I always program with Emacs or XEmacs. I like it very much. I think it's way better than any IDE I've used in the past. But the problem with using emacs, I have alot of windows open (5-7) when I program.

What I want to do is have a simple IDE that uses emacs as it's editor. For example, on the left, it will have the files, and when you click on it, it'll open it up with emacs but in the program. Basically, thats what I want to do with it now.

My question is, what language should I use? Because if I use Qt, it won't look proper in Gnome and if I use GTK, it won't look normal in KDE. Is there a generic GUI language?

Java

sence u program you can always acess the x libs directly instead of going thu the widget sets?, that way u can make you own look,

but if you a language tehn java defidently

Hmm, but a Java GUI wouldn't fit in with either GNOME or KDE. If you want the application to blend in with your desktop nicely, you'll probably just have to make the choice between GNOME and KDE, unfortunately.

Alex

You can change the look of java applications to make it look like whatever platform you are on

The look, yes, but it still wouldn't be integrated with the desktop like a real KDE or GNOME app. Of course there's always a compromise between integration and portability, and I'm not suggesting Java would necessarily be the wrong choice in this case, but it isn't going to be the best choice if you want to maximise integration with the desktop you're using.

Alex

Because the java vm's tend to suck, I don't like the idea of writing complex programs in them. It tends to make for slow running apps.

...and when you factor in that `awt' and `swing' seem to be the bits that really crawl (sorry if there is some `super' Java GUI package that I have not heard of)...

I read somewhere that QT will have a GTK style in the next version. GTK will also have the possiblity of loading QT style (it's like an agreement between gnome and trolltech) so shouldn't worry to much about it. Thought I don't know any deadline for this.

I can't find anymore this reference, sorry.

Why using Java when you use some plateform dependant things (like Emacs).

If you're using Mosfet's Liquid and want your little Java apps to look like everything else, check this out.

http://liquidlnf.sourceforge.net/

Although, I have to agree with the above statements on swing, awt, and the vm's. The more work I have to do it Java the more I'm realizing this sucks.