Configure and build Qt5, tslib and evtest for ARM (Xilinx Zynq).

Just a short recipe on how to compile 'tslib' and use it with Qt5 on Xilinx Petalinux.

At the moment I'm using Ubuntu 14.04 64bit as a host machine, MicroZed 7020 as a target, Xilinx Vivado version 2014.2 and Petalinux vesion 2014.2.
My Vivado tools installed to default path '/opt/Xilinx' and I will install Qt5.3.2 and tslib to /opt/Qt/ and /opt/tslib directories.
Also, I'm using 'Project' folder in my home directory for Vivado and Petalinux projects. Now, after I set the scene, let's actually build it.

  1. Clone tslib into our Project folder:
  2. cd ~/Projects/
    git clone https://github.com/kergoth/tslib.git tslib
    cd ~/Projects/tslib

  3. To configure and build 'tslib' we have to setup a few enviroment variables: CROSS_COMPILE, CC, CXX and we have to source Vivado settings64.sh. So, I will create and use a small bash script:
  4. #!/bin/bash

    export CROSS_COMPILE=arm-xilinx-linux-gnueabi-
    source /opt/Xilinx/Vivado/2014.2/settings64.sh

    export CC=$(which arm-xilinx-linux-gnueabi-gcc)
    export CXX=$(which arm-xilinx-linux-gnueabi-g++)

    ./autogen.sh
    ./configure --host=arm-xilinx-linux-gnueabi --prefix /opt/tslib

    make
    sudo make install

  5. Next 'evtest'. This is a small, but very helpful utility when you trying to figure out what is wrong with your touchscreen or touchscreen controller.
  6. cd ~/Projects/
    git clone git://anongit.freedesktop.org/evtest evtest_util
    cd ~/Projects/evtest_util

    #!/bin/bash

    export CROSS_COMPILE=arm-xilinx-linux-gnueabi-
    source /opt/Xilinx/Vivado/2014.2/settings64.sh

    ./autogen.sh
    ./configure --host=arm-xilinx-linux-gnueabi prefix=/opt/evtest/
    make
    sudo make install

  7. Tslib generates 'ts.conf' file, which you can locate in /opt/tslib/etc/. We have to uncomment the module_raw for our touch controller. In my case it 'input'.
  8. Now when we got tslib, we can configure Qt5. I will build Qt5 from scratch using opensource Qt Everywhere Sources. So, lets download and unpack Qt5 sources.
  9. cd ~/Projects/
    wget http://download.qt-project.org/official_releases/qt/5.3/5.3.2/single/qt-everywhere-opensource-src-5.3.2.tar.gz
    tar -zxvf qt-everywhere-opensource-src-5.3.2.tar.gz

  10. Now, before we can configure Qt5 we must create 'mkspecs' for our Xilinx Zynq. So, create new device folder 'linux-arm-xilinx-zynq-g++' and two files in it. 'qplatformdefs' contains just an include, but second file 'qmake.conf' is quite important. This is the place where we set your CFLAGS/CXXFLAGS, some ENV variables which will be used by default by QMAKE and later by Qt5 libs.

    So, if you need to set something differently, this is the time!

  11. cd ~/Projects/qt-everywhere-opensource-src-5.3.2/qtbase/mkspecs/devices/
    create linux-arm-xilinx-zynq-g++

    'qmake.conf':

    #
    # qmake configuration for linux-g++ using arm-xilinx-g++ compiler
    #
    
    MAKEFILE_GENERATOR      = UNIX
    CONFIG                 += incremental gdb_dwarf_index
    QMAKE_INCREMENTAL_STYLE = sublib
    
    include(../../common/linux.conf)
    include(../../common/gcc-base-unix.conf)
    include(../../common/g++-unix.conf)
    
    load(device_config)
    
    QT_QPA_DEFAULT_PLATFORM = linuxfb
    
    # modifications to g++.conf
    QMAKE_CC                = $${CROSS_COMPILE}gcc
    QMAKE_CXX               = $${CROSS_COMPILE}g++
    QMAKE_LINK              = $${QMAKE_CXX}
    QMAKE_LINK_SHLIB        = $${QMAKE_CXX}
    
