# Commonwealth Online Qt GUI - Setup Instructions

## Quick Setup (3 Steps)

### Step 1: Install Qt6

1. Download Qt6 from: **https://www.qt.io/download-open-source**
2. Run the installer and select:
   - ✓ Qt 6.8 (or latest 6.x)
   - ✓ MSVC 2022 64-bit component
   - Install to default location: `C:\Qt\6.8.0\`

3. After installation, verify the path exists:
   ```
   C:\Qt\6.8.0\msvc2022_64\lib\cmake\Qt6
   ```

### Step 2: Verify Prerequisites

Run the setup checker:

```bash
cd host-gui
check-setup.bat
```

This verifies:
- ✓ CMake 3.20+
- ✓ Visual Studio 2022
- ✓ Qt6 installation

### Step 3: Build

```bash
cd host-gui
build.bat
```

The script will:
1. Auto-detect Qt6 location
2. Configure CMake
3. Build Release executable
4. Output: `host-gui/build/bin/Release/CommonwealthOnlineHost.exe`

---

## Detailed Setup (If Quick Setup Fails)

### Manual Qt6 Installation

1. **Download Qt Online Installer**
   - Go to https://www.qt.io/download-open-source
   - Download "Qt Online Installer for Windows"

2. **Run Installer**
   - Create Qt account (free)
   - Select "Custom installation"
   - Under "Qt 6.8.0" (or latest):
     - ✓ MSVC 2022 64-bit
     - ✓ Qt 5compat (optional)
   - Under "Developer and Designer Tools":
     - ✓ CMake (if not already installed)
   - Click "Install"

3. **Verify Installation**
   - Check that this folder exists:
     ```
     C:\Qt\6.8.0\msvc2022_64\
     ```
   - Should contain:
     ```
     lib\cmake\Qt6\
     bin\
     include\
     plugins\
     ```

### Manual CMake Installation

If CMake isn't found:

1. Download from: https://cmake.org/download/
2. Run installer
3. When prompted, select "Add CMake to PATH"
4. Restart your terminal/command prompt

### Manual Visual Studio 2022 Installation

If Visual Studio 2022 isn't found:

1. Download from: https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/
2. Run installer
3. Select "Desktop development with C++"
4. Install

---

## Building Manually (If Scripts Fail)

### Command Line Build

```bash
cd host-gui
mkdir build
cd build

# Configure (replace path with your Qt6 location)
cmake .. -G "Visual Studio 17 2022" -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH="C:\Qt\6.8.0\msvc2022_64"

# Build Release
cmake --build . --config Release
```

### Visual Studio IDE Build

1. Open Visual Studio 2022
2. File → Open → Folder
3. Select `host-gui` folder
4. Wait for CMake configuration
5. Build → Build All
6. Executable at: `host-gui/build/bin/Release/CommonwealthOnlineHost.exe`

---

## Troubleshooting

### "Qt6 not found"

**Solution 1**: Edit `build.bat` and update Qt6 search paths
- Find the line with `PATHS_TO_CHECK`
- Add your Qt6 installation path

**Solution 2**: Use manual CMake with explicit path
```bash
cmake .. -G "Visual Studio 17 2022" -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH="C:\path\to\your\Qt6"
```

### "Visual Studio not found"

Make sure Visual Studio 2022 is installed with C++ development tools:
1. Open Visual Studio Installer
2. Modify your installation
3. Select "Desktop development with C++"
4. Click "Modify"

### "CMake not found"

Add CMake to PATH:
1. Install CMake from cmake.org
2. Select "Add CMake to PATH"
3. Restart terminal

### "Build fails with link errors"

Ensure you're using the matching MSVC version:
- Qt6 installed for MSVC 2022 64-bit
- Building with "Visual Studio 17 2022" generator
- Using Release build configuration

---

## Running the Application

After successful build:

```bash
cd host-gui
start build\bin\Release\CommonwealthOnlineHost.exe
```

Or double-click:
```
host-gui\build\bin\Release\CommonwealthOnlineHost.exe
```

---

## Environment Setup (Advanced)

If you want to set up your environment permanently:

### Windows Environment Variables

1. Press `Win + X`, select "System"
2. Click "Advanced system settings"
3. Click "Environment Variables"
4. Add or update:
   ```
   CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH = C:\Qt\6.8.0\msvc2022_64
   ```
5. Restart terminal

Then you can just run:
```bash
cd host-gui
mkdir build
cd build
cmake ..
cmake --build . --config Release
```

---

## Next Steps After Build

Once you have a successful build:

1. **Test the Application**
   - Launch `CommonwealthOnlineHost.exe`
   - Click "Start Server"
   - Verify logs appear

2. **Connect Clients**
   - Run fake_client from server directory
   - Should see client in GUI table

3. **Customize**
   - Edit colors/styling in `MainWindow.cpp`
   - Add admin buttons in `MainWindow.h/cpp`
   - Extend ServerProcess for more features

---

## Support

If you encounter issues:

1. Run `check-setup.bat` to verify prerequisites
2. Review output and error messages carefully
3. Check this troubleshooting guide
4. Try manual CMake command with explicit paths