New Ada portable GUI Library?
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From: Tomek Walkuski on 13 Jan 2008 05:25 On 13 Sty, 11:06, "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mail...(a)dmitry-kazakov.de> wrote: > The only goal of a *true* Ada GUI library, IMO, could be a library which > would have a chance to become a part of the Ada Standard Library. So Gtk is > just non-starter here. We cannot depend on third-party libraries. > So, Dimitry, you are proposing "Swing approach". I'm talking about "look and feel" issue, because it is important to many people.
From: Vadim Godunko on 13 Jan 2008 05:49 On 13 ÑÎ×, 12:07, Lucretia <lucret...(a)lycos.co.uk> wrote: > > > Ada has bindings for both Gtk+ and Qt. Both bindings are large, > > complex and stable. Which advantages will have new GUI library? > > 1) A nicer interface because both of these aren't pleasant. May be... > 2) A portable library, compile for many platforms - like wxWidgets. > Both Gtk+/GtkAda and Qt/QtAda are portable. They work on UNIX/Linux, MS Windows, Mac OS. So, this is not an advantage.
From: Gautier on 13 Jan 2008 06:04 Your intentions are good, but (I hope I'm wrong) there is a huge lack of resources there to reach your goal. And we can continue bla-bla-ting for more years on c.l.a., it won't change anything. I suggest something more pragmatic and feasible: develop further an existing library that works fine on Windows (the lion's share in the market), but is kind of frozen: GWindows ( http://sourceforge.net/projects/gnavi ). The goals would be a series of specific improvements like: - refresh the installer such that it works for GNAT file-based project system - integrate the nice extensions in GWindows.Extended - add support case-by-case, e.g., for the clipboard - revive the GUI builder, GNAVI When that works, you will maybe, after some time, have attracted so many programmers that *then* you can even consider beginning the huge task of a portable GUI system. NB: if you are allergic to Microsoft (could happen), you still have an open-source system compatible with Windows: http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html :-) Tomek Walkuski: > Hi, > > someone wrote about need such kind of simple, non-GPL in "The future > of Ada is at risk" thread. > > In which direction should it go? Portable means: native widgets on all > platform (wxWidgets approach) or imitation of these (Swing approach)? > Do you have any other ideas? Some design suggestions? > > I'm asking because I'm interested in this matter, maybe I will find > time to start hacking this :) > > I'm trying to put first brick, start the discussion, maybe something > good for the community will emerge? ______________________________________________________________ Gautier -- http://www.mysunrise.ch/users/gdm/index.htm Ada programming -- http://www.mysunrise.ch/users/gdm/gsoft.htm NB: For a direct answer, e-mail address on the Web site!
From: Martin Krischik on 13 Jan 2008 06:14 Dmitry A. Kazakov wrote: > Gtk and Qt are themselves thick bindings. It makes no sense to use them as > a low-level rendering platform. An all-Ada GUI design should IMO look > like: > > Ada GUI library > ---------------------------------------- > Ada rendering platform abstraction layer > | > Ada � | Ada native bindings, engine-specific > -------- | ----------------------------- > X11 � | Win32 GUI API The problem here is that X11 is so very low level - too low level in fact. We would have to provide an widget engine first. Now I just had an idea: how about a Widget which is similar to Win32 GUI API. But no, that would be WINE all over again. Martin -- mailto://krischik(a)users.sourceforge.net Ada programming at: http://ada.krischik.com
From: Lucretia on 13 Jan 2008 06:27
On Jan 13, 10:06 am, "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mail...(a)dmitry-kazakov.de> wrote: > Gtk is slow. And after all, there is GtkAda here. If you are prepared to > buy poor performance of Gtk and its alien to Ada design concept, then you > can branch from GtkAda 2.8 which was GMGPL, or maybe 2.4, I don't remember. > (In case you will go this path let me know. I am interested in such efforts > because I maintain the GtkAda contributions project.) > > The only goal of a *true* Ada GUI library, IMO, could be a library which > would have a chance to become a part of the Ada Standard Library. So Gtk is > just non-starter here. We cannot depend on third-party libraries. I'm not saying that's how *I* would do it, just how it could be done for the purists. I personally would sit a tiny C layer below the Ada GUI lib and interface to that. You only need the UI stuff here. Anything else that might be needed, file/dir notifications, other OS stuff can also be abstracted. If you bypass the native OS you end up with yet another GUI which doesn't look like the native OS you are using. People don't like that. Simple. Luke. |