{"id":2789732,"date":"2025-05-13T10:05:27","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T17:05:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=2789732"},"modified":"2025-05-13T15:20:30","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T22:20:30","slug":"how-to-create-an-arcgis-maps-sdk-for-qt-android-app-using-cmake","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/sdk-qt\/developers\/how-to-create-an-arcgis-maps-sdk-for-qt-android-app-using-cmake","title":{"rendered":"How to create an ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt Android App using CMake"},"author":8722,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[738191,22941],"tags":[23441,768202,779422,24631,779432],"industry":[],"product":[761642,769152,36601],"class_list":["post-2789732","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-developers","category-mapping","tag-android","tag-arcgis-maps-sdks-for-native-apps","tag-cmake","tag-qt","tag-qt-creator","product-platform","product-sdk-qt","product-developers"],"acf":{"authors":[{"ID":8722,"user_firstname":"Don","user_lastname":"Kemlage","nickname":"Don Kemlage","user_nicename":"dkemlage","display_name":"Don Kemlage","user_email":"dkemlage@esri.com","user_url":"","user_registered":"2019-01-07 22:14:23","user_description":"I have been with Esri for over 23 years and I had the privilege of working on\/with various software products including: ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt, ArcGIS Maps SDK for .NET, ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Server, Map Objects, ArcView GIS, and even PC Arc\/Info. Currently, I author content on the https:\/\/developers.arcgis.com web site helping developers be successful with Esri software.","user_avatar":""}],"short_description":"Learn to create a map app using the ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt via the CMake build system in the Qt Creator IDE and to deploy it on an Android device","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Introduction<\/h2>\n

One of the primary benefits of developing a mapping application with the ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt is the cross-platform capabilities for deployment. Using C++ as your development language and Qt Creator as your Integrated Development Environment (IDE), you can target your app\u2019s deployment device to work on the Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android operating systems.<\/p>\n

In this blog post, we will go through the step-by-step process of creating a simple map app using the ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt using the CMake build option in Qt Creator and deploying it on a physical Android device via a USB tether. I will be using a Windows desktop to do the development, but you could similarly do the development on a Mac or Linux machine. CMake is popular in C++ development, so I thought I would share some of the steps needed to use this build system within the Qt Creator IDE. World-wide, Android has the largest market share of mobile devices, and I figured that this would be a good deployment option for a mapping app.<\/p>\n

This process will involve: determining if your Android device is suitable for deployment and ensuring that you are using the most recent versions of Qt Creator and the ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt, downloading and configuring additional Android SSL libraries needed for the app, connecting your Android device to your Windows desktop via a USB cable, using an ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt project template in Qt Creator to create a CMake based app, writing C++ code to have the map perform a zoom to location, and deploying the app to a physical android device for testing.<\/p>\n

We have a lot of ground to cover in this blog, but the rewards will be great. There is a satisfactory feeling you get when you see your app being used on a device other than your development machine \u2013 it is quite a rush! So, let’s get started.<\/p>\n

Determining and configuring the right hardware and software<\/h2>\n

Download the ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt<\/strong><\/h4>\n

At the time of this blog article’s publication, the current version of the ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt<\/a> is version 200.7. This is the version I will use.<\/p>\n

Ensure you have a supported Windows version<\/strong><\/h4>\n

I have chosen Windows as my development machine and I made sure that the minimum requirements outlined in the System requirements for 200.7 document in the Developing apps on Windows section<\/a> have been met.<\/p>\n

Follow the ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt install instructions<\/strong><\/h4>\n

I recommend that you review the information for the ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt Install and setup document in the Install on Windows section<\/a> to ensure that you have everything installed and configured for your app development.<\/p>\n

Install and configure Qt Creator<\/strong><\/h4>\n

I am using Qt Creator<\/a> version 16.0.0 as my IDE.<\/p>\n

The ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt version 200.7 requires the Qt Framework Kit version 6.8.2 (or higher).<\/p>\n

Additionally, as part of your development machines configuration to deploy on Android devices, you should ensure that you meet the minimum requirements in the document System requirements page in the Deploying apps to Android section<\/a>. In my case, I have the following installed and configured in Qt Creator: Android JDK version 17.0.14.7, Android NDK version 26.1.10909125, and Android SDK version 19.0. You should ensure that your Qt Creator has similar settings by choosing Edit > Preferences<\/strong> from the menus. In the Preferences – Qt Creator<\/strong> dialog for the SDKs category with the Android tab active make sure you have all green checkmarks (no red X\u2019s) and that each textbox is filled out with valid configuration settings.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"sidebar","content":"

