About PyQt

PyQt is a comprehensive set of Python bindings for the Qt cross-platform GUI/XML/SQL C++ framework from Trolltech. PyQt provides bindings for Qt 2 and Qt 3. PyQt4, a separate set of bindings, covers the Qt 4 series of releases.

PyQt implements around 300 classes and over 5,750 functions and methods including:

• a substantial set of GUI widgets

• classes for accessing SQL databases (ODBC, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle)

• QScintilla, Scintilla-based rich text editor widget

• data aware widgets that are automatically populated from a database

• an XML parser

• classes for embedding ActiveX controls on Windows

Earlier versions of PyQt included a graphical debugger called eric, written using PyQt, which can be used to debug PyQt and ordinary Python console applications. It's now available separately as eric3 from https://www.die-offenbachs.de/detlev/eric3.html.

PyQt includes pyuic which generates Python code from GUI designs created with Qt Designer. This makes PyQt very useful as a rapid prototyping tool for applications that will eventually be (partly or completely) implemented in C++ because the user interface designs can be re-used without modification.

PyQt is available for Windows, UNIX/Linux, Mac OS X and the Sharp Zaurus.

For more information see the framework homepage.

PyQt4

PyQt4 is a set of Python bindings for Qt 4 that exposes much of the functionality of Qt 4 to Python. This version of PyQt is described in more detail on the PyQt4 page.

PyQt documentation

Current documentation is available at https://www.riverbankcomputing.com/Docs/PyQt4/pyqt4ref.html.

Mark Summerfield's book, Rapid GUI Programming with Python and Qt, is an up-to-date guide to GUI application development with Python 2.5, PyQt4 and Qt 4.2/4.3. More information can be found at https://www.qtrac.eu/pyqtbook.html.

Boudewijn Rempt's book, GUI Programming with Python: Qt Edition, is available at https://www.commandprompt.com/community/pyqt/.

The PyQt4 tutorial available at https://zetcode.com/tutorials/pyqt4/

A tutorial presented by Jonathan Gardner at the 2003 Northwest Linux Fest is available at JonathanGardnerPyQtTutorial.

A tutorial presented by Oleksandr Yakovlyev for embedding PyQt in C++/Qt application EmbedingPyQtTutorial

PyQt applications

Some applications that use PyQt as their UI layer:

• ConvertAll - a versatile unit converter https://www.bellz.org/convertall/.

• Eric IDE - an integrated development environment for python https://www.die-offenbachs.de/eric/index.html

• FlyWay - a route planner for pilots https://www.bellz.org/flyway/.

• imgSeek - Photo collection manager with content-based search and many other features https://imgseek.sourceforge.net/.

• Incubus Data Modeler - Free (GPL) data modeler CASE tool https://incubus.sf.net

• Kodos - Python Regular Expressions Debugger https://kodos.sourceforge.net/.

• Orange - data mining by visual programming https://www.ailab.si/orange

• Paythyme - a UK statutory payroll https://www.paythyme.org.uk

• PyPI Browser - a PyQt4-based GUI browser for the Python Package Index https://www.boddie.org.uk/david/Projects/Python/PyPI-Browser/

• Q4Banking - a Qt4 port of the QBanking frontend from the AqBanking Library https://www.apaku.de/linux/q4banking/index.php

• rpCalc - a reverse polish notation calculator https://www.bellz.org/rpcalc/.

• Schevo - a data management system https://schevo.org

• TreeLine - a tree-structured PIM https://www.bellz.org/treeline/.

• XPathEvaluator - a PyQt4-based tool that helps you "write" XPath expressions https://www.apaku.de/linux/xpathevaluator/index.php

• Anki - A PyQt4-based program designed to help you remember facts (such as words and phrases in a foreign language) as easily, quickly and efficiently as possible. https://repose.cx/anki

A more up to date list of applications can be found on the PyQt Wiki.

Links to other resources

A Wiki dedicated to PyQt and PyKDE can be found at The PyQt and PyKDE community Wiki.

Phil Thompson was interviewed about PyQt for KDE Dot News in August 2006.

CategoryPyGUI