    # modifications to linux.conf
    QMAKE_AR                = $${CROSS_COMPILE}ar cqs
    QMAKE_OBJCOPY           = $${CROSS_COMPILE}objcopy
    QMAKE_NM                = $${CROSS_COMPILE}nm -P
    QMAKE_STRIP             = $${CROSS_COMPILE}strip
    
    QMAKE_CFLAGS           += -I$$[QT_SYSROOT]/include -DZYNQ
    QMAKE_CXXFLAGS         += -Wno-psabi -I$$[QT_SYSROOT]/include -DZYNQ
    QMAKE_LFLAGS           += -L$$[QT_SYSROOT]/lib
    
    QMAKE_CFLAGS           += -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a9 -mcpu=cortex-a9 -mfpu=neon -pipe -fomit-frame-pointer
    QMAKE_CXXFLAGS         += $$QMAKE_CFLAGS
    
    deviceSanityCheckCompiler()
    
    load(qt_config)
    

    'qplatformdefs.h':

    /****************************************************************************
    **
    ** Copyright (C) 2013 Digia Plc and/or its subsidiary(-ies).
    ** Contact: http://www.qt-project.org/legal
    **
    ** This file is part of the qmake spec of the Qt Toolkit.
    **
    ** $QT_BEGIN_LICENSE:LGPL$
    ** Commercial License Usage
    ** Licensees holding valid commercial Qt licenses may use this file in
    ** accordance with the commercial license agreement provided with the
    ** Software or, alternatively, in accordance with the terms contained in
    ** a written agreement between you and Digia.  For licensing terms and
    ** conditions see http://qt.digia.com/licensing.  For further information
    ** use the contact form at http://qt.digia.com/contact-us.
    **
    ** GNU Lesser General Public License Usage
    ** Alternatively, this file may be used under the terms of the GNU Lesser
    ** General Public License version 2.1 as published by the Free Software
    ** Foundation and appearing in the file LICENSE.LGPL included in the
    ** packaging of this file.  Please review the following information to
    ** ensure the GNU Lesser General Public License version 2.1 requirements
    ** will be met: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/lgpl-2.1.html.
    **
    ** In addition, as a special exception, Digia gives you certain additional
    ** rights.  These rights are described in the Digia Qt LGPL Exception
    ** version 1.1, included in the file LGPL_EXCEPTION.txt in this package.
    **
    ** GNU General Public License Usage
    ** Alternatively, this file may be used under the terms of the GNU
    ** General Public License version 3.0 as published by the Free Software
    ** Foundation and appearing in the file LICENSE.GPL included in the
    ** packaging of this file.  Please review the following information to
    ** ensure the GNU General Public License version 3.0 requirements will be
    ** met: http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html.
    **
    **
    ** $QT_END_LICENSE$
    **
    ****************************************************************************/
    
    #include "../../linux-g++/qplatformdefs.h"
    
  12. Next step is to configure Qt5 and below configuration I'm using. Again, this is critical step and if you have change something (compile with OpenGl support for example), you have to do it now. Also, if you want to reconfigure Qt, you have to clean using 'gmake clean' before running configuration script again.
  13. cd ~/Projects/qt-everywhere-opensource-src-5.3.2/
    ./build_qt5_3_2.sh
    gmake
    sudo gmake install

    'build_qt5_3_2.sh':

    #!/bin/bash
    
    export CROSS_COMPILE=arm-xilinx-linux-gnueabi-
    source /opt/Xilinx/Vivado/2014.2/settings64.sh
    
    read -p "Run 'confclean'? (y/n) "
    if [ "$REPLY" == "y" ]; then
            gmake clean
    fi 
    
