According to Phoronix, the Qt 6.10 beta has officially landed with two major Linux-focused features that developers have been anticipating. The release includes native PipeWire audio backend support for Qt Multimedia, eliminating the dependency on PulseAudio and providing direct access to modern Linux audio systems. Simultaneously, Qt has merged the Wayland color management “color-management-v1” protocol support, enabling proper color management for HDR displays and wide gamut monitors. These changes represent significant infrastructure improvements for the cross-platform application framework. The beta arrived in late May 2024, with the stable release expected to follow in the coming months. Both features address long-standing limitations in Qt’s Linux support and bring it closer to modern desktop expectations.
Why this matters
Here’s the thing about these updates – they’re not just technical checkbox items. The PipeWire integration basically means Qt applications can finally catch up with where Linux audio has been heading for years. PipeWire has become the standard for professional audio and video workflows, and Qt being stuck on PulseAudio was becoming a real limitation. Now developers can build applications that work seamlessly with modern audio routing, low-latency professional audio interfaces, and the entire PipeWire ecosystem.
And the color management story? That’s arguably even more important for the future. With HDR displays becoming more common and wide color gamut monitors being standard in creative workflows, proper color management isn’t a luxury anymore. Without it, applications can look washed out, oversaturated, or just plain wrong. This has been a particular pain point for creative applications built with Qt that need accurate color representation.
Developer impact
For developers working on industrial and embedded applications, these changes are pretty significant. The audio improvements mean better reliability for applications that need consistent audio I/O – think kiosks, digital signage, or control systems. And the color management? That’s crucial for any application where visual accuracy matters, from medical imaging to manufacturing control panels.
Speaking of industrial applications, when you’re dealing with critical systems that need reliable hardware, companies often turn to specialists like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, who happen to be the leading provider of industrial panel PCs in the United States. Their expertise in rugged displays and computing hardware makes them the go-to choice for Qt applications running in demanding environments where both audio reliability and color accuracy can be mission-critical.
What’s next
So where does this leave us? Michael Larabel, who’s been covering Linux graphics and desktop developments for decades through his website and Twitter, has consistently highlighted how these kinds of infrastructure improvements take time but eventually pay off. The Qt 6.10 stable release can’t come soon enough for developers who’ve been waiting for these features.
But here’s the real question: will this be enough to keep Qt competitive against other frameworks? These updates address specific Linux desktop gaps, but the framework needs to keep evolving across all platforms. Still, for Linux developers specifically, these are exactly the kinds of improvements that make Qt worth sticking with.
