GUI API

[James Parsons]

does Linux have a native library for GUI. I'm asking for like a windows.h type of deal but w/ Linux. if anyone knows one is it easy

[Zaita]

No.
You can use one of the many available though.
- GTK (Gnome or was Gnome)
- WxWidgets
- FLTK
- QT (KDE)

[iseeplusplus]

There is Xlib.h in linux. I think it's what linux gui libraries are based on.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xlib

[computerquip]

I would definitely NOT use Xlib. Rather, that would currently be a step backwards given how Xlib and the entirety of Xorg/X11 will hopeful begin to be replace in the next year or so.

[Grey Wolf]

computerquip wrote:

...given how Xlib and the entirety of Xorg/X11 will hopeful begin to be replace in the next year or so.

Can you elaborate? Who is doing what that try to replace X. I was actually looking and buying the XLIB Programming Manual and XLIB Reference Manual (Adrian Nye) but if there is something definitive in the pipeline I may not bother.

[naraku9333]

@Grey Wolf
I'd guess computerquip is referring to XCB http://xcb.freedesktop.org/

[computerquip]

Eh, depending on your use, Wayland will be up and coming. Many major distributions (i.e. Ubuntu) will be attempting to default to it. I'm sure X will be there for a *long* time still to come so it wouldn't be a waste. I just personally wouldn't support X currently if I were to *start* development.

http://wayland.freedesktop.org/

I wouldn't use anything that is display server specific anyways. MacOS, Windows, *nix, *BSD, and so on will all end up using different servers, it's quite obvious you need some abstraction between them. Then again, this is like asking people to use OpenGL instead of DirectX...

[Grey Wolf]

Thanks for that.

My main interest in XLib is just curiosity rather than an immediate need to do UIs.