Build your first KDE application on Kubuntu
Building your first KDE application using Kubuntu Linux 20.04
Overview
This document aims to provide an overview on the pre-requisites required to create, compile and execute a simple KDE Application (windowed GUI application) using Kubuntu 20.04.
As most Linux distributions, including Kubuntu, do not install the necessary development packages - additional steps are required to get 'up and running' and be able to create a KDE Qt application.
Pre-requisites
It is assumed that a 'Minimal' installation is performed of Kubuntu, which is running. Refer to this guide on how to setup a Virtual Machine for development: https://community.kde.org/Get_Involved/development/Developing_in_a_virtual_machine
Instructions
1. Follow the steps as outlined here at https://techbase.kde.org/Development/Tutorials/Setting_Up under 'Easy as pie: Package manager'
As stated on the Wiki page, it is easier to leverage the KDE development packages provided from the Kubuntu repository than recompile everything from scratch. Most new starters will not need to go through this exercise.
With a
sudo apt install libkf5syntaxhighlighting-dev cmake clang-8 libkf5config-dev libkf5auth-dev libkf5package-dev libkf5declarative-dev libkf5coreaddons-dev libkf5dbusaddons-dev libkf5kcmutils-dev libkf5i18n-dev libqt5core5a libqt5widgets5 libqt5gui5 libqt5qml5 extra-cmake-modules qtbase5-dev kirigami2-dev libkf5kirigami2-5 libkf5notifications-dev qml-module-org-kde-kirigami2 qml-module-qtquick-dialogs qml-module-qtquick-controls2 cmake build-essential gettext libkf5crash-dev libkf5doctools-dev
2. Install KDevelop
sudo apt install kdevelop
3. Install additional dependances
sudo apt install clang-8
sudo apt-get install libkf5config-dev libkf5auth-dev libkf5package-dev libkf5declarative-dev libkf5coreaddons-dev libkf5dbusaddons-dev libkf5kcmutils-dev libkf5i18n-dev libqt5core5a libqt5widgets5 libqt5gui5 libqt5qml5 extra-cmake-modules qtbase5-dev kirigami2-dev libkf5kirigami2-5 libkf5notifications-dev qml-module-org-kde-kirigami2 qml-module-qtquick-dialogs qml-module-qtquick-controls2 cmake build-essential gettext
sudo apt install libkf5crash-dev
sudo apt install libkf5doctools-dev
4. Create a KDE Application using an existing template
Now you should be in a position to be able to create a simple KDE application in KDevelop by following the menu:
Project -> New From Template -> Qt -> Graphical -> C++ KDE Framework
This example project should now compile and execute without KDevelop complaining.
Other Useful Guides and References
Developing in a virtual machine: https://community.kde.org/Get_Involved/development/Developing_in_a_virtual_machine Building your first program: https://techbase.kde.org/Development/Tutorials/First_program KDE Frameworks: https://techbase.kde.org/KDE_Frameworks#Step_1:_Install_the_Framework_you_need Getting involved: https://community.kde.org/Get_Involved/development#One-time_setup:_your_development_environment