Qt framework - can I (legally) create a commercial application using qmake but not Qt?

Question

I know that using Qt attracts certain licensing restrictions under the LGPL license - that is, you must provide the source code or at least the object files so that people can link other versions of the Qt framework. I also know that you can get a proprietary license from Digia to overcome these limitations, but I don't have a budget!

My question is that if I use only qmake and the Qt Creator application, but do not include any Qt functions in the application (so do not link them to the Qt libraries) and use the MOC and none of the resource compilation material, can I sell my application without a commercial Qt license (efficiently, I just use qmake as a build system and Qt Creator as an IDE)?

Answer 1

The LGPL / GPL restrictions apply only to software associated with executable code covered by the LGPL / GPL.

The qmake utility works, but is not directly related to your source code, and therefore you can use it freely.