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Thread: Better toolkit?: GTK or Qt?

  1. #1
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    Default Better toolkit?: GTK or Qt?

    Which toolkit is better to program Linux apps in:
    GTK (GIMP toolkit)
    or
    Qt (C++ libraries by trolltech)

    ---------------------
    FYI:
    KDE Dektop is written using Qt
    GNOME and GIMP were written using GTK

  2. #2
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    Default Re:Better toolkit?: GTK or Qt?

    GTK, a GUI library borne out of the need to create the GIMP. By the time the original task of building GIMP was complete, GTK was a toolkit of immense possibilities.

    QT, a GUI library created out of a desire by Trolltech to create a crossplatform GUI library, so that the migration of program codes could/would be creatly simplified.

    Both tool kits are EXTREMELY good at what they do.
    Both have their advantages and disadvantages.
    Both are relatively equal; save one primary and SIGNIFICANT difference.

    GTK is a C based library that has C++ wrappers built for it. In reality GTK is strictly used for C based program code and more often than not, the use of C enhances your application speeds. QT on the other hand is... C++. Object oriented to the core.

    There is no true separation of the two. However if you must choose one over the other, select the library that will fit with your language choice, and in tandem, select the language to suit your programming needs.

    On the political side GTK is "pure" open source. QT is ... a "hybrid". Its now under the QPL liscenes. Which is almost opensource... or some such thing. At one point in the history of KDE there was a GREAT war on the internet over the fact that KDE used QT. Debian developers refused at one point to include it with their distribution and insisted on putting it in their non-free archives. People were scared that the only sophisticated desktop environment for linux had SIGNIFICANT commercial leanings. This is and was the reason for the creation of GNOME.

    GNOME was built historically from GTK with the sole purpose of offsetting the "threat" of KDE and QT. This is the controvertial reason that is given to explain why GNOME is "backward" when KOMPARED to KDE. GNOME is only playing catchup... some pundits said.

    The holy wars have been fought. QT and KDE "won" (depends on your point of view)... and GNOME is still hanging tough.

    That being said. KDE+QT apps are easier to develop and faster to develop. After all nothing beats the reuse of classes/objects. This makes KDE or pure QT applications capable of IMMENSE sizes.
    GTK using C is harder to implement on LARGE program scales but EXCELENT for small utillitarian purposes. Not that GTK can't build large apps. GIMP is proof of it. It is just that it will take longer.
    But this "scale" is a bit arbritrary, after all any program using any toolkit is dependent upon the programmer(s) skill and designing techniques.

    As mentioned before GTK has C++ wraper libraries, but these are not as mature as the could be. Relative to QT.

    To sum: If you want a large application created, when time is an issue and portability is a must, QT (or QT+KDE) is the answer
    If you want a small speedy application go with GTK. If your a good enough coder, both programs will work magic for you and its users.

    --regards
    Gillion

  3. #3
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    Default Re:Better toolkit?: GTK or Qt?

    Gillion, Thanks for your input ...VERY clear and to the point

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