How to write GUI program for Linux universe in C++

dangtu · 01-29-2019, 10:38 AM

There are various GUI libraries (even cross-platform) for C++. However, I don't really know how does it work in Linux. As far as I know, Linux family has thing called Desktop Environment. And each distro using different DE. So what GUI lib should I choose to allow my GUI app works on all of these DE?

NevemTeve · 01-29-2019, 11:13 AM

As a start create some Java applications with GUI.

dangtu · 01-29-2019, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NevemTeve

As a start create some Java applications with GUI.

I don't want the involving of VM so some languages such as Js, Java, Py will be not in my list at the moment.

hazel · 01-29-2019, 12:14 PM

To write GUI apps, you need a widget library. Which one you use depends on what desktop environment you want it to run on. For a Gnome or xfce environment, use gtk2. For a KDE environment, use qt. For a simple window manager, you can use either. In theory, you can also use the Athena widget set Xaw, which was used for the original X apps, but I've heard it's a pig to use. I use gtk myself.

dangtu · 01-29-2019, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hazel

To write GUI apps, you need a widget library. Which one you use depends on what desktop environment you want it to run on. For a Gnome or xfce environment, use gtk2. For a KDE environment, use qt. For a simple window manager, you can use either. In theory, you can also use the Athena widget set Xaw, which was used for the original X apps, but I've heard it's a pig to use. I use gtk myself.

Thanks for the advise. One more question, plz.

Right now I'm using Lubuntu, which has lxde. That means I should use gtk right? Also, if I brought my program to other distro. What will it display? Will it corrupt or display incorrectly? How some app like Firefox can make a matching theme cross-distro?

NevemTeve · 01-29-2019, 12:47 PM

SDL would be an option https://www.libsdl.org/

dugan · 01-29-2019, 12:49 PM

Qt and GTK both work in all DEs.

hazel · 01-29-2019, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dugan

Qt and GTK both work in all DEs.

They work but they don't necessarily look good.

ondoho · 01-29-2019, 12:58 PM

^ dugan's right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dangtu

Right now I'm using Lubuntu, which has lxde. That means I should use gtk right?

yes.

Quote:

Also, if I brought my program to other distro. What will it display? Will it corrupt or display incorrectly?

you will need to test that.

Quote:

How some app like Firefox can make a matching theme cross-distro?

they mostly use their own toolkit.