Deploying TLS cert with QT qrc - c++

Question

I'm trying to include a SSL cert in the app deployment so we can connect to our server securely. I am able to add the files into our asset folder and our resources.qrc file and it works with debug deployment. However when I try to make a release build, it breaks and is unable to find the files.
I've ripped through the QT docs and SO, but everything I've tried has not worked.
Here is the excerpt from the .pro file:
`qmlFolder.source = qml
DEPLOYMENTFOLDERS += qmlFolder # comment for publishing
assetsFolder.source = assets
DEPLOYMENTFOLDERS += assetsFolder
# Add more folders to ship with the application here
QT += xml svg quick qml widgets
# resources.qrc
RESOURCES += resources.qrc # uncomment for publishing`
Here is my resources.qrc file:
<RCC>
<qresource prefix="/">
<file>qml</file>
<file>GandiStandardSSLCA2.crt</file>
<file>SSLcomDVCA_2.crt</file>
</qresource> </RCC>
Here is where I set the path: certPath = "://SSLcomDVCA_2.crt"; // Dev Cert
I got the path from right clicking the file. Again it works in a debug build, but not for release, so I believe it's not being packaged properly. Any hints or ideas how to proceed resolve this issue?

Answer 1

I've found the "issue" and the answer to my problem. Although I think the problem would be a QT bug or my understanding of string definition is wrong. I set the resource file called certs.qrc when I put the two certificates for dev and prod. I created the file definition and used the path I got by right clicking on the resource file and copying it's path. See below for the full definition of the SSL, hopefully this will serve as an example for QT SSL as well because I could barely find any of those either.
Here is my certs file without the 'RCC' header because it seems to break block quotes:
<qresource prefix="/certs">
<file>GandiStandardSSLCA2.crt</file>
<file>SSLcomDVCA_2.crt</file>
</qresource>
Below is the definition for that certificate file:
// SSL socket set up
QFile certFile(":/certs/GandiStandardSSLCA2.crt");
if(certFile.open(QIODevice::ReadOnly))
{
qDebug() << "File opened";
}
else {
qDebug() << "Boooo";
}
QSslCertificate cert(&certFile, QSsl::Pem);
forgotPwSocket = new QSslSocket(this);
forgotPwSocket->addCaCertificate(cert);
All this is currently functional. make sure you run qmake in order to get the resource files compiled.
So now, my explanation as to why I was having a problem. I was using a different deploy method before for the certs where I was deploying the entire assets folder. That works for Android by not iOS so I decided to go with qrc instead. While I was trying to implement the /assets folder deployment I was using an ifdef to define the string of the path depending on if it was iOS or Android. I removed the ifdef, and all my problems went away, it was now able to find the files at the path. The string is a member of my network object and I would define it at run time using the ifdef. During all my debugging, it was the correct path as shown in the inspector. Realizing that using the .qrc resource eliminated the need to define the path based on Android/iOS I hardcoded the path value as stated above. Once I did that, it started working. The path name is the same as it was in the debugger with the ifdef in place so I'm not sure why/where this was breaking. If anyone has any further insight it would be fantastic to hear. Hopefully this will help anyone having a similar issue or getting SSL working in QT in general!