Developing for MCUs | Qt Creator Documentation
Description: Connect MCU devices to the computer to run and debug applications on them.

- Qt Creator Documentation
- How to
- Developing for devices
- Developing for MCUs
- Qt Creator 19.0.0

Test on iOS Simulator ◦ Add MCU SDKs

# Developing for MCUs

> How to: Develop for MCUs

Note: Before you start developing for MCUs, go to Help > About Plugins, and make sure you have the Qt for MCUs plugin enabled.

Use subsets of QML and Qt Quick Controls to create user interfaces for devices that are powered by microcontroller units (MCU). Qt for MCUs has a new graphics rendering engine with a low memory footprint and optimization for MCUs and other resource-constrained devices.

Connect MCU boards to a computer to build applications for them. Deploy the applications on MCUs to run and debug them.

For a list of Qt for MCUs reference implementations, see Qt for MCUs - Supported target platforms.

## Requirements

To use Qt Creator to develop QML applications for MCUs, you need the following:

- Qt for MCUs SDK (only available for Windows and Linux)
- Suitable toolchain

The toolchains are available for cross-compilation on Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS. However, the Qt for Qt for MCUs SDK is currently only available for Windows and Linux.

The hardware-specific requirements vary depending on the hardware platform you are developing for. For more information, see:

- Getting started on Espressif
- Getting started on Infineon
- Getting started on NXP
  - Getting started on NXP (BareMetal and FreeRTOS)
  - Getting started on NXP (Linux)
  - Getting started on NXP (Zephyr)
- Getting started on Renesas
- Getting started on STM

## Qt for MCUs SDKs

While you can use the latest Qt Creator version to develop with any Qt for MCUs SDK, the following combinations have been tested to work well.

Qt Creator version | Qt for MCUs SDK version
--- | ---
18.0.0 or later | 2.12 or later
17.0.0 | 2.11
16.0.0 | 2.10
15.0.0 | 2.9
13.0.2 | 2.8
12.0.2 | 2.7
11.0.3 | 2.6
10.0.2 | 2.5
10.0.0 | 2.4
9.0.0 | 2.3
7.0.0 up to 8.0.2 | 2.0 up to 2.2
6.0.x | 1.3 up to 2.2
4.12.4 up to 5.0.3 | 1.3 up to 1.9
4.12.2 or 4.12.3 | 1.2
4.12.0 or 4.12.1 | 1.1
4.11.x | 1.0

See also Enable and disable plugins, How to: Develop for MCUs, and Qt for MCUs.

Test on iOS Simulator ◦ Add MCU SDKs