Tip:<\/strong> If your Preferences \u2013 Qt Creator dialog looks incomplete, you should consult the Qt Groups document for Getting Started with Qt for Android<\/a>.<\/p>\n","image_reference":false,"layout":"standard","image_reference_figure":"","snippet":"","spotlight_name":"","section_title":"","position":"Center","spotlight_image":false},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2789782,"id":2789782,"title":"8_PreferencesQtCreator_Complete_WITHOUT_USERNAME_TRIMMED","filename":"8_PreferencesQtCreator_Complete_WITHOUT_USERNAME_TRIMMED.png","filesize":197722,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/8_PreferencesQtCreator_Complete_WITHOUT_USERNAME_TRIMMED.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/sdk-qt\/developers\/how-to-create-an-arcgis-maps-sdk-for-qt-android-app-using-cmake\/8_preferencesqtcreator_complete_without_username_trimmed","alt":"","author":"8722","description":"","caption":"","name":"8_preferencesqtcreator_complete_without_username_trimmed","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2789732,"date":"2025-05-12 15:31:44","modified":"2025-05-12 15:31:44","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2483,"height":1844,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/8_PreferencesQtCreator_Complete_WITHOUT_USERNAME_TRIMMED-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/8_PreferencesQtCreator_Complete_WITHOUT_USERNAME_TRIMMED.png","medium-width":351,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/8_PreferencesQtCreator_Complete_WITHOUT_USERNAME_TRIMMED.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":570,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/8_PreferencesQtCreator_Complete_WITHOUT_USERNAME_TRIMMED.png","large-width":1454,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/8_PreferencesQtCreator_Complete_WITHOUT_USERNAME_TRIMMED-1536x1141.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1141,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/8_PreferencesQtCreator_Complete_WITHOUT_USERNAME_TRIMMED-2048x1521.png","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1521,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/8_PreferencesQtCreator_Complete_WITHOUT_USERNAME_TRIMMED-626x465.png","card_image-width":626,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/8_PreferencesQtCreator_Complete_WITHOUT_USERNAME_TRIMMED-1454x1080.png","wide_image-width":1454,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

The build system we will use within Qt Creator to compile our C++ code is CMake. The ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt documentation Install and set up in the Install on Windows section<\/a> has a sub section called “Install CMake” that has useful links to configure CMake in Qt Creator. In a nutshell, you need to download the Windows version of the binaries from the CMake organization<\/a> and install them on your Windows desktop. In my case, I chose the cmake_4.0.1-windows-x86.zip<\/strong> file and unzipped the contents in my Qt installation folder. Then in Qt Creator, I chose Edit > Preferences<\/strong> from the menus. In the Preferences – Qt Creator<\/strong> dialog for the CMake category, make the Tools<\/strong> tab active. Click the Add<\/strong> button fill-in the information for the Name<\/strong>, Path<\/strong>, and Help file<\/strong> textboxes. When you are done, you should see something like this:<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2789802,"id":2789802,"title":"CMakeSettings_TRIMMED","filename":"CMakeSettings_TRIMMED.png","filesize":132446,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CMakeSettings_TRIMMED.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/sdk-qt\/developers\/how-to-create-an-arcgis-maps-sdk-for-qt-android-app-using-cmake\/cmakesettings_trimmed","alt":"","author":"8722","description":"","caption":"","name":"cmakesettings_trimmed","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2789732,"date":"2025-05-12 15:39:49","modified":"2025-05-12 15:39:49","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2068,"height":1796,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CMakeSettings_TRIMMED-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CMakeSettings_TRIMMED.png","medium-width":301,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CMakeSettings_TRIMMED.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":667,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CMakeSettings_TRIMMED.png","large-width":1244,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CMakeSettings_TRIMMED-1536x1334.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1334,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CMakeSettings_TRIMMED-2048x1779.png","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1779,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CMakeSettings_TRIMMED-535x465.png","card_image-width":535,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CMakeSettings_TRIMMED-1244x1080.png","wide_image-width":1244,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Ensure your Android device is supported<\/strong><\/h4>\n

You should ensure that your physical Android device meets the minimum requirements. In the ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt System requirements for v200.7 documentation in the Deploying apps to Android<\/a> it states that the arm-v7a<\/strong>, arm64-v8a<\/strong>, x86<\/strong>, and x86_64<\/strong> Android chipset architectures are supported and that the minimum Android OS on the device must be version 9 (API level 28)<\/strong> or higher. In my case, I have a Pixel 2 mobile device for testing that has the arm64-v8a chipset architecture and running the Android 11 (API 30) OS.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"sidebar","content":"

TIP:<\/strong> The Qt Group has published the document Target Devices used in Automated Testing<\/a> that is useful in determining what Android OS versions and chipset architectures are supported for several common Android devices.<\/p>\n","image_reference":false,"layout":"standard","image_reference_figure":"","snippet":"","spotlight_name":"","section_title":"","position":"Center","spotlight_image":false},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

The odds of you having a Pixel 2 device for testing like me is probably unlikely. You can use whatever Android device you have, if it meets the supported chipset architecture and minimum Android OS version. Make sure and write these down for your device, as you will need to know them when configuring your development project later.<\/p>\n

Setting up the development project<\/h2>\n

Set up a project directory<\/strong><\/h4>\n

At this point our Qt Creator IDE is ready to develop our Android mapping app. The first thing we want to do is create a directory on the hard drive to hold the development project. Create the following directory on your hard drive: C:\\ArcGISMapsQtAndroidApp<\/strong><\/p>\n

Install additional SSL libraries<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The demo app we will create makes requests to HTTPS services (via ArcGIS Online basemaps). As a result, we will use the Android OpenSSL support for Qt<\/strong> libraries that are available on a GitHub repo. Navigate to the GitHub repo: android_openssl<\/a>. Click on the green Code button and choose Download ZIP<\/strong> (or you can clone the repo if you like). UnZip the file in the C:\\ArcGISMapsQtAndroidApp<\/strong> directory. When you are done you should see the following CMake file in the location: C:\\ArcGISMapsQtAndroidApp\\android_openssl-master\\CMakeLists.txt<\/strong>. You will need to know the location of the CMakeLists.txt<\/strong> file as you will reference in a later step in this article.<\/p>\n

Enable USB debugging on the Android device<\/strong><\/h4>\n

If you have never done development by deploying an app on an Android device from a Windows desktop, you will need to perform these generic steps on the device:<\/p>\n