How to set up headers and libraries for Linux development

Make sure you have installed the build-essential package. For more documentation available from the command line, install glibc-doc, manpages-dev, gcc-*-doc, libstdc++*-doc (replace '*' with suitable version numbers for your system)

Getting Started/Build/KDE4/Kubuntu and Debian had a pair of sudo aptitude install commands which I used to get some required packages. I also got the KDevelop and QDevelop applications, although I'm not sure they are required. There was also another package I needed (kdelibs5-dev) and this one appears to be the key package. Everything eventually worked after getting that one. Eclipse and KDevelop were both happy building a simple application once the compiler settings were set up; Eclipse required setting search paths and library filenames.

From first impressions, Eclipse appears better than KDevelop for the single reason that the tool windows in Eclipse can be detached from the main window and float - useful on a dual monitor setup. I couldn't see anyway to do that in KDevelop (I'm sure someone will comment on how to do this).

You might have some clue as to what include in your .classpath and .project files if you have a look and examine the content of the CMake used for developing application for KDE4.2

I believe the development section of their KDE site is quite complete when it comes to explain their development environment.

_{(source: kde.org)} especially their Programming tutorials section.

To get all the dependencies required to build an app on Debian (and presumably Ubuntu), use "apt-get build-dep". So pick a random KDE app -- kasteroids? -- and run:

apt-get build-dep kasteroids

No need to guess what tools and libraries you need to build a KDE app.