Bootable Qt-Linux Application

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How to boot a linux kernel + dependencies and auto run a Qt application so the linux environment doesn't show up (only the Qt GUI is visible)?

on x86 PCs

should be able to run from RAM (of course)

Grillparzer answered 19/3, 2011 at 10:20 Comment(4)

Starting an application when the OS boots is a user-level question, not a programming one. This would be better suited on Super User. – Sinfonietta 19/3, 2011 at 10:28

Do you mean autologin after boot, starting X, then the fullscreen application? What distribution? – Tedious 19/3, 2011 at 11:48

yes, a minimal distro, but with mouse cursor etc – Grillparzer 19/3, 2011 at 12:17

It looks like you want to build a linux kiosk appliance. Google for 'linux kiosk' or ask the question on SuperUser. – Tompkins 27/3, 2011 at 15:8

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Perhaps you could look at how this guy did it:

http://www.embedded-bits.co.uk/2011/1-second-linux-boot-to-qt/

Hellenic answered 19/3, 2011 at 11:10 Comment(3)

but that is for embedded - with no source – Grillparzer 21/3, 2011 at 10:30

@umar, see the link again. I'll quote: "If you're interested in exactly what modification I made and a little more about the approach taken - you may be interested in these slides" – Hellenic 24/3, 2011 at 12:0

ok, some guidance - the system used is linux kernel 2.6, u-boot(loader) & buildroot. I think buildroot is the solution, as on its site: " using various CPU architectures (x86, ARM, MIPS, PowerPC, etc.)" and "Supports several hundreds of packages for userspace applications and libraries: ... Qt" – Grillparzer 24/3, 2011 at 13:6

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You could start with a minimal linux distribution such as Ubuntu Server and install only X-Windows (without any Window Manager) on top of it: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ServerGUI

Then, start your Qt application by adding a call to it in the .xinitrc initialization script.

Adulteration answered 24/3, 2011 at 18:20 Comment(0)

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Might be helpfull Linux Journal KDE Kiosk Mode

Eanore answered 24/3, 2011 at 18:46 Comment(3)

I am considering the size increase caused by KDE – Grillparzer 26/3, 2011 at 15:34

Doens't KDE use Qt? So you will need the same libs – Eanore 26/3, 2011 at 15:42

well maybe excluding plasma desktop and other things will reduce the size. But I am considering buildroot which allows for additional LIBS – Grillparzer 26/3, 2011 at 15:49

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Why not run x server without window manager and the running the application in full screen mode on that x server.

to start x server type startx and then you must run your application in fullscreen mode (your app must support this mode by argument switch like this)

./myapp --fullscreen

Hun answered 28/3, 2011 at 8:35 Comment(0)

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I have never tried this, but try google for 'framebuffer'. It should allow you to run a single application with no need for X server.

Tedious answered 19/3, 2011 at 10:37 Comment(3)

Qt builds its GUI on top of X. Unless the OP is talking about a daemon of sorts written in Qt, I don't think a framebuffer will help. – Squib 19/3, 2011 at 11:17

Qt/Embedded actually uses the framebuffer instead of X: developer.qt.nokia.com/wiki/Support_for_Embedded_Linux – Hoick 27/3, 2011 at 20:16

I wanted to propose this as well, but couldn't find the licence – Tedious 27/3, 2011 at 22:29

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