I just finished a couple of C++ classes and i am off for summer!
We just finished up with link lists.. the next class i will take will be data structures.
we learned about stacks and Queues but didnt get to do a lab with it.
I am interested in learning GUI programming, and i am leaning towards wxWidgets.
my question is, at my skill level is this something i will be able to do? or maybe studying ahead might be a better option?
If you're well versed with OOP and pointers, and if you are able to read through documentation and figure stuff out for yourself, you could probably handle some basic wxWidgets stuff.
I generally stick to C over C++ in many cases, but I do like wxWidgets, except for their horrible abusage of macros to invent something like dynamic arrays. Bleh.
Some basic stuff sounds good to me!
I myself looked into wxWidgets and it's great for beginning GUI programming. You're not going to be tethered to a certain platform, and as well it's got plenty of features to offer you. It's also got a very consistent look for it's applications when switching platforms. I looked at the code once or twice, but I felt it involved a bit too much to get a simple application going.
I'm very partial to the Fast Light Tool Kit. The documentation is really spiffy and I was running a basic application in no time. It didn't involve a lot of learning, as it was easy to grasp right away. It's cross platform as well. I think it has a better level of simplicity than wxWidgets, a lot less cruft in the code as is my opinion, and it's got enough power in it to provide you with pretty much all that you could ask for in a toolkit.
Another option would be to look into something like the Gimp Tool Kit. I've looked at the source code of some programs that use it, and it seems to me it'll test you more for knowing the library than all of the nitty gritty details of C++, this might or might not be of your preference in a GUI. It's cross platform too, but if memory serves me correctly, you'll have to make for some arrangements on Windows systems, though it's been a while since I checked.
Qt is a very popular toolkit too, can't say much at all, but your apps will look nice when they're done.
Check here for some more options and perhaps a better explanation of each as opposed to my descriptions.
List of widget toolkits - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yeah, i am open to anything! I also plan on looking into QT
I will also look into Fast Light Tool Kit.
Thanks
anyone like QT creator?
Learn MFC. Should give you an easy framework to play around with to reinforce some of what you learned in school. On top of that you will be using windows, so learn how it works under the hood as well and it will serve you well into the future.
I was wondering about MFC! everytime i have heard something about it i hear negative things.
MFC isn't free, though. But if you're a student, you can get it with VS Pro from DreamSpark.
MFC is Windows™ ONLY, however.
But it does simplify GUI a lot.
Originally Posted by Adak
Are you already familiar with the concept of event-driven programming? If you're just finishing up a basic course in C/C++ and want to jump into GUI, it's probably a good idea to become familiar with how UI frameworks function in general.
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Totally agree with learning more about programming before getting into GUI programming. I mean, if you are still studying basic data structures, then I'm quite sure you are not that ready and comfortable with programming a >1000 lines program yet... And I suggest you start with learning GUI programming with Win32 API first, when you are ready, since Win32 API is compatible with C++ and C, both.
Nice tutorial I followed for my first GUI program:
theForger's Win32 API Tutorial
I actually did my first GUI program quite recently though :P
Remarks: Win32 API is also only for Windows... I did most of my programming by looking at the documentations:
Win32 and COM Development
Well, so is GTK, I'd imagine.Win32 API is compatible with C++ and C, both.
Personally I wouldn't recommend learning a platform-specific toolkit to begin with. Partially that's because I use Linux a lot, and know how annoying it is to have Windows programs that won't run on Linux (except under Wine :P) and vise versa.
But I also say that because when I first learned graphics programming, it was ancient DOS mode 13h graphics. That was a mistake since those sorts of programs only run under Windows (and only before Windows XP even). I've since learned the SDL, and I wish I'd learned it to begin with.It's not a completely fair comparison, since the SDL is much more capable than BIOS interrupts while I think most of the GUI toolkits mentioned are reasonable similar in capabilities, but I'd still recommend a platform-independent library over something like MFC.
Of course, that's just for learning purposes. If you think you'll need MFC for a job or something, then learn it. Otherwise, there's plenty of time in the future.
P.S. @Elysia: when did you start putting the TM after Windows?
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Yeah, i will be taking more c++ classes in the fall. For right now, i just need something to do this summer. I am looking into wxwidgets, if i can get it to work!. Oh, and GTK looks really nice..
Theres too many choices. I dont know what to pick =(
wxwidgets, GTK+, QT, MFC, Win32 API, gtkmm.
I am sure i am missing some.
Last edited by mrsirpoopsalot; 06-12-2009 at 06:50 PM.
Ok, i have been using QT for the past couple of hours and i love it!
anyne else like it?
I don't necessarily agree. Win32 API is C, but since C++ is backwards compatible, it does work with C++ too. However, note the "C" part. It was written for C in mind, so it basically reaches out to C programmers. It is natural to them.
For C++ programmers, however, this is not so, because C-style programming isn't considered C++-style programming. C++ uses other paradigms and programming methods, so a C API may not suit them very well.
Thus, I would recommend a C++ GUI Library before the Win32 API, because
1) There is no need to use a C API when you are doing C++.
2) Win32 is complex and low-level, suitable for C, but C++ can do better.
Right nowP.S. @Elysia: when did you start putting the TM after Windows?