    ./configure -prefix /opt/Qt/5.3.2 \
    	-device linux-arm-xilinx-zynq-g++ \
    	-device-option CROSS_COMPILE=arm-xilinx-linux-gnueabi- \
    	-release \
    	-confirm-license \
    	-opensource \
    	-optimized-qmake \
    	-no-qml-debug \
    	-qt-zlib \
    	-qt-libpng \
    	-qt-libjpeg \
    	-qt-freetype \
    	-qt-harfbuzz \
    	-qt-pcre \
    	-no-xcb \
    	-qt-xkbcommon \
    	-no-opengl \
    	-no-pch \
    	-verbose \
    	-no-kms \
    	-no-eglfs \
    	-no-icu \
    	-no-iconv \
    	-skip qtwebkit \
    	-tslib \
    	-no-gcc-sysroot \
    	-nomake tools \
    	-no-compile-examples \
    	-I /opt/tslib/include \
    	-L /opt/tslib/lib
    
    read -p "Run 'gmake'? (y/n) "
    if [ "$REPLY" == "y" ]; then
    	cd ~/Projects/$QtSrcName
    	gmake
    fi
    
    read -p "Run 'gmake install'? (y/n) "
    if [ "$REPLY" == "y" ]; then
    	cd ~/Projects/$QtSrcName
    	sudo gmake install
    fi
    
  14. After a few minutes(ha-ha) build will finish and we can build a couple of Qt examples for testing purposes. I created a small script to build each example individually. All I need to do is just copy it in project folder and run it. Examples I usually use is a 'Mainwindow' and a 'Pathstroke'.
  15. 'build_qt5_app.sh'

    #!/bin/bash
    
    export CROSS_COMPILE=arm-xilinx-linux-gnueabi-
    source /opt/Xilinx/Vivado/2014.3/settings64.sh
    
    export QTDIR=/opt/Qt/5.3.2
    export PATH=$QTDIR/bin:$PATH
    export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/$QTDIR/lib:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
    
    qmake
    
    make
    
    sudo make install
    
  16. Now, to install Qt5 libs and apps we will create Petalinux 'component'.
  17. cd ~/Projects/$PetalinuxProjectName
    petalinux-create -t libs -n qt-5.3.2 --enable
    cd components/libs/qt-5.3.2/
    rm libqt*
    cp -Pr /opt/Qt/5.3.2/lib .
    cp -Pr /opt/Qt/5.3.2/plugins/ ./lib/
    mkdir bin
    cp /opt/Qt/5.3.2/examples/widgets/painting/pathstroke/pathstroke bin/pathstroke
    cp /opt/Qt/5.3.2/examples/widgets/mainwindows/mainwindow/mainwindow bin/mainwindow

  18. Now, we have to make a few changes in our new 'component' in a Petalinux project( ~/Projects/$PetalinuxProjectName/components/libs/qt-5.3.2/): create 'Makefile' and some file with settings for Qt applications. Tet's call it 'profile.qt-5.3.2'.
  19. 'profile.qt-5.3.2':

    export QT_PLUGIN_PATH=/usr/lib/plugins
    export QT_QPA_FONTDIR=/usr/lib/fonts
    export QT_QPA_PLATFORM_PLUGIN_PATH=/usr/lib/plugins/platforms
    export QT_QPA_PLATFORM=linuxfb
    export QT_QPA_GENERIC_PLUGINS=tslib:/dev/input/event0
    

    Makefile(Don't forget to change username):

    ifndef PETALINUX
    $(error "Error: PETALINUX environment variable not set.  Change to the root of your PetaLinux install, and source the settings.sh file")
    endif
    
    include libs.common.mk
    
    LIB=libqt_5_3_2
    
    all: build install
    
    .PHONY: build
    build:
    
    install:
    	#Install libraries and fonts to the rootfs.
    
    	mkdir -p $(TARGETDIR)/usr/lib
    	USER=d9
    	GROUP=d9
    	rsync -rav ./bin/* $(TARGETDIR)/usr/bin/
    	rsync -rav ./lib/* $(TARGETDIR)/usr/lib/
    
