Compilation MSVC 2013 (x86_64) (dynamic linkage)

This page describes the process of building qBittorrent on Windows targeting x86_64 (aka x64 aka AMD64 aka 64-bit) architecture. Building for x86_64 arch is only supported by Visual Studio Professional or better, Express edition won't do.

Note: Even though this article tries to be as full as possible, it is not recommended for users without basic knowledge in programming and windows shell scripting.

Final note: Resulting binary will not support Windows XP 64-bit Edition and Windows Server 2003 64-bit Edition unless you follow special notes describing how to make it compatible with those systems.

Table of Contents

1. Software Requirements
2. Source Requirements
3. Preparing Directory Structure
4. Build Zlib
5. Build OpenSSL
6. Build Boost
7. Build libtorrent
8. Build Qt
9. Build qBittorrent
10. Using resulting binaries on different computers

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Software Requirements

1. At least Windows 7 SP1 64-bit
2. At least Visual Studio 2013 Professional Edition.
3. Perl. ActiveState Perl x86 is known to work.
4. Latest version of NASM assembler.

Source Requirements

1. Latest version of Zlib.

   • 1.2.8 is used in this article.

2. Latest version of OpenSSL. Be sure to download the one without fips in the name.

   • 1.0.1i is used in this article.

3. Latest version of Qt. Look for The source code is also available as a single zip on download page. This is what you need, not the prebuilt binaries.

   Note: Qt5 is currently not supported by qBittorrent.

   • 4.8.6 is used in this article.

4. Latest version of Boost.

   • 1.56 is used in this article.

5. Latest version of libtorrent-rasterbar.

   • 0.16.17 is used in this article.

6. Latest version of qBittorrent or you can Download Master Branch from GitHub.

   • 3.1.9.2 is used in this article.

7. Maxmind GeoIP Database.

Preparing Directory Structure

1. First of all you will need a working directory structure for source code and compiled binaries. Create something like that:

    C:\work
        \sources
        \install
   

2. In this article I'm using a drive as a working directory, so I have something like that:

    T:
        \sources
        \install
   

   This directory structure will be used as an example.

Build Zlib

1. Unpack Zlib into \sources\zlib\.

2. Open VS2013 x64 Native Tools Command Prompt usually found in Start->All Programs->Visual Studio 2013->Visual Studio Tools

3. Navigate to Zlib source folder.

4. Edit .\win32\Makefile.msc and do the following changes:

   • Find the line starting with AS and on that line:
     • Replace ml with ml64
   • Find the line starting with ASFLAGS and on that line:
     • Replace -coff -Zi $(LOC) with $(LOC)
   • Find the line starting with CFLAGS and on that line:
     • Replace -nologo -MD -W3 -O2 -Oy- -Zi -Fd"zlib" $(LOC) with -nologo -MD -O2 -w -favor:blend -GL -GR- -Y- -MP -EHs-c- $(LOC)
   • Find the line starting with LDFLAGS and on that line:
     • Replace -nologo -debug -incremental:no -opt:ref with -nologo -incremental:no -opt:ref -opt:icf=5 -ltcg
   • Find the line starting with ARFLAGS and on that line:
     • Replace -nologo with -nologo -ltcg

5. Build Zlib:

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

   Last command will run a short test to make sure that Zlib is working.

6. Install Zlib into \install\zlib folder:

   Technical note: because Makefile does not provide an install target, we need to do it ourselves.

    IF EXIST T:\install\zlib RD /S /Q T:\install\zlib
    MD T:\install\zlib
    FOR %X IN (bin lib include) DO (
      MD T:\install\zlib\%X
    )
    XCOPY /Y /Q /I .\*.dll T:\install\zlib\bin\
    XCOPY /Y /Q /I .\*.lib T:\install\zlib\lib\
    XCOPY /Y /Q /I .\zconf.h T:\install\zlib\include\
    XCOPY /Y /Q /I .\zlib.h T:\install\zlib\include\
   

Build OpenSSL

1. Unpack OpenSSL into \sources\openssl\.

2. Install Perl if you haven't. In this article Perl is installed in T:\Perl.

   It is recommended to install both perl and NASM to directory structure without spaces.

