User Interface Programming

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09-09-2011
Imanuel

User Interface Programming

Hello,

I have no practical experience designing a graphical user interface either in C/C++ or Java, C#, etc.

This bothers me as a computer science student who is concerned important topics s these are not taught in current curriculum but I desire to learn.

My interest is in GUI design in Windows or Mac and utilizing either a book or tutorial offering hands-on experience in a language that enables me to program a gui.

I request recommendations from this community whose opinion I have come to respect as authoritative.
09-09-2011
AndrewHunter

Well, the responses to this are dependent on:
1. The language you would like to use to implement your GUI
2. The platform you wish to design for

GUI are OS specific and the libraries for their development are language specific. Perhaps you could specify these items so we could point you in the right direction. (for the pedantic, assuming windows you could create your own class design in C++ for implementing the interface via the windows API and likewise for other implementations).
09-09-2011
manasij7479

If you want something cross-platform ...try Qt ..(which requires quite a bit of C++ knowledge.)
09-10-2011
Imanuel

I am leaning toward C/C++ or Java development and considering my options to learn within those languages.
09-10-2011
Elysia

I do not recommend C for GUI.
For C++, there is Qt.
For Java, there is a built-in framework.
09-10-2011
Imanuel

Any book recommendations to go along with the C++ Qt recommendation.
What about Windows programming using C? Antiquated? I would like more information please.
09-10-2011
manasij7479

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imanuel

Any book recommendations to go along with the C++ Qt recommendation.

The Qt website has an excellent documentation and set of tutorials, which I find much better(&&updated) than the existing books.
09-10-2011
Imanuel

Thank you for replying. Regarding Qt, how much C++ do I need to know? I am proficient in Java and learning C++ now although I am not at the point of class definition, inheritance, polymorphism, and other advanced language features.
09-10-2011
manasij7479

Quote:

Regarding Qt, how much C++ do I need to know?

Better familiarise yourself with that OOP stuff before trying Qt.
Qt makes quite extensive (&& at some points.. redundant) use of those.

Read the tutorials up to the point you can understand, trying them out on the way.
Then focus on the C++ topics you don't have a good idea about.
09-10-2011
AndrewHunter

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imanuel

Thank you for replying. Regarding Qt, how much C++ do I need to know? I am proficient in Java and learning C++ now although I am not at the point of class definition, inheritance, polymorphism, and other advanced language features.

You should be comfortable with C++ and OOP prior to using QT, it well help to minimize your frustrations. As for Windows programming in C, it is still in effect. You could take a look at the Forger's Win32 tutorial for a good starting point.
09-11-2011
Elysia

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewHunter

As for Windows programming in C, it is still in effect. You could take a look at the Forger's Win32 tutorial for a good starting point.

But it's very difficult to use right, and requires a lot of code for the most trivial things. So definitely not recommended.
It's fine is you want fine grained control over most things, and if you want to know what is going behind the scenes, but otherwise...