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# Installation

## Windows

1. Download the Windows installer (`qualx-<version>_install.exe`) from the download page.
2. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. The default installation folder is `C:\Program Files\Qualx`.
3. QualX will be available from the Start Menu and the desktop shortcut.

Note

If a previous version of QualX is already installed, it must be uninstalled first before installing into the same folder.

## macOS

1. Download the macOS DMG file (`qualx-<version>_macos.dmg`) from the download page.
2. Double-click the DMG to mount it.
3. Drag the QualX icon into the Applications folder.
4. Eject the mounted volume.
5. Launch QualX from the Applications folder or Launchpad.

Note

On first launch macOS may warn about an unidentified developer. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway.

## Linux

### Option A — AppImage (recommended)

The AppImage is a self-contained executable that bundles Qt6, the Fortran runtime and all other dependencies. It runs on most recent x86_64 Linux distributions without installing anything.

1. Download

Download `qualx-<version>-x86_64.AppImage` (e.g. `qualx-1.0.3-x86_64.AppImage`) from the download page.

2. Make it executable and run it

    chmod +x qualx-<version>-x86_64.AppImage
    ./qualx-<version>-x86_64.AppImage

Note

AppImages require FUSE. If you get a "FUSE not found" error, either install `libfuse2` (`sudo apt-get install libfuse2` on Debian/Ubuntu) or extract and run the AppImage without FUSE:

    ./qualx-<version>-x86_64.AppImage --appimage-extract
    ./squashfs-root/AppRun

### Option B — Compilation from source (.tar.gz)

Use this method on any Linux distribution or when you need to choose a specific Fortran compiler.

Requirements

Tool | Minimum version
--- | ---
CMake | 3.20
C++ compiler (g++) | 9
Fortran compiler | gfortran 9, ifort 2021, or ifx 2024
Qt6 | 6.5 (Widgets, Sql, PrintSupport, Network)

Install build dependencies on Debian/Ubuntu:

    sudo apt-get install cmake build-essential gfortran pkg-config qt6-base-dev

On Fedora/RHEL:

    sudo dnf install cmake gcc gcc-c++ make gcc-gfortran pkgconfig qt6-qtbase-devel

Automated installation with `install.sh`

    tar xzf qualx-<version>.tar.gz
    cd qualx-<version>
    ./install.sh

The script configures, compiles, and installs QualX to `/opt/qualx-<version>`. To run it afterwards:

    /opt/qualx-<version>/bin/qualx
    # or add to PATH:
    export PATH=/opt/qualx-<version>/bin:$PATH

By default `install.sh` uses `gfortran`. Pass a different compiler as the first argument, and an optional Qt6 prefix as the second:

    ./install.sh ifx                                    # Intel Fortran (ifx)
    ./install.sh gfortran /home/user/Qt/6.5.0/gcc_64   # custom Qt path

Manual CMake build

    tar xzf qualx-<version>.tar.gz
    cd qualx-<version>

    cmake -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=gfortran \
          -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
          -S . -B build
    cmake --build build -j$(nproc)
    sudo cmake --install build

## Databases

QualX requires at least one crystallographic reference database.

Database | Format | Notes
--- | --- | ---
COD (Crystallography Open Database) | COD/CIF | Free — download separately, not bundled with QualX
PDF-2 | PDF-2 DAT | Commercial — ICDD license required

Database files are managed through Search → Manage Databases.

For instructions on installing a database, see Database Installation.

## First Launch

On first launch QualX will ask you to configure the path to the database files. See Getting Started for a step-by-step guide.