3. Open VS2013 x64 Native Tools Command Prompt.

4. Navigate to OpenSSL source folder.

5. If you still haven't installed NASM, now is the best time. In this article NASM is installed in T:\NASM.

6. Adjust PATH variable:

    SET "PATH=T:\NASM;%PATH%"
   

7. Configure OpenSSL:

    perl Configure VC-WIN64A threads shared zlib -IT:\install\zlib\include -LT:\install\zlib\lib --prefix=T:\install\openssl
    .\ms\do_win64a.bat
   

8. Edit .\ms\ntdll.mak and do the following changes:

   • Find the line starting with CFLAG= and on that line:
     • Replace /Ox with /O2 /favor:blend /GL /Y-
   • Find the line starting with LFLAGS=
     • Replace /debug with /OPT:ICF=5 /LTCG
   • Find the line starting with MLFLAGS=
     • Replace /debug with /OPT:ICF=5 /LTCG
   • Find the line starting with ASM=
     • Remove -g from that line
   • Find the line containing zlib1.lib $(EX_LIBS)
     • Replace zlib1.lib with zlib.lib in line

9. Build OpenSSL:

    nmake -f .\ms\ntdll.mak
   

10. Optional. Test OpenSSL:

     nmake -f .\ms\ntdll.mak test
    

    Somewhere near the end of test you should see:

     Available compression methods:
       1: zlib compression
    

    And in the very end you should see passed all tests.

11. Install OpenSSL:

     nmake -f .\ms\ntdll.mak install
    

Build Boost

1. Unpack Boost into \sources\boost\.

2. Open VS2013 x64 Native Tools Command Prompt.

3. Navigate to Boost source folder.

4. Build and install bjam (aka Boost-Build):

    CD .\tools\build
    .\bootstrap.bat vc12
    .\b2.exe --toolset=msvc architecture=x86 address-model=64 --prefix=T:\install\bjam link=shared runtime-link=shared variant=release debug-symbols=off warnings=off warnings-as-errors=off inlining=full optimization=speed "cflags=/O2 /GL /Gy /favor:blend" "linkflags=/NOLOGO /OPT:REF /OPT:ICF=5 /LTCG" install
    CD ..\..\
   

5. Build and install Boost:

    SET "PATH=T:\install\bjam\bin;%PATH%"
    bjam -j2 -q --with-system --toolset=msvc --layout=system --prefix=T:\install\boost link=shared runtime-link=shared variant=release debug-symbols=off threading=multi address-model=64 host-os=windows target-os=windows embed-manifest=on architecture=x86 warnings=off warnings-as-errors=off inlining=full optimization=speed "cflags=/O2 /GL /favor:blend" "linkflags=/NOLOGO /OPT:REF /OPT:ICF=5 /LTCG" install
    XCOPY /Y /Q /I .\*.jam T:\install\boost\
    COPY /Y Jamroot T:\install\boost\
   

Build libtorrent

1. Unpack libtorrent into \sources\libtorrent\.

2. Open VS2013 x64 Native Tools Command Prompt.

3. Navigate to libtorrent source folder.

4. Edit include/libtorrent/escape_string.hpp to fix symbol export with dynamic linking:

   • Replace TORRENT_EXTRA_EXPORT std::string base32decode(std::string const& s); with
     TORRENT_EXPORT std::string base32decode(std::string const& s);

5. Build and install libtorrent:

    SET "PATH=T:\install\bjam\bin;%PATH%"
    bjam -j2 -q --toolset=msvc --prefix=T:\install\libtorrent boost=system boost-link=shared link=shared runtime-link=shared variant=release debug-symbols=off resolve-countries=on full-stats=on export-extra=off ipv6=on dht-support=on character-set=unicode geoip=static encryption=openssl windows-version=vista threading=multi address-model=64 host-os=windows target-os=windows embed-manifest=on architecture=x86 warnings=off warnings-as-errors=off inlining=full optimization=speed "cflags=/O2 /GL /favor:blend" "linkflags=/NOLOGO /OPT:REF /OPT:ICF=5 /LTCG" "include=T:\install\OpenSSL\include" "include=T:\install\Boost\include" "library-path=T:\install\OpenSSL\lib" "library-path=T:\install\Boost\lib" "define=BOOST_ALL_NO_LIB" install
   

