

The Qt Project is not a separate legal entity or organization; Digia retains all trademarks<!--still true, see the change I made in the lead--> around Qt.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://qt.digia.com/About-us/ |title=About us - Digia Plc |publisher=Qt.digia.com |date=2011-09-13 |accessdateaccess-date=2013-05-08 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530221835/http://qt.digia.com/About-us/ |archivedatearchive-date=30 May 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://qt-project.org/ |title=Qt Project |publisher=Qt Project |access-date= |accessdate=2013-05-08}}</ref>

Qt's Open Governance is modelled after [[WebKit|WebKit's]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.golem.de/1106/84244.html |title=Nokia: Qt 5 soll im April 2012 erscheinen |publisher=Golem.de |language=Germande |date=2011-06-16 |accessdateaccess-date=2013-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Anita Klingler |language=Germande |url=http://www.zdnet.de/41557441/nokia-startet-qt-projekt-mit-unabhaengiger-infrastruktur/ |title=Nokia startet Qt-Projekt mit unabhängiger Infrastruktur |publisher=Zdnet.de |date=2011-10-24 |accessdateaccess-date=2013-05-08}}</ref>

Decision-making takes place in a process the project describes as "lazy consensus".<ref>{{citeCite web|url=http://qt-project.org/wiki/The_Qt_Governance_Model |title=The_Qt_Governance_ModelThe &#124;Qt Governance Model - Qt Wiki |publisherurl=Qt Projecthttps://wiki.qt.io/The_Qt_Governance_Model |access-date=20122022-0907-2520 |accessdatewebsite=2013-05-08wiki.qt.io}}</ref>

The project facilitates online communication among its developers and community members through public forums,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://qt-project.org/forums |title=forums |publisher=Qt Project |access-date= |accessdate=2013-05-08}}</ref> mailing lists,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lists.qt-project.org/mailman/listinfo |title=Mailing Lists |publisher=Lists.qt-project.org |access-date=2013-05-08 |accessdatearchive-date=29 March 2013 |archive-05url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329074529/http://lists.qt-08project.org/mailman/listinfo/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and wiki pages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://qt-project.org/wiki/ |title=index &#124; Qt Wiki |publisher=Qt Project |date=2013-03-29 |accessdateaccess-date=2013-05-08}}</ref>

== Participating organizations ==

[[File:Qt contributors 2013W18 without Digia.png|thumb|300px|Distribution of non-Digia Qt contributors (2013, Week 18)]]

Aside from the project leader Digia and various individuals, a number of other organizations participate in the Qt Project.<ref name="Stats2012">{{cite web|last=Macieira |first=Thiago |url=http://www.macieira.org/blog/2012/04/qt-project-statistics/ |title=Qt Project Statistics | work = Thiago Macieira's blog |publisher=Macieira.org |access-date= |accessdate=2013-05-08}}</ref> Second-largest Qt contributor is [[Klarälvdalens Datakonsult AB|KDAB]], a Swedish Qt consulting company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kdab.com/kdab-contributions-to-qt-5-0-part-1/ |title=contributions to Qt 5.0 (part 1) |publisher=KDAB |date=2012-12-20 |accessdateaccess-date=2013-05-08}}</ref> KDAB is involved in many areas, including maintenance of several components.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kdab.com/kdab-contributions-to-qt-5-0-part-2/ |title=contributions to Qt 5.0 (part 2) |publisher=KDAB |date=2012-12-21 |accessdateaccess-date=2013-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kdab.com/maintaining-qt3d/ |title=Maintaining Qt3D |publisher=KDAB |date=2012-12-21 |accessdateaccess-date=2013-05-08}}</ref> KDAB together with [[BlackBerry (company)|RIM/BlackBerry]] are maintaining the [[QNX]] and [[BlackBerry 10]] ports of Qt.<ref name="Stats2012" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kdab.com/qt5-on-the-qnx-operating-system/ |title=Qt5 on the QNX operating system |publisher=KDAB |date=2012-04-19 |accessdateaccess-date=2013-05-08 |archive-date=19 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719064617/http://www.kdab.com/qt5-on-the-qnx-operating-system/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Another big participator is [[Intel]], contributing for example [[Wayland (display server protocol)|Wayland]] support.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=ODYyNQ |title=[Phoronix&#93; Qt Is Now Drawing On Wayland |publisher=Phoronix.com |date=2010-09-21 |accessdateaccess-date=2013-05-08}}</ref> [[AudioCodes]] maintains [[IBM Rational ClearCase|IBM ClearCase]] support in [[Qt Creator]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wiki.qt.io/Maintainers |title=Maintainers &#124; Qt Wiki |publisher=Qt Project |date=2013-04-12 |accessdateaccess-date=2013-05-08}}</ref>

VariousMany individualscontributions also come from the [[KDE]] implementcommunity, which is oftentimes adding features from their [[kdelibs|KDE Frameworks]] inupstream into Qt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://community.kde.org/Frameworks/Epics/Contributions_to_Qt5|title=Frameworks/Epics/Contributions to Qt5|publisher=KDE Community Wiki|accessdateaccess-date=2015-04-27}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[KDE e.V.]]

== References ==

{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==

* {{Official website|https://www.qt.io/developers/contribute-to-qt}}

* {{URL|http://www.qt.io/|Qt website}}

* [https://marketplace.qt.io/ Qt Marketplace]

* {{URL|http://www.kde.org/community/whatiskde/kdefreeqtfoundation.php|KDE Free Qt Foundation}}

* {{URL|http://www.macieira.org/blog/qt-stats/|Qt Project statistics}} (updated weekly)

== References ==

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Qt}}