# Setup

Quick start for installing `qairt-dev` and preparing your environment. For full environment management and CLI details see [QAIRT Version Manager (QAIRT VM)](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-87189-2/topic/qairt_vm.html).

## Prerequisites

- Python: 3.10 or 3.12

Note

On Linux-aarch64, only Python 3.12 is supported.
- Supported installation platforms: Windows-x86\_64 (10+), Windows-arm64 (10+), Linux-x86\_64 (Ubuntu 22.04 / 24.04), Linux-aarch64 (Ubuntu 24.04)
- Recommend an isolated virtual environment per project

Note

On Windows-arm64 use an AMD64 Python/pip distribution.

Warning

Do not source a Qualcomm SDK `envsetup.sh` (or `dev_setup.sh`) inside the same Python
virtual environment where `qairt-dev` is installed. Doing so overrides environment
variables and library paths that `qairt-dev` relies on, which can cause silent failures
or import errors. Use a separate shell or virtual environment for SDK environment setup.

## Install qairt-dev package

Base install:

pip install qairt-dev
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Optionally, framework dependencies, required for conversion and certain core workflows, can be installed along with `qairt-dev` as follows:

pip install qairt-dev[onnx]         # Add ONNX tooling
    pip install qairt-dev[torch,onnx]   # Torch + ONNX
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Warning

- `qairt-dev[torch]` alone is not yet supported; include ONNX.
- `qairt-dev[onnx, torch]` are not supported on arm-linux (aarch64). Install `qairt-dev` without extras for runtime-only usage.

### Gen AI requirements

Gen AI Builder workflows (building and deploying LLMs) additionally require Torch and ONNX extras:

pip install qairt-dev[torch,onnx]
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## Run environment inspection (recommended)

Use the QAIRT VM CLI before first import to review checks and fixes:

qairt-vm -i -v      # Inspect (no changes)
    qairt-vm -f -v      # Apply fixes interactively
    qairt-vm -f -y -v   # Auto-approve all fixes (CI / automation)
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See [QAIRT VM custom QAIRT SDK setup](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-87189-2/topic/qairt_vm.html#fetch-sdk) for fetching and setting custom QAIRT SDK.

## Import QAIRT and Verify

After inspection / fixes, import `qairt` and verify `qairt-dev` and QAIRT SDK versions:

python -c "import qairt; print(qairt.__dev_version__, qairt.__sdk_version__)"
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Note

Importing `qairt` will auto-run an inspection + fixes silently. This works for quick experiments but hides details; prefer running `qairt-vm` explicitly first.

## Next steps

- [QAIRT Version Manager (QAIRT VM)](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-87189-2/topic/qairt_vm.html) – Full CLI and SDK management.
- [Tutorials](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-87189-2/topic/tutorials.html) – Guided examples.
- [API Documentation](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-87189-2/topic/api.html) – API reference.

## Support

Contact [qairt-dev-support](mailto:qairt-dev-support%40qti.qualcomm.com) including verbose inspection output for environment issues.

Last Published: Aug 19, 2026

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