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Qt / C++ VS Lazarus

Compare Qt / C++ VS Lazarus and see what are their differences

Qt / C++ logo Qt / C++

Qt is a great cross-platform development toolkit.

Lazarus logo Lazarus

Lazarus is a cross-platform IDE for the Free Pascal compiler.
  • Qt / C++ Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-28
  • Lazarus Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17

Qt / C++ features and specs

  • Cross-platform compatibility
    Qt allows developers to write applications once and deploy them across multiple platforms such as Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. This significantly reduces development time and costs.
  • Rich set of libraries
    Qt provides a comprehensive set of libraries and tools for building both GUI and non-GUI applications, which helps developers create feature-rich applications without needing additional tools.
  • Strong community and support
    Qt has a large and active community, offering extensive documentation, forums, and third-party resources. This can assist developers in solving problems quickly.
  • Consistent API
    Qt offers stable and consistent APIs across versions, which helps in maintaining and updating applications with minimal effort.
  • Open-source availability
    Qt is available as an open-source framework under both commercial and LGPL licenses, providing flexibility for different types of projects.

Possible disadvantages of Qt / C++

  • Steep learning curve
    Qt, especially when used with C++, can have a steep learning curve for new developers due to its extensive framework and C++ complexity.
  • Commercial licensing costs
    While Qt is available as open-source, the commercial version can be expensive, particularly for small businesses or startups.
  • Binary size
    Applications built with Qt might result in larger binary sizes compared to applications developed with other frameworks, which could be a concern for resource-constrained environments.
  • Slightly outdated UI components
    Although Qt provides many UI components, some may appear dated compared to native components of modern operating systems, requiring custom styling for a modern look.
  • Limited mobile development features
    While Qt supports mobile platforms, it may not offer full access to native device features or as robust support as native mobile development tools, making it less ideal for certain mobile applications.

Lazarus features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Development
    Lazarus IDE supports development for multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing developers to create applications that are portable across different operating systems.
  • Open Source
    Lazarus is open-source software, which means it is free to use, distribute, and modify, providing flexibility and cost savings for developers.
  • Rich Component Library
    The environment includes the Free Pascal Component Library (FCL) and Lazarus Component Library (LCL), offering a wide range of pre-built components to speed up application development.
  • Compatibility with Delphi
    Lazarus aims to be compatible with Delphi, allowing developers familiar with Delphi IDE to transition more easily and utilize existing Delphi codebases.
  • Community Support
    Being open-source, Lazarus has a supportive community that provides extensive documentation, tutorials, and forums to assist developers.

Possible disadvantages of Lazarus

  • Steep Learning Curve
    New users, especially those with no background in Pascal programming, may find Lazarus challenging to learn and start using effectively.
  • Less Modern UI Components
    Compared to other modern IDEs, Lazarus may lack some of the cutting-edge UI components or design tools that newer environments offer.
  • Limited Third-Party Libraries
    The ecosystem for third-party libraries and components may not be as extensive as other platforms like .NET or Java, which could limit functionality for certain projects.
  • Smaller Developer Community
    While there is support available, the community is smaller compared to other IDEs, which might impact the speed of getting help or updates.
  • Potential Delphi Compatibility Issues
    Despite efforts to maintain compatibility, some differences between Delphi and Lazarus can result in compatibility issues, requiring adjustments when migrating projects.

Qt / C++ videos

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Lazarus videos

Lazarus The First Collection Hardcover Review.

More videos:

  • Review - Lazarus at NYTW Review
  • Review - Lazarus DELUXE Collection - Series and Hardcover Review! IMAGE COMICS
  • Tutorial - Lazarus Free Pascal, creating Sistem From zero to expert
  • Tutorial - acordeon menu with Lazarus

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Qt / C++ and Lazarus)
Programming Language
44 44%
56% 56
IDE
0 0%
100% 100
OOP
100 100%
0% 0
Text Editors
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Qt / C++ seems to be a lot more popular than Lazarus. While we know about 13 links to Qt / C++, we've tracked only 1 mention of Lazarus. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Qt / C++ mentions (13)

  • Check out my new drawing software PainterQt for Windows operating systems!!
    PainterQt is an open source drawing software written in C++ using Qt GUI creation technology. PainterQt is a personal project of mine that started with a few lines with the purpose of understanding how Qt's QPainter class works. The program grew and I decided to work on it in a serious project and then distribute it. I would love to see this dream of mine come true, so if you could take a look at the software and... Source: about 2 years ago
  • GUI programming in C++
    Qt Looks like native widgets Lots of functionality Event based - can both be intuitive to understand and complex, but is efficient for CPU for typical desktop applications Lots of resources available. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Maui vs the alternatives (Avalonia, Flutter, Electron, etc)
    Have you tried Qt? It's a cross-platform framework written in C++. There are also bindings for Qt for other languages that allow you to write code in such languages (like Python). Source: over 2 years ago
  • QML for Python and poor community !!
    Can you suggest some tutorials and sources for QML and Python , I can't find any helpful sources (videos on YouTube / Project in github ) , except the qt.io but it's not enough and there are a few examples there . Source: over 2 years ago
  • Point me in the right direction please.
    Well, since you mention Qt... Install it with the Online Installer (https://www.qt.io/download-qt-installer, then ignore all the talk about commercial version, you do want the open source version). Just one version of Qt, probably the latest. For Windows, choose MingGW version of Qt and check that the matching MinGW is set to be installed too. If you have trouble, check out the installation instructions (should be... Source: over 2 years ago
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Lazarus mentions (1)

  • Are we GUI Yet? The state of building user interfaces in Rust
    > nearly as easy and pleasant as WinForms with VisualStudio Check out Lazarus: http://lazarus-ide.org It is WAY easier than WinForms. WinForms' VS "integration" feels as if they started with what Delphi 1 could do back in 1995 or so, implemented most of it and then decided that is enough. Lazarus' GUI tools are way above and beyond anything WinForms can do and the underlying LCL is crossplatform using... - Source: Hacker News / almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Qt / C++ and Lazarus, you can also consider the following products

Gambas - Gambas is a full-featured object language and development environment built on a BASIC interpreter.

Microsoft Visual Studio - Microsoft Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) from Microsoft.

Python - Python is a clear and powerful object-oriented programming language, comparable to Perl, Ruby, Scheme, or Java.

Free Pascal - Free Pascal (aka FPK Pascal) is a 32 and 64 bit professional Pascal compiler.

Vala - Vala is a new programming language that aims to bring modern programming language features to GNOME...

Rust - A safe, concurrent, practical language