This page describes how to compile qBittorrent for both x86 and x64 platforms using Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 under Windows.

Table of Contents

• Requirements
• Preparation
• Compiling zlib
• Compiling OpenSSL
• Compiling Boost
• Compiling libtorrent
• Compiling Qt4
• Configuring Qt Creator
• Compiling qBittorrent

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Requirements

• The Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 compiler.
• A Perl language interpreter. Strawberry Perl or ActivePerl can be used. Download Strawberry Perl 5.20.1.1 here.
• Latest release of the NASM assembler. Download version 2.11.05 here.
• Latest release of zlib. Download version 1.2.8 here.
• Latest release of OpenSSL. Download version 1.0.1i here.
• Latest release of the Boost libraries. Download version 1.56.0 here.
• Latest release of libtorrent-rasterbar. Download version 0.16.17 here.
• Latest release of the Qt4 source. Download version 4.8.6 here.
• Latest release of Qt Creator. Download version 3.2.1 here.
• Latest release of qBittorrent. Download version 3.1.10 here.

Let's assume that the working directory(ies) for our compilation will be:

• For x86: C:\qBittorrent
• For x64: C:\qBittorrent64

Preparation

• Install Perl.
• Install Qt Creator.
• Extract NASM inside our working dir, eg.:
  • For x86: C:\qBittorrent\nasm

Compiling zlib

• Extract the zlib source inside our working dir(s).

• Rename the resulting dir(s) from zlib-x.x.x to just zlib.

• Open the MSVC2013 command shell:

  • For x86: Start->Programs->Visual Studio 2013->Visual Studio Tools->VS2013 x86 Native Tools Command Prompt
  • For x64: Start->Programs->Visual Studio 2013->Visual Studio Tools->VS2013 x64 Native Tools Command Prompt

• Navigate to the zlib source folder:

  • For x86: pushd C:\qBittorrent\zlib
  • For x64: pushd C:\qBittorrent64\zlib

• Edit the win32\Makefile.msc file.

• Find the line starting with CFLAGS

  • Replace -MD with -GL -MT -Zc:wchar_t-

• Find the line starting with LDFLAGS

  • Replace -debug with -opt:icf -dynamicbase -nxcompat -ltcg /nodefaultlib:msvcrt

• Issue the following commands:

  • For x86:

    nmake -f win32/Makefile.msc LOC="-DASMV -DASMINF -DNDEBUG -I." OBJA="inffas32.obj match686.obj"
    

  • For x64:

    nmake -f win32/Makefile.msc AS=ml64 LOC="-DASMV -DASMINF -DNDEBUG -I." OBJA="inffasx64.obj gvmat64.obj inffas8664.obj"
    

• Copy zlib.h, zconf.h, zlib.lib, zlib.pdb to our install dir.

  • For x86:

    xcopy zlib.h C:\qBittorrent\install\include\
    xcopy zconf.h C:\qBittorrent\install\include\
    xcopy zlib.lib C:\qBittorrent\install\lib\
    xcopy zlib.pdb C:\qBittorrent\install\lib\
    

  • For x64:

    xcopy zlib.h C:\qBittorrent64\install\include\
    xcopy zconf.h C:\qBittorrent64\install\include\
    xcopy zlib.lib C:\qBittorrent64\install\lib\
    xcopy zlib.pdb C:\qBittorrent64\install\lib\
    

Compiling OpenSSL

• Make sure you have installed Perl and NASM (for x86).

• Extract the OpenSSL source inside our working dir(s).

• Rename the resulting dir(s) from openssl-x.x.x to just openssl.

• Open the MSVC2013 command shell:

  • For x86: Start->Programs->Visual Studio 2013->Visual Studio Tools->VS2013 x86 Native Tools Command Prompt
  • For x64: Start->Programs->Visual Studio 2013->Visual Studio Tools->VS2013 x64 Native Tools Command Prompt

• Navigate to the OpenSSL source folder:

  • For x86: pushd C:\qBittorrent\openssl
  • For x64: pushd C:\qBittorrent64\openssl

• Now we will build a static version of OpenSSL. Issue the following commands:

  • For x86:

    set "PATH=%PATH%;C:\qBittorrent\nasm"
    perl Configure VC-WIN32 no-shared zlib no-zlib-dynamic threads --prefix=C:\qBittorrent\install -IC:\qBittorrent\install\include -LC:\qBittorrent\install\lib
    ms\do_nasm
    

  • For x64:

    perl Configure VC-WIN64A no-shared zlib no-zlib-dynamic threads --prefix=C:\qBittorrent64\install -IC:\qBittorrent64\install\include -LC:\qBittorrent64\install\lib
    ms\do_win64a.bat
    

• Edit the ms\nt.mak file:

  • Find the line that starts with: EX_LIBS

    • Replace zlib1.lib with zlib.lib

  • Find the line that starts with: CFLAG

    • Append: /Zc:wchar_t- /GL /Zi

  • Find the line that starts with: LFLAGS

    • Replace /debug with /incremental:no /opt:icf /dynamicbase /nxcompat /ltcg /nodefaultlib:msvcrt

  • Then issue the following:

    nmake -f ms\nt.mak
    nmake -f ms\nt.mak install
    

Compiling Boost

• Extract the Boost sources in the working dir(s).

