QtCreator 19 It is now available It is presented as the latest stable release of the well-known integrated development environment. It is a free, open-source, and cross-platform IDE designed for developers working in GNU/Linux, macOS and Windowsand who are looking for a single tool to manage projects in different languages ​​and systems (see how install Qt Creator on GNU/Linux).
This update comes after a little over four months since Qt Creator 18 It also introduces several features designed to improve the daily programming experience. Among the new features are a new minimap in the text editor, improvements to working with remote devices, a basic MCP server for connecting to AI models, and a significant expansion of support for projects and building systems.
Visual updates in the Qt Creator 19 editor: the minimap arrives
One of the most visible additions of QtCreator 19 is the new "Minimap" of the text editorThis feature displays a simplified view of the document's content on the side, similar to what other advanced editors already offer. Thanks to this small code map, it's easier to navigate long files and identify important blocks at a glance.
The minimap allows you to have a Overview of the file while scrollingThis helps both to navigate quickly between sections and to identify areas with higher code density. Although presented as an additional option, it can be especially useful in large projects, which are very common in professional environments where work is done with large codebases and distributed teamsand to choose a tool, consult the best IDEs for your distribution.
Qt Creator 19 introduces improvements to remote devices and distributed development
Qt Creator 19 introduce Improvements in the configuration and management of remote devicesThis is a key point for those who compile and test their applications outside their local machine. The goal is to facilitate the connection, deployment, and build tasks on external machines, something very common in workflows where they intersect. desktop environments and embedded devices.
These improvements seek to offer a smoother experience when working with remote devicesThis reduces friction when configuring new targets or switching between different test machines. For many development teams, where it's common to combine powerful workstations with remote or lab hardware, this update can significantly simplify day-to-day operations.
AI integration via basic MCP server
Another relevant new feature is the inclusion of a Model Context Protocol (MCP) basic serverThis protocol is proposed as a standard for development environments to communicate with artificial intelligence and language models, such as Claude Code and similar solutions; previous versions have already explored AI integration such as compatibility with GitHub Copilot.
The Qt Creator 19 MCP server allows these models open files, compile, run and debug projects directly from the IDE, acting as a bridge between AI tools and the programming environment. Although still in a basic stage, it represents a step towards development environments where the smart assistance It can be integrated more naturally into routine tasks such as code navigation, error detection, or change suggestion.
Greater compatibility with build systems and languages
In addition to features focused on the interface and AI integration, Qt Creator 19 expands project support and construction systems. Improvements include more comprehensive management for Ant, Cargo, .NET, Gradle and SwiftThis makes it easier to work with heterogeneous codebases within the same development environment. These improvements complement the new features of the Qt ecosystem, such as those introduced in Qt 6.10.
This expanded support is especially useful for those who combine Qt projects with other ecosystemssuch as Rust applications using Cargo, .NET services, or components developed with Gradle and Swift. In this way, Qt Creator 19 positions itself as a more flexible option for mixed teams.
Qt Creator 19 and support for container files in the project tree
Among the less noticeable but practical changes is the possibility of Show development container configuration files within the project tree. This feature makes it easier to locate and modify these files without having to leave the IDE or manually search the file system, recalling the experimental support for containers that already appeared in previous versions (experimental support for containers).
With this integration, Qt Creator 19 is better adapted to the container-based work environmentsThis practice is becoming increasingly widespread, both in small businesses and large organizations. Being able to manage these files from the same interface where the code is edited helps maintain a clearer view of the development environment's configuration.
On the whole, QtCreator 19 It arrives as an update that reinforces the IDE's daily usability, incorporating a minimap for better code navigation, improvements to remote work, a first step in integrating AI models via MCP, and broader support for different build systems and containers. It's not a radical change, but rather a version that refines and expands the work environment for developers. GNU/Linux, macOS and Windows within the Qt ecosystem and beyond.
