Convert Windows GUI to Linux GUI

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11-19-2005
BobS0327

Convert Windows GUI to Linux GUI

I must convert a Windows GUI application to a Linux GUI application. Unfortunately, my Linux experience is almost nil.

The converted app which is written entirely in Win32 C, must run on many different flavors of Linux from Redhat to Debian to Ubuntu.

So, I'm looking for suggestions to make this conversion as painless and portable as possible. For instance, I'm aware that there are different Linux GUIs. But is there a common denominator GUI that I can develop to? In other words, I want to make the converted app portable to just about any variation of Linux.

Also, a compiler recommendation would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking for a compiler comparable to MS Visual C++
11-20-2005
-=SoKrA=-

g++ is the default compiler for most UNIX OSs. You cold try gtk(+), Qt or wxWindows for the GUI. These toolkits are available in most if not all GNU/Linux distros.

Qt is free for Open Source apps, but gtk and wxWindows (or whatever it's called now) are under the LGPL which means you can link to them from a closed-source app.
11-20-2005
Xipher

Quote:

Originally Posted by -=SoKrA=-

g++ is the default compiler for most UNIX OSs. You cold try gtk(+), Qt or wxWindows for the GUI. These toolkits are available in most if not all GNU/Linux distros.

Qt is free for Open Source apps, but gtk and wxWindows (or whatever it's called now) are under the LGPL which means you can link to them from a closed-source app.

Actually wxWidgets (changed from wxWindows due to threat from Microsoft I believe) has one minor difference in its license from lgpl, quoted below from their site

Quote:

The wxWindows Licence is essentially the L-GPL (Library General Public Licence), with an exception stating that derived works in binary form may be distributed on the user's own terms. This is a solution that satisfies those who wish to produce GPL'ed software using wxWidgets, and also those producing proprietary software.
11-20-2005
BobS0327

Thanx for the info ;)

BTW, I was thinking about starting with Knoppix (Linux on a CD). Thus, I could keep my XP Pro OS but still boot up with Knoppix Linux until I get a dedicated Linux box. Can you recommend some other alternatives?

Thanx again for the info..
11-20-2005
fnoyan

hi

On Linux platforms, gcc is the default compiler.

For GTK+, the default language is C but there is a C+ wrapper for it (gtkmm - http://www.gtkmm.org/) . Qt uses C++ by default.

I don't know weahter or not Qt programs can be compiled under windows but I compiled simple GTK+ applications under Windows with mingw which are originally written for Linux.

There is a designer tool included in Dev-C++ for wxWidgets. I have never used it, but most probably it makes the GUI desing easier! - http://wxdsgn.sourceforge.net/
11-20-2005
-=SoKrA=-

I don't think you need a dedicated box. Unless you want to of course, but with a dedicated hard-drive it's usually good enough. It's possible for them to share a hard-drive (which is what I do in laptops) but I wouldn't recomend it.

Knoppix is a good way to test-drive GNU/Linux, and you can be fairly sure that if the hardware is supported under Knoppix, you won't have problems with any other distro.
11-20-2005
BobS0327

I was thinking about using the gcc compiler with wxWidgets on Knoppix Linux (on CD) as a starting point. Can anybody see any problems with this configuration as far as doing my port from Windows to Linux?

Thanx for your help!!!!!!!!!
11-20-2005
xhi

>> Can you recommend some other alternatives?
1 Get partition magic, or some other program that will modify partition table without hurting data.

2 Using said partition program create a linux partition(or two or more, RTM) and a swap partition (partition magic will do all of this for you.

3. Download a linux distro. I would recommend one of the following
* Slackware // my vote is right here http://slackware.com
* Debian
* Fedora Core (latest)
* Mandrake (Mandriva ... whatever)

4. boot off the CD and go.. There are plenty of linux mboards to get you going to start, if you are a programmer you will love the linux environment, and you will never look back. I would recommend http://linuxquestions.org as a stop on your learning way.. Oh yeh, you will need to spare 2-5 gigs depending on distro and what you choose to install.

>> but with a dedicated hard-drive it's usually good enough
A sep hard drive is a good idea if possible when youre getting started, in case you make a meathead move and loose everything.

------

Disclaimer :: This opinion is extremely biased.
11-20-2005
BobS0327

Yep, you guys convinced me. It's a dedicated hard drive as opposed to another dedicated box. Especially, since I'm on a tight budget.

Thanx for your help!
11-21-2005
-=SoKrA=-

>if you are a programmer you will love the linux environment, and you will never look back.

I'll second that.

>>> but with a dedicated hard-drive it's usually good enough
>A sep hard drive is a good idea if possible when youre getting started, in case you make a >meathead move and loose everything.

