qt-creator/doc/qtcreator/src/python/creator-python-development.qdoc

// Copyright (C) 2023 The Qt Company Ltd.
// SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR GFDL-1.3-no-invariants-only

/*!
    \page creator-python-development.html
    \previouspage creator-how-tos.html

    \ingroup creator-how-to-projects

    \title Develop Qt for Python applications

    With \l {https://doc.qt.io/qtforpython/index.html}{Qt for Python}, you can
    use Qt 6 API in Python applications. Use the PySide6 modules to gain access
    to individual Qt modules, such as \l {Qt Core}, \l {Qt GUI}, and
    \l {Qt Widgets}.

    The following sections describe using \QC for developing with Qt for Python:

    \list
        \li \l{Set up PySide6}
        \li \l{Create Qt for Python applications}
        \li \l{Select the Python version}
        \li \l{Create kits for Python}
        \li \l{Use Python interactive shell}
        \li \l{Configure Python language servers}
        \li \l{Run Python applications}
        \li \l{Python Run Settings}
        \li \l{PDB versions}
        \li \l{Supported Native Debuggers}
    \endlist

    For more information about developing with Qt for Python, including
    limitations, see \l {https://doc.qt.io/qtforpython/index.html}
    {Qt for Python}.

    \section1 Set up PySide6

    If you have not installed the required version of PySide6, \QC prompts you to
    do so when you open a .py file.

    \image qtcreator-python-install.webp {Prompts to install PySide6 and Python language server}

    Further, \QC prompts you to install the \l {Configure Python language servers}
    {Python language server} that offers services such as code completion
    and annotations. Select \uicontrol Install to install PySide6 and the
    language server.

    \section1 Create Qt for Python applications

    Use wizards to create Qt for Python application projects. The wizards
    generate a project file, \c {.pyproject}, that lists the files in the Python
    project. They also generate a \c {.py} file that has some boilerplate code
    and \c {reguirements.txt} that stores the PySide version of the generated code.
    In addition, the widget-based UI wizard creates a \c {.ui} file that has a
    \QD form, and the Qt Quick Application wizard creates a \c {.qml} file that
    imports Qt Quick controls.

    \note Before importing UI classes and after editing them, create the Python
    code from your UI form. In PySide6, run \c{pyside6-uic form.ui -o ui_form.py}
    in the \l Terminal view.

    \image qtcreator-new-qt-for-python-app-window-ui-uic.webp {Creating Python code in Terminal}

    The \uicontrol Window wizard adds code to the source file, without the UI
    file.

    The \uicontrol Empty wizard adds code to the source file, but it
    does not add any classes, so you need to add and instantiate them yourself.

    The \c{.pyproject} files are JSON-based configuration files that replace
    the previously used \c {.pyqtc} configuration files. You can still open and
    use \c {.pyqtc} files, but we recommend that you choose \c{.pyproject} files
    for new projects.

    \section1 Select the Python version

    The \l{Kits}{kits} you select for the project in \uicontrol Projects >
    \uicontrol {Build & Run} set the Python version to use.

    The \l {Edit Mode}{Edit mode} toolbar shows the current Python version.

    \image qtcreator-python-interpreter-edit-mode.webp {Python version on the Edit mode toolbar}

    To use another Python version, activate another kit for the project.

    \section1 Create kits for Python

    \QC automatically adds all Python versions it can find to the list of
    Python versions in \preferences > \uicontrol Python > \uicontrol Interpreters.
    It generates kits for the global Python versions that are not inside a
    virtual environment.

    \image qtcreator-python-interpreters.webp {Python Interpreters in Preferences}

    You can add and remove Python versions and clean up references to Python
    versions that you uninstalled, but that still appear in the list.

    To use the selected Python version when opening \c {.py} files that don't
    belong to a project, select \uicontrol {Make Default}.

    To use a virtual environment as a kit, select it in \uicontrol Interpreters,
    and then select \uicontrol {Generate Kit}.

    \section1 Use Python interactive shell

    You can write Python code in the \uicontrol Edit mode. Select \uicontrol REPL
    on the toolbar to start the \l{https://pythonprogramminglanguage.com/repl/}
    {Python interactive shell} in the \l Terminal view.

    \image qtcreator-terminal-python.webp {Python shell in the Terminal view}

    To start the shell and import the current file as a module, select
    \uicontrol {REPL Import File}. To also import all functions from
    the file, select \uicontrol {REPL Import *}.

    \sa {Creating a Qt for Python Application with Qt Widgets},
    {Creating a Qt for Python Application with Qt Quick},
    {Activate kits for a project}
*/