   • If you want to build For XP 64-bit or WinServer 2003 64-bit you must build with windows-version=xp instead of windows-version=vista

Build Qt

1. Unpack Qt into \sources\Qt\.

2. Open VS2013 x64 Native Tools Command Prompt.

3. Navigate to Qt source folder.

4. Build Qt:

    .\configure.exe -release -shared -opensource -confirm-license -platform win32-msvc2013 -arch windows -ltcg -no-fast -exceptions -no-accessibility -stl -no-xmlpatterns -no-sql-mysql -no-sql-psql -no-sql-oci -no-sql-odbc -no-sql-tds -no-sql-db2 -qt-sql-sqlite -no-sql-sqlite2 -no-sql-ibase -no-qt3support -no-opengl -no-openvg -graphicssystem raster -qt-zlib -qt-libpng -qt-libmng -qt-libtiff -qt-libjpeg -no-dsp -no-vcproj -no-incredibuild-xge -plugin-manifests -process -mp -rtti -no-3dnow -mmx -sse -sse2 -openssl -no-dbus -no-phonon -no-phonon-backend -no-multimedia -no-audio-backend -no-webkit -no-script -no-scripttools -no-declarative -no-declarative-debug -no-style-s60 -no-style-windowsmobile -no-style-windowsce -no-style-cde -no-style-motif -qt-style-cleanlooks -qt-style-plastique -qt-style-windows -qt-style-windowsxp -qt-style-windowsvista -no-native-gestures -no-directwrite -qmake -nomake examples -nomake demos -nomake docs -I T:\install\OpenSSL\include -L T:\install\OpenSSL\lib -prefix T:\install\Qt
    nmake sub-src
    nmake sub-translations-make_default-ordered
   

5. Install Qt:

    nmake install
   

Build qBittorrent

1. Unpack qbittorrent into \sources\qbt\.

2. Open VS2013 x64 Native Tools Command Prompt.

3. Navigate to qbittorrent source folder.

4. Prepare qBt sources:

   • Unpack Maxmind GeoIP.dat file into .\src\geoip\
   • Edit .\src\src.pro:
     • Find and remove line DEFINES += BOOST_FILESYSTEM_VERSION=2
   • Edit winconf-msvc.pri:

     • Find

         CONFIG(debug, debug|release) {
          LIBS += libtorrentd.lib \
                  libboost_system-vc90-mt-sgd-1_51.lib
         } else {
          LIBS += libtorrent.lib \
                  libboost_system-vc90-mt-s-1_51.lib
         }
       

       and replace with

         CONFIG(debug, debug|release) {
          LIBS += torrent.lib \
                  boost_system.lib
         } else {
          LIBS += torrent.lib \
                  boost_system.lib
         }
       

   • Edit winconf.pri and adjust paths accordingly (remember that T:\install\ is used as an example):

     • Find INCLUDEPATH += $$quote(C:/qBittorrent/boost_1_51_0)
       and replace with
       INCLUDEPATH += $$quote(T:/install/Boost/include)

     • Find INCLUDEPATH += $$quote(C:/qBittorrent/RC_0_16/include)
       and replace with INCLUDEPATH += $$quote(T:/install/libtorrent/include)
       

     • Find INCLUDEPATH += $$quote(C:/qBittorrent/Zlib/include)
       and replace with INCLUDEPATH += $$quote(T:/install/Zlib/include)
       and insert INCLUDEPATH += $$quote(T:/install/OpenSSL/include) on next line

     • Find LIBS += $$quote(-LC:/qBittorrent/boost_1_51_0/stage/lib)
       and replace with LIBS += $$quote(-LT:/install/Boost/lib)

