Instructions in this documentation assume macOS 12 or later. Other macOS versions might work, but have not been tested.

You can use Boot to Qt on macOS with both Intel processors and Apple silicon.

Installing platform dependencies

Boot to Qt is using Docker-based toolchains on macOS. This means that before attempting to install Boot to Qt from Qt Online Installer, you must have Docker Desktop installed and running. You can also use Homebrew to install it.

Qt Creator provides support for using Docker toolchains in the same way as normal toolchains.

Connecting to target device via USB

If you are using an USB access for connecting the target device, you must check that you are using a suitable protocol for USB. USB access to an embedded target device supports two different USB protocols. Use the default protocol RNDIS (Remote Network Driver Interface Specification) when connecting the target device to either a Linux or Windows host. When you want to connect the target device to a macOS host, you need to change the protocol to CDC-ECM (Communications Device Class - Ethernet Control Model). CDC-ECM also works with Linux.

After installing Boot to Qt to your target device, change the protocol as follows:

1. Open the following file on the target device:

   /etc/default/qdbd

2. Find USB_ETHERNET_PROTOCOL in the file and set it as follows:
   • For Windows and Linux:

     USB_ETHERNET_PROTOCOL=rndis

   • For macOS and Linux:

     USB_ETHERNET_PROTOCOL=cdcecm

3. Connect the target to host with a USB cable and restart the target device.

In case of problems, see Troubleshooting.