Added section on using QtCreator

Author: timlinux

doc/CODING.t2t

@@ -1220,6 +1220,174 @@ CMakeLists.txt parts) are still being worked on so that the testing framework
 works in a truly platform way. I will update this document as things
 progress.
 
+
+= Getting up and running with QtCreator and QGIS =
+
+QtCreator is a newish IDE from the makers of the Qt library. With QtCreator you
+can build any C++ project, but it's really optimised for people working on
+Qt(4) based applications (including mobile apps). Everything I describe below
+assumes you are running Ubuntu 11.04 'Natty'.
+
+
+== Installing QtCreator ==
+
+This part is easy:
+
+```
+sudo apt-get install qtcreator qtcreator-doc
+```
+
+After installing you should find it in your gnome menu.
+
+
+== Setting up your project ==
+
+I'm assuming you have already got a local Quantum-GIS clone containing the
+source code, and have installed all needed build dependencies etc. There are
+detailed in instructions on doing that here:
+
+http://github.com/qgis/Quantum-GIS/blob/master/CODING
+
+
+On my system I have checked out the code into $HOME/dev/cpp/Quantum-GIS and the
+rest of the article is written assuming that, you should update these paths as
+appropriate for your local system.
+
+On launching QtCreator do:
+
+```
+File->Open File or Project
+```
+
+Then use the resulting file selection dialog to browse to and open this file:
+
+```
+$HOME/dev/cpp/Quantum-GIS/CMakeLists.txt
+```
+
+[images/image01.jpeg]
+
+Next you will be prompted for a build location. I create a specific build dir
+for QtCreator to work in under:
+
+```
+$HOME/dev/cpp/Quantum-GIS/build-master-qtcreator
+```
+
+Its probably a good idea to create separate build directories for different
+branches if you can afford the disk space.
+
+[images/image02.jpeg]
+
+
+Next you will be asked if you have any CMake build options to pass to CMake. We
+will tell CMake that we want a debug build by adding this option:
+
+```
+-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug
+```
+
+[images/image03.jpeg]
+
+Thats the basics of it. When you complete the Wizard, QtCreator will start
+scanning the source tree for autocompletion support and do some other
+housekeeping stuff in the background. We want to tweak a few things before we
+start to build though.
+
+
+
+== Setting up your build environment ==
+
+Click on the 'Projects' icon on the left of the QtCreator window.
+
+[images/image04.jpeg]
+
+Select the build settings tab (normally active by default).
+
+[images/image05.jpeg]
+
+We now want to add a custom process step. Why? Because QGIS can currently only
+run from an install directory, not its build directory, so we need to ensure
+that it is installed whenever we build it.  Under 'Build Steps', click on the
+'Add Build  Step' combo button and choose 'Custom Process Step'.
+
+[images/image06.jpeg]
+
+Now we set the following details:
+
+```
+Enable custom process step [yes]
+Command: make
+Working directory: $HOME/dev/cpp/Quantum-GIS/build-master-qtcreator
+Command arguments: install
+```
+
+[images/image07.jpeg]
+
+You are almost ready to build. Just one note: QtCreator will need write
+permissions on the install prefix.  By default (which I am using here) QGIS is
+going to get installed to /usr/local. For my purposes on my development
+machine, I just gave myself write permissions to the /usr/local directory.
+
+To start the build, click that big hammer icon on the bottom left of the
+window.
+
+[images/image08.jpeg]
+
+== Setting your run environment ==
+
+As mentioned above, we cannot run QGIS from directly in the build directly, so
+we need to create a custom run target to tell QtCreator to run QGIS from the
+install dir (in my case /usr/local/). To do that, return to the projects
+configuration screen.
+
+[images/image04.jpeg]
+
+Now select the 'Run Settings' tab
+
+[images/image09.jpeg]
+
+We need to update the default run settings from using the 'qgis' run
+configuration to using a custom one.
+
+[images/image10.jpeg]
+
+Do do that, click the 'Add v' combo button next to the **Run** configuration
+combo and choose 'Custom Executable' from the top of the list.
+
+[images/image11.jpeg]
+
+Now in the properties area set the following details:
+
+```
+Executable: /usr/local/bin/qgis
+Arguments :
+Working directory: $HOME
+Run in terminal: [no]
+Debugger: C++ [yes]
+          Qml [no]
+```
+
+Then click the 'Rename' button and give your custom executable a meaning full
+name e.g. 'Installed QGIS'
+
+[images/image12.jpeg]          
+
+
+== Running and debugging ==
+
+
+Now you are ready to run and debug QGIS. To set a break point, simply open a
+source file and click in the left column.
+
+[images/image14.jpeg]
+
+Now launch QGIS under the debugger by clicking the icon with a bug on it in the
+bottom left of the window.
+
+[images/image13.jpeg]          
+
+
 = HIG (Human Interface Guidelines) =
 
 In order for all graphical user interface elements to appear consistant and to