    	#Install the script to ensure the font directory is properly specified.
    	mkdir -p $(TARGETDIR)/etc/profile.d
    	cp profile.qt-5.3.2 $(TARGETDIR)/etc/profile.d/profile.qt-5.3.2
    
    clean:
    
  20. We also need to add 'tslib' to our buildroot. So, I will create another Petalinux 'component', create and copy tslib configuration files:
  21. cd ~/Projects/$PetalinuxProjectName
    petalinux-create -t libs -n tslib --enable
    cd components/libs/tslib/
    rm libtslib*
    rm README
    cp -Pr /opt/tslib/bin .
    cp -Pr /opt/tslib/lib .
    cp -Pr /opt/etc/ts.conf .
    cp -Pr Makefile .
    cp -Pr profile.tslib .
    cp -Pr pointercal .

    My 'profile.tslib'. You may need to change it:

    export TSLIB_TSEVENTTYPE='INPUT'
    export TSLIB_CALIBFILE='/etc/pointercal'
    export TSLIB_CONFFILE='/etc/ts.conf'
    export TSLIB_CONSOLEDEVICE='none'
    export TSLIB_FBDEVICE='/dev/fb0'
    export TSLIB_PLUGINDIR='/usr/lib/ts'
    export TSLIB_TSDEVICE='/dev/input/event0'
    

    'pointercal' for my 800x600 touchscreen:

    94 -13605 53617952 -10567 205 40161292 65536 800 600
    

    'Makefile' (Don't forget to change username):

    ifndef PETALINUX
    $(error "Error: PETALINUX environment variable not set.  Change to the root of your PetaLinux install, and source the settings.sh file")
    endif
    
    include libs.common.mk
    
    LIB=tslib
    
    all: build install
    
    .PHONY: build
    build:
    
    install:
    	#Install libraries and fonts to the rootfs.
    
    	mkdir -p $(TARGETDIR)/usr/lib
    	USER=d9
    	GROUP=d9
    	rsync -rav ./bin/* $(TARGETDIR)/usr/bin/
    	rsync -rav ./lib/* $(TARGETDIR)/usr/lib/
    
    	cp ts.conf $(TARGETDIR)/etc/ts.conf
    	cp profile.tslib $(TARGETDIR)/etc/profile.d/tslib
    	cp pointercal $(TARGETDIR)/etc/pointercal
    
    clean:
    
  22. Qt is a C++ library and like any other C++ application or library it depend on standard c++ library. So, if you didn't include it in your rootfs yet you have to do it now.

    petalinux-config -c rootfs

    Then go to 'Filesystem Packages' -> 'Base' -> 'External-xilinx-toolchain' -> Enable 'libstdc++6'.

  23. This is basically it. Now we have rebuild our Petalinux project and start using it. Just a few notes:
    - After we add Qt5 libraries, our Linux image file will grow is size, so you may need to change U-boot settings to accomodate it.
    - If you need to recalibrate touchscreen - use 'ts_calibrate' utility.
    - If you want to keep it - you must save changes in '/etc/pointercal' file.
    - If you got not only touchscreen, but also mouse and/or keyboard you have to start your application with additional parameters: '-plugin EvdevMouse' '-plugin EvdevKeyboard'.

6 thoughts on “Configure and build Qt5, tslib and evtest for ARM (Xilinx Zynq).

  1. You've removed the step to enable libstdc++ when updating this guide from 5.2.1 to 5.3.2, but that step is still needed.

    Can anyone point me to instructions on what files I need to put on the SD card to boot the real hardware?

  2. Hi, did you manage to get remote debugging to work? I'm using Qt Creator 4/Qt 5.6.0 to develop applications for the Microzed, but I'm unable to get debugging working, because Qt Creator only supports gdb versions which support Python scripting. But the gdb shipped with Petalinux 2015.4 unfortunately doesn't support Python scripting.

    1. I'm using UbuntuBase(arm gnueabihf-) as a rootfs for development. It doesn't have all the packages available for Ubuntu amd64, but it's much better start than Petalinux. Petalinux strength is small footprint and as result a faster boot.

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