Not just when you're getting started, but I won't say how I got to this conclusion ;)
OK, so I should have paid more attention, stil...
11-21-2005
Stuka

I think wxWidgets is probably the best toolkit if you're familiar with Win32 GUI programming, as it has a similar philosophy/structure.
11-24-2005
NoUse

Software development under Knoppix would not be fun. It's way too slow. You made the right choice dual booting.
11-24-2005
BobS0327

I did download and try Knoppix on a CD. Knoppix does load rather slowly from a CD. So, Iwould assume as NoUse mentioned, application development really would NOT be fun.

But now my main concern is setting up a dual boot option. I'm also prone to meatheaditis and I'm a little apprehensive about screwing up my primary Windows XP Pro OS. Anybody have any suggestions for setting up the dual boot option?

Thanx

Bob
11-24-2005
NoUse

Use partition magic to partition out about 5gb from your main Windows partition. Make your main linux partition around 4gb (as that's all you will probably need as you're just doing some programming) and make it ext3. Then make a swap partition out of the 1gb of space that's left. Really any size would be fine depending on how much room you have to spare and how many packages you're planning on installing with the distro.
11-24-2005
BobS0327

It's my understanding that Partition Magic is used for repartitioning one drive. What I want to do is add another drive which will have my Linux distro installed. In other words, I want to boot from the C drive for Windows XP and boot from the D drive for Linux. Will Partition Magic allow me to do this?

Thanx

Bob
11-24-2005
NoUse

If you have two different drives then partition magic isn't even needed. Just boot up with the linux cd and use cfdisk to partition your new drive.
11-25-2005
-=SoKrA=-

The instaler in most distros will allow you to partition the disk and make filesystems on it as you wish.
11-25-2005
xhi

>> If you have two different drives then partition magic isn't even needed. Just boot up with the linux cd and use cfdisk to partition your new drive.

Actually what I would recommend, is using partition magic. From windows, setup your linux partitions, formating them does not matter just make a linux partition. If you are going to make only one you should make it around 5 gigs and you can just hit install everything on the installer. You will also need a swap partition. PM has this option also, just make one around 512 mb. That will do it. Then boot off your linux install disks, and when the installer asks you for partitions you should be able to clearly see your linux partition you created. It will ask you to choose a format for the hds, I personally prefer ReiserFS over Ext3, but there is little difference for what you are doing so either will be fine. Just dont choose Ext2 if it is still and option. From the installer you will have to select a boot loader, depending on distro you will choose Lilo, or GRUB. The installer should ask you if you want to install a loader, you do.

I suggest using part magic because we are dealing with a beginner guys, running off a boot cd, mounting drive and partitions with cfdisk are good. That is of course what I also do. But did you do that on your first install? And if you did, was it done right.

>> The instaler in most distros will allow you to partition the disk and make filesystems on it as you wish.

This is also true, however depending on which distro you go with, you may or may not get a quality partitioning tool. To do it from windows would be alot more familiar to a windows user, cutting down on the chance of error. Also when booted in windows there is no question of which hd is which.

again, beginner info. gotta start somewhere.

hth
11-25-2005
xhi

oh and by the way -=SoKrA=- .. you have 420 posts.. that is awesome...

|-)
11-26-2005
-=SoKrA=-

>Also when booted in windows there is no question of which hd is which.

Windows won't show the Linux partitions because it can't understand them, so it won't really matter for it and for Linux you just have to look at its name to see where it's connected (which IDE channel and master/slave).

As for distro partitoners, I liked the Mandrake (now Mandriva) one. It was graphical so it was easy to visualize how the HD was partitioned.

And yes, my postcount is $ANSWER_TO_EVERYTHING * 10, but it doesn't work with bit-shifting, so I don't think it counts as anything.
11-26-2005
xhi

>> Windows won't show the Linux partitions because it can't understand them, so it won't really matter for it and for Linux you just have to look at its name to see where it's connected (which IDE channel and master/slave).

I was referring to viewing them in partition magic, which will handle the linux paritions. but yes you are right windows wont show them in my computer. I just thought that it would be easier to do it from windows, since it is possible. I guess Mandrakes may be just as good? I havent used anything other than Slack for 5 or 6 years so I guess I havent seen the latest improvements... Just when it is my data, even though I love linux, when it comes to working with windows partitions (esp NTFS) I would rather use a quality native windows program, such as PM, if possible.
11-27-2005
-=SoKrA=-

With NTFS you really want to use Windows at the moment. I've had problems with FAT32 partition-resizing under Linux as well. The partition was very fragmented, so there was data at the end, and I forced a resize and lost the whole Documents and Settings folder.

The partitioner isn't anything new, Mandrake 9.0/1 had this and I really like it. Now I normally use Debian or SuSE so I don't get it. Mandriva will probably have them.

I like partitonmagic. It's got a nice interface and you should use it if you think you'll be more confortable with it.