Meson | Qt Creator Documentation
Description: Use Meson to build native desktop applications.

- Qt Creator Documentation
- Meson
- Qt Creator 17.0.1

Reference

# Meson

Meson is an open source and multi-platform build system generator using Ninja as main backend. Build definitions are located in `meson.build` files while build options are located in `meson_options.txt`.

Note: Many features available with Meson build or usually available from Qt Creator are missing.

Qt Creator automatically detects the Meson executables specified in the `PATH`. You can add paths to other Meson executables and use them in different build and run kits.

Note: Enable the Meson plugin to use it.

## Adding Meson Tools

Qt Creator does not have strong requirements on Meson build's version, any version above 0.49.0 should be compatible.

To specify paths to Meson executables:

1. Select Preferences > Meson > Tools > Add.

2. In the Name field, specify a name for the tool.
3. In the Path field, specify the path to the Meson executable.
4. Select Apply to save your changes.

Select the Preferences > Kits > Kits tab to add the Meson tools to a build and run kit:

For more information, see Kits.

## Editing Meson Build Descriptions

To open a meson.build file for editing, double-click it from project tree. Only plain text editor is available now.

## Code Completion and External Libraries

Through external libraries, Qt Creator can support code completion and syntax highlighting as if they were part of the current project or the Qt library.

Qt Creator handles code completion from compilation flags in Meson introspection data. Any external library added with `dependency()` or found in include path will be known by Qt Creator for code completion.

Syntax completion and highlighting work once your project configures successfully.

## Current Meson Support Limitations

The following features are not supported yet:

- Showing header files in project tree.
- Configuration change detection, for example when building triggers a Meson configuration first.
- Actions from locator such as searching or triggering builds.
- Adding files to Meson projects from Qt Creator.

See also Enable and disable plugins, Open projects, Meson Build Configuration, and Specifying Run Settings.

Reference