     • Find LIBS += $$quote(-LC:/qBittorrent/RC_0_16/bin/<path-according-to-the-build-options-chosen>)
       and replace with LIBS += $$quote(-LT:/install/libtorrent/lib)
       

     • Find LIBS += $$quote(-LC:/qBittorrent/Zlib/lib)
       and replace with LIBS += $$quote(-LT:/install/Zlib/lib)
       and insert LIBS += $$quote(-LT:/install/OpenSSL/lib) on next line

     • Find and remove the following lines:
       DEFINES += BOOST_ASIO_SEPARATE_COMPILATION
DEFINES += BOOST_SYSTEM_STATIC_LINK=1

     • Find DEFINES += BOOST_ALL_NO_LIB
       and insert DEFINES += BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_CANCELIO on next line

     • Find DEFINES += BOOST_EXCEPTION_DISABLE
       and insert

         DEFINES += BOOST_ASIO_DYN_LINK
         DEFINES += BOOST_ALL_DYN_LINK
       

       on previous line

     • Find DEFINES += TORRENT_USE_OPENSSL
       and insert DEFINES += TORRENT_LINKING_SHARED on next line

     • Find DEFINES += _WIN32_WINNT=0x0500
       and replace with DEFINES += _WIN32_WINNT=0x0600

       • If you want to build For XP 64-bit or WinServer 2003 64-bit replace DEFINES += _WIN32_WINNT=0x0500 with DEFINES += _WIN32_WINNT=0x0501

5. Build qBt:

    SET "PATH=T:\install\Qt\bin;%PATH%"
   

   • Update translations

       CD .\src
       lupdate -no-obsolete ./src.pro
       CD ..\
     

   • Build

       MD build
       CD build
       qmake -config release -r ../qbittorrent.pro "CONFIG += warn_off msvc_mp rtti ltcg mmx sse sse2" "CONFIG -= 3dnow"
       nmake
     

6. Install qBt:

    XCOPY /Y /Q /I .\src\release\qbittorrent.exe T:\install\qBittorrent\
    FOR %X IN (QtCore4.dll QtGui4.dll QtNetwork4.dll QtXml4.dll) DO (
      COPY /Y T:\install\Qt\bin\%X T:\install\qBittorrent\
    )
    XCOPY /Y /Q /I T:\install\Qt\plugins\imageformats\qico4.dll T:\install\qBittorrent\plugins\imageformats\
    FOR /F "usebackq" %X IN (`DIR /B "T:\sources\qbt\src\qt-translations\"`) DO (
      IF EXIST "T:\install\Qt\translations\%X" (
        COPY /Y "T:\install\Qt\translations\%X" "T:\sources\qbt\src\qt-translations\"
      )
    )
    XCOPY /Y /Q /I T:\sources\qbt\src\qt-translations\qt_* T:\install\qBittorrent\translations\
    XCOPY /Y /Q /I T:\install\OpenSSL\bin\*.dll T:\install\qBittorrent\
    XCOPY /Y /Q /I T:\install\libtorrent\lib\torrent.dll T:\install\qBittorrent\
    XCOPY /Y /Q /I T:\install\Boost\lib\*.dll T:\install\qBittorrent\
    echo [Paths] > T:\install\qBittorrent\qt.conf
    echo Translations = ./translations >> T:\install\qBittorrent\qt.conf
    echo Plugins = ./plugins >> T:\install\qBittorrent\qt.conf
   

Using resulting binaries on different computers

If you want to use the resulting binaries on other Windows computers (or redistribute them) you will need Visual C++ Redistributable Packages for Visual Studio 2013 (x64). Users must have it installed in order to use any x86_64 software compiled with Visual Studio 2013. If you are using qBt on computer, which was used for building it, you don't need VC++ 2013 x64 Redistributable Package, because you already have it installed (it came with Visual Studio 2013).

Alternatively you can copy redistributable dlls into program folder like this:

XCOPY /Y /Q /I "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0\VC\redist\x64\Microsoft.VC120.CRT\*.dll" T:\install\qBittorrent\