Should I download the SDK or Qt Creator?

[N3wb]

I would like to get started writing simple applications using Qt, but I'm confused on what I should download. On this page, http://qt.nokia.com/downloads/, there is a huge SDK installer, and then below that a very small download for Qt Creator. Which should I download and install?

Thanks

[ChrisW67]

Assuming you mean for Windows based on your profile.

If you download the SDK then you get everything you need to develop applications on Windows, including a set of Qt libraries, the Qt Creator IDE, and sufficient parts of the MingW tool chain and compiler to produce your application. These versions tend to lag a little behind bleeding edge.

If you download only Qt Creator you will need to supply a suitable C++ compiler tool chain:

• Microsoft Visual Studio,
• one of the Windows SDKs (which include a compiler),
• MingW/MSys, or
• another Qt supported tool chain.

You will also need to download either,

• a pre-built Qt library matching your compiler, or
• the Qt sources from which to build the libraries for yourself.

This option will give the latest version of everything. At the cost of more setup work you get a better understanding of the distinctions between IDE, compiler and library. These distinctions tend to be a common confusion for complete beginners if the questions asked here are anything to go by.