Thread: C and GUIs

Hi again,

Another newbie request: as a C programmer, how do you put together a GUI? Are there libraries available to help out? Or do you have to use a more 'visual' language and link it to your C code? I'm starting to get the hang of the basics of C, but I"m not sure where to start with developing a user interface. I'm working in GNU/Linux, but I'd like to use tools that work on Windows as well, if that's possible.

Thanks again,

Tyler

If it needs to be closs-platform, then you would have to look at something like SDL (libsdl.org). Maybe with a side of one of the libraries that help with GUI writing (buttons, bars, and things)

wxWidgets?

I'd be happy to write my own, or use an existing library, but I have no idea where to start. I looked at the SDL site, but that seems to be aimed at fairly complex stuff. I just want to make some forms for data entry, and present the output in a similar form. Most of my work is going to be ecological simulations and number-crunching stuff. I don't need fancy graphics, just something basic.

Everything I've found in web tutorials or books is either like SDL, aimed at games programmers who already know a lot more than me, or is just the language basics, assuming everything will be run from the command line. Where does a beginner programmer go to learn how to program some boxes with buttons and check boxes and text fields?

Cheers,

Tyler

GTK on Gnome, QT on KDE. QT is C++, not C so that really leaves you with GTK. QT and GTK can both be installed on Windows as well.

(Keep in mind you can install the QT libraries if you are using Gnome, and the GTK libraries if you are using KDE, so you aren't necessary constrained by the desktop environment)

That's more like it! It looks like GTK does what I'm looking for, and the tutorial appears to be comprehensible to someone at my level of experience. I'll give that a shot.

Thanks for your suggestions!

TB