• Rename the resulting dir(s) from boost_x_x_x to just boost.

• Open the MSVC2013 command shell:

  • For x86: Start->Programs->Visual Studio 2013->Visual Studio Tools->VS2013 x86 Native Tools Command Prompt
  • For x64: Start->Programs->Visual Studio 2013->Visual Studio Tools->VS2013 x64 Native Tools Command Prompt

• Navigate to the Boost source folder:

  • For x86: pushd C:\qBittorrent\boost
  • For x64: pushd C:\qBittorrent64\boost

• Now you will need to bootstrap Boost so it will build b2.exe. Issue the following command: bootstrap.bat vc12

• Compile a static version of Boost. Issue the following command (if you want to set how many threads b2 uses when compiling, add -j N to the end of the command, where N is the number of threads; the toolset parameter is needed for the correct choice of msvc-12.0 if other versions are installed):

  • For x86:

    b2 -q --with-system --toolset=msvc-12.0 variant=release link=static runtime-link=static debug-symbols=off warnings=off warnings-as-errors=off
    

  • For x64:

    b2 -q --with-system --toolset=msvc-12.0 variant=release link=static runtime-link=static debug-symbols=off warnings=off warnings-as-errors=off architecture=x86 address-model=64
    

Compiling libtorrent

• Extract the libtorrent sources in the working dir(s).
• Rename the resulting dir(s) from libtorrent-rasterbar-x.x.x to just libtorrent.
• Open the MSVC2013 command shell:
  • For x86: Start->Programs->Visual Studio 2013->Visual Studio Tools->VS2013 x86 Native Tools Command Prompt
  • For x64: Start->Programs->Visual Studio 2013->Visual Studio Tools->VS2013 x64 Native Tools Command Prompt
• Navigate to the libtorrent source folder:
  • For x86: pushd C:\qBittorrent\libtorrent
  • For x64: pushd C:\qBittorrent64\libtorrent
• Compile a static version of libtorrent. Issue the following command (if you want to set how many threads b2 uses when compiling, add -j N to the end of the command, where N is the number of threads):

  • For x86:

    ..\boost\b2 -q --prefix="stage" --without-python --toolset=msvc-12.0 variant=release link=static runtime-link=static encryption=openssl logging=none geoip=static dht-support=on boost=source character-set=unicode boost-link=static -sBOOST_ROOT="C:\qBittorrent\boost" include="C:\qBittorrent\install\include" library-path="C:\qBittorrent\install\lib" install
    

  • For x64:

    ..\boost\b2 -q --prefix="stage" --without-python --toolset=msvc-12.0 variant=release link=static runtime-link=static encryption=openssl logging=none geoip=static dht-support=on boost=source character-set=unicode boost-link=static -sBOOST_ROOT="C:\qBittorrent64\boost" include="C:\qBittorrent64\install\include" library-path="C:\qBittorrent64\install\lib" architecture=x86 address-model=64 install
    

  • Note: When you use libtorrent-rasterbar-1.0.4: change dht-support=on to dht=on see libtorrent manual

Compiling Qt4

• Extract the Qt4 sources in the working dir(s).

• Rename the resulting dir(s) from qt-everywhere-opensource-src-x.x.x to just qt4.

• Open the MSVC2013 command shell:

  • For x86: Start->Programs->Visual Studio 2013->Visual Studio Tools->VS2013 x86 Native Tools Command Prompt
  • For x64: Start->Programs->Visual Studio 2013->Visual Studio Tools->VS2013 x64 Native Tools Command Prompt

• Navigate to the Qt4 source folder:

  • For x86: pushd C:\qBittorrent\qt4
  • For x64: pushd C:\qBittorrent64\qt4

• Now we will build a static version of Qt4 with making as small as possible.

• Open mkspecs\win32-msvc2013\qmake.conf and replace the

  • Find the line that starts with: QMAKE_CFLAGS_RELEASE
    • Replace -MD with -GL -MT
  • Find the line that starts with: QMAKE_LFLAGS
    • Replace /NXCOMPAT with /NXCOMPAT /LTCG
  • Find the line that starts with: QMAKE_LFLAGS_RELEASE
    • Replace /INCREMENTAL:NO with /INCREMENTAL:NO /NODEFAULTLIB:MSVCRT

• Open src\3rdparty\zlib_dependency.pri and src\tools\bootstrap\bootstrap.pri

  • Replace zdll.lib with zlib.lib

• Issue the following commands:

  • For x86:

    configure.exe -release -opensource -confirm-license -static -ltcg -fast -system-zlib -no-qt3support -no-opengl -no-openvg -no-dsp -no-vcproj -no-dbus -no-phonon -no-phonon-backend -no-multimedia -no-audio-backend -no-webkit -no-script -no-scripttools -no-declarative -no-declarative-debug -mp -arch windows -qt-style-windowsxp -nomake examples -nomake demos -platform win32-msvc2013 -openssl-linked -largefile -I "C:\qBittorrent\install\include" -L "C:\qBittorrent\install\lib"
    bin\qmake.exe projects.pro QT_BUILD_PARTS="libs translations"
    nmake
    

  • For x64:

    configure.exe -release -opensource  -confirm-license -static -ltcg -fast -system-zlib -no-qt3support -no-opengl -no-openvg -no-dsp -no-vcproj -no-dbus -no-phonon -no-phonon-backend -no-multimedia -no-audio-backend -no-webkit -no-script -no-scripttools -no-declarative -no-declarative-debug -mp -arch windows -qt-style-windowsxp -nomake examples -nomake demos -platform win32-msvc2013 -openssl-linked -largefile -I "C:\qBittorrent64\install\include" -L "C:\qBittorrent64\install\lib"
    bin\qmake.exe projects.pro QT_BUILD_PARTS="libs translations"
    nmake
    

• You can close the command prompt now.

Configuring Qt Creator

• Launch Qt Creator and select Tools->Options...
• Select the Build & Run item from the left and select the Qt Versions tab.
  • For x86:
    • Click the Add... button and select qmake.exe. It should be in: C:\qBittorrent\qt4\bin\qmake.exe
    • Name it something meaningful like Qt4 - MSVC2013 (x86)
  • For x64:
    • Click the Add... button and select qmake.exe. It should be in: C:\qBittorrent64\qt4\bin\qmake.exe
    • Name it something meaningful like Qt4 - MSVC2013 (x64)
• Still in the Build & Run item, select the Kits tab.
  • For x86:
    • Click the Add... button and name it x86
    • In Compiler select Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler 12.0 (x86)
    • In Qt version select Qt4 - MSVC2013 (x86)
  • For x64:
    • Click the Add... button and name it x64
    • In Compiler select Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler 12.0 (amd64)
    • In Qt version select Qt4 - MSVC2013 (x64)

Compiling qBittorrent

• Extract the qBittorrent sources in the working dir(s).

• Go to Maxmind and download the GeoLite Country database in binary format. Here is the link. Extract the GeoIP.dat file to: src\gui\geoip

• Open the winconf.pri file, edit and adjust the paths:

  • For both:
    • Replace _WIN32_WINNT=0x0500 with _WIN32_WINNT=0x0501
  • For x86:
    • Replace C:/qBittorrent/boost_1_51_0 with C:/qBittorrent/boost
    • Replace C:/qBittorrent/RC_0_16/include with C:/qBittorrent/libtorrent/include
    • Replace C:/qBittorrent/Zlib/include with C:/qBittorrent/install/include
    • Replace C:/qBittorrent/boost_1_51_0/stage/lib with C:/qBittorrent/boost/stage/lib
    • Replace C:/qBittorrent/RC_0_16/bin/<path-according-to-the-build-options-chosen> with C:/qBittorrent/libtorrent/stage/lib
    • Replace C:/qBittorrent/Zlib/lib with C:/qBittorrent/install/lib
  • For x64:
    • Replace C:/qBittorrent/boost_1_51_0 with C:/qBittorrent64/boost
    • Replace C:/qBittorrent/RC_0_16/include with C:/qBittorrent64/libtorrent/include
    • Replace C:/qBittorrent/Zlib/include with C:/qBittorrent64/install/include
    • Replace C:/qBittorrent/boost_1_51_0/stage/lib with C:/qBittorrent64/boost/stage/lib
    • Replace C:/qBittorrent/RC_0_16/bin/<path-according-to-the-build-options-chosen> with C:/qBittorrent64/libtorrent/stage/lib
    • Replace C:/qBittorrent/Zlib/lib with C:/qBittorrent64/install/lib

• Open the winconf-msvc.pri file and adjust the filename of the lib of Boost:

  • Check C:\qBittorrent\boost\stage\lib or C:\qBittorrent64\boost\stage\lib for the .lib name, it should be named in this format: libboost_system-vcx-mt-s-x_x.lib, eg: libboost_system-vc120-mt-s-1_56.lib
  • Replace libboost_system-vc90-mt-s-1_51.lib with the .lib name.

• Launch Qt Creator and open the qbittorrent.pro file.

  • For x86: check the x86 checkbox and click Configure Project
  • For x64: check the x64 checkbox and click Configure Project

• Change the configuration from Debug to Release in the left side of the window (where the computer icon is).

• Select Build->Build All

• After the compilation ends you should have qbittorrent.exe in:

  • For x86: C:\qBittorrent\build-qbittorrent-x86-Release\src\release
  • For x64: C:\qBittorrent64\build-qbittorrent-x64-Release\src\release