Nova Play Pro attended the recent Qt World Summit, an event that attracted software developers globally to explore the intricacies of creating, designing, and testing groundbreaking digital products.
During the conference, Qt unveiled plans to broaden its ecosystem by introducing Qt bridges, aimed at further ‘horizontalizing’ its platform. We had the opportunity to speak with Juhapekka Niemi, Qt’s SVP of Product, to delve deeper into their functionalities.
The summit featured numerous product demonstrations that showcased diverse applications of Qt-built platforms, ranging from medical monitoring systems to integrated mining equipment. Unified by their use of Qt, these applications are characterized by sleek, intuitive interfaces that enhance user experience.
Aiming for Enhanced Productivity
Over its 30-year journey, Qt’s software development framework has evolved dramatically, but its core mission remains steadfast: to boost developer productivity throughout every phase of design, development, and deployment.
“Our not just to create software,” shares Juha Varelius, CEO of Qt.
“Our ultimate goal is to empower our users and customers to thrive, ensuring they navigate the increasing complexities of the modern world successfully.”
Qt’s success stories are numerous, with 8 of the top 10 Fortune 500 companies utilizing Qt technology for their development needs. Furthermore, more than a million developers globally opt for Qt’s cross-platform framework, enabling them to craft robust software for a multitude of operating systems and devices.
Revamping the Framework
At the summit, Qt announced that support for Qt 5.15 will be coming to an end soon, with the final patch release on the horizon, alongside extended security and maintenance options thereafter.
This leads us to Qt 6.9, the latest iteration of Qt’s framework, designed to ensure maximum compatibility with Qt 5 for a smooth transition for developers.
“Qt 6.9 now provides the widest support in the industry for operating systems, including their latest versions and hardware configurations. Qt Creator 16 introduces advancements in productivity and AI-driven software development,” Niemi elaborated.
The Qt ecosystem is also expanding with Qt Bridges, which facilitate parallel development efforts among teams, notably with the introduction of a Figma to Qt plug-in.
In response to evolving computing environments, Qt’s open tools align with its open framework strategy, making developers “more interoperable than ever.”
Niemi reassures, “On the tools front, we recognize that developers have their preferred environments. We strive to ensure that regardless of your chosen IDE—be it Visual Studio Code, CLion, or any IDE that communicates QML via the language server protocol—Qt development remains seamless and effortless.”
Navigating Fragmentation
Addressing the current global political landscape, it’s impossible to ignore the fierce competition in the technology sector, particularly given the large customer bases spanning both Western nations and China.
Niemi notes, “We’re witnessing a significant technological divide emerging between the Western world and China, driven by political tensions and trade conflicts.” Yet, Qt is ready for the challenge.
“Rapidly evolving technology ecosystems are emerging in the Chinese market. Some platforms are based on Linux, which allows Qt to operate there. New user interface paradigms and multimodal frameworks featuring AI are also coming to the fore.”
With investments reaching billions in AI and computing infrastructure, China’s ambitions in digital technologies are set to accelerate.
The tumultuous relationship with the current U.S. administration exacerbates a splintered tech landscape, complicating collaboration. Nevertheless, Qt remains dedicated to supporting its global clientele.
“The fragmentation is set to persist and even heighten. At Qt, we embrace this reality. Our core mission—to write once and deploy everywhere—compels us to assist in addressing fragmentation,” Niemi affirms.
“We believe technology should be a reliable investment, not only for today but for the future. We are diligently working to comprehend where the world is headed, incorporating those insights into Qt to ensure our technology is ready when you need it.”
