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(C++) How to create a simple 2D graphics program from a console application?

This simple 2D graphics program has the goal to create a colored gradient by setting the colors of individual pixels from a console application.

To create this simple 2D graphics program from a console application in Qt Creator, you can follow the steps below:

• Step #1: Setting up the Qt4 Console application project
• Step #2: Coding the definition of main
• Step #3: Running the program

Step #1: Setting up the Qt4 Console application project

1. Start Qt Creator.
2. If you are not shown the welcome screen, click on 'Welcome' on the left
3. If, in the welcome screen, the 'Develop' tab is not shown, click on 'Develop' to view the Welcome screen Develop tab
4. In the Welcome screen Develop tab, click 'Create New Project' to go to the New project dialog
5. In the New project dialog, click 'QT4 Gui Application' to go to the introduction and project location dialog
6. In the Introduction and project location dialog, you must specify a name and location to save your (project) files. For example, after 'Name' type 'CppQt2dGraphicsConsole'. Click next
7. In the select required modules dialog, make sure QtCore and QtGui are checked and click 'Next'
8. In the project management dialog, click 'Finish'

Now your Qt4 Console application project is successfully set up. Your screen might look like this.

Step #2: Coding the definition of main

Your screen might look like this.

1. On the left menu bar, you can see you are now in 'Edit' mode (instead of 'Welcome' mode). You can see your project right of this menu bar. You can see a 'CppQt2dGraphicsConsole' project folder, containing the following folders and files:
   1. CppQt2dGraphicsConsole.pro
   2. main.cpp (in folder 'Sources')
   Double-click on 'main.cpp' to be taken to the code editor.
2. Your screen then might look like this with the following source code:

   #include <QtCore/QCoreApplication> int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {     QCoreApplication a(argc, argv);     return a.exec(); }

3. Change this code to the following:

   #include <QApplication> #include <QGraphicsScene> #include <QGraphicsView> int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {   QApplication a(argc, argv);   QGraphicsScene scene;   scene.addText("Hello, world!");   QGraphicsView view(&scene);   view.show();   return a.exec(); }

Step #3: Running the program

1. Press CTRL-R to start the program

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