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# Installing qmake

`qmake` is built by default when Qt is built.

This section explains how to build `qmake` manually. Skip ahead to The 10 minute guide to using qmake, if you already have `qmake`.

## Installing qmake Manually

Before building Qt manually the following environment variables must be set:

- `QMAKESPEC` must be set to the platform and compiler combination that you are using on your system. For example, if you are using Windows and Microsoft Visual Studio, you would set this environment variable to `win32-msvc`. If you are using Solaris and g++, you would set this environment variable to `solaris-g++`.

  The following is a list of environment variables available to choose from when setting QMAKESPEC:

          aix-64       hpux-cc    irix-032      netbsd-g++  solaris-cc   unixware7-g++
          aix-g++      hpux-g++   linux-cxx     openbsd-g++ solaris-g++  win32-borland
          aix-xlc      hpux-n64   linux-g++     openunix-cc sunos-g++    win32-g++
          bsdi-g++     hpux-o64   linux-icc     qnx-g++     tru64-cxx    win32-msvc
          dgux-g++     hurd-g++   linux-kcc     reliant-64  tru64-g++    win32-watc
          freebsd-g++  irix-64    macx-pbuilder reliant-cds ultrix-g++   win32-visa
          hpux-acc     irix-g++   macx-g++      sco-g++     unixware-g
          hpux-acc     irix-n32   solaris-64    unixware7-cc

  The environment variable should be set to qws/envvar where envvar is one of the following:

          linux-arm-g++      linux-generic-g++  linux-mips-g++     linux-x86-g++
          linux-freebsd-g++  linux-ipaq-g++     linux-solaris-g++  qnx-rtp-g++

- `QTDIR` must be set to where Qt is (or will be) installed. For example, `c:\\qt` and `\\local\\qt`

Once the environment variables are set go into the qmake directory, `$QTDIR/qmake`, e.g. `C:\\qt\\qmake`. Now run `make` or `nmake` depending on your compiler.

When the make has completed, `qmake` is ready for use.