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Clotters · Jul 16th, 2005, 3:30 AM

Well I saw "Design" and thought this would probably be the most relevant place to start my thread. If I'm wrong, I apologize.

For a program/game I'm planning to make, I'll need to create a very sound GUI. I don't really know an awful lot about it apart from that I think I should start with an API instead of an MFC. I've looked at a few (rather poorly written) tutorials and seen that for me to make a good GUI, a lot of code (it looked like a lot of code anyway) would need to be learned by me. If that's the only option that comes with making a GUI in C++, then I guess I'll have to deal with it, but I was wondering whether there is a simplified way to make GUI's, similar to what VB6 offers - it just makes things so much easier.

Any links you think I should look at to learn more? A recommended tutorials? How hard will it be to learn in comparison with C++?

Thanks in advance.

Ooble · Jul 16th, 2005, 6:43 AM

By your reference to the MFC, I'm assuming you're using Windows. You have a few choices: you can either use the Win32 API, the Windows Template Library (which is kinda half-way in between the API and the MFC), or you can use a third-party library. The benefit of using the API is that, assuming you use it right, it's about as fast as you're going to get. The WTL however, is a lot easier to use and a lot less tedious. Finally, a third-party library (such as wxWidgets, Qt or GTK+) will most likely support a myriad of other operating systems such as Linux and Mac OS. In the end, it's up to you.

Clotters · Jul 16th, 2005, 11:22 AM

WLT? I've never heard of this before. Could you explain a bit more?

Also, is there anything around that will offer the ease of making my own GUI with similar ease to Visual Basic?

Finally, are there any tutorials you could recommend on the internet.

Thanks.

Clotters · Jul 16th, 2005, 11:57 PM

Sorry to double post, but I can't edit my last post.

I've done some researchand I'll eaither go with the Win32 API or WTL hybrid. I do have one question, though. If/when I decide to spruce this GUI up, how difficult is it to get to grips with skinning?

Any articles or tutorials you know of?

kurifu · Jul 17th, 2005, 1:22 AM

*shrugs* I hate MFC.... There are also a lot of free / comercial game libraries, such as Destiny3D, Genesis3D and so forth that have windowing capabilities... and are a lot more suited for game design.

Clotters · Jul 17th, 2005, 10:00 PM

Sorry, I'm new to GUI's and am confused by the last comment. with Destiny3D or Geneis3D could I make a GUI, or are they tools that I would use with win32 to help me create my graphical user interface?

Infinite Recursion · Jul 18th, 2005, 9:01 AM

OpenGL?

Ooble · Jul 18th, 2005, 9:18 AM

Does OpenGL do windowing?

Infinite Recursion · Jul 18th, 2005, 9:49 AM

I believe so, with Glut?

Ooble · Jul 18th, 2005, 11:59 AM

There we go - yet another windowing toolkit to check out. I hear GLUT's good too.

Jul 16th, 2005, 3:30 AM	#1
Clotters Programmer Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 60 Rep Power: 4	Graphical User Interfaces Well I saw "Design" and thought this would probably be the most relevant place to start my thread. If I'm wrong, I apologize. For a program/game I'm planning to make, I'll need to create a very sound GUI. I don't really know an awful lot about it apart from that I think I should start with an API instead of an MFC. I've looked at a few (rather poorly written) tutorials and seen that for me to make a good GUI, a lot of code (it looked like a lot of code anyway) would need to be learned by me. If that's the only option that comes with making a GUI in C++, then I guess I'll have to deal with it, but I was wondering whether there is a simplified way to make GUI's, similar to what VB6 offers - it just makes things so much easier. Any links you think I should look at to learn more? A recommended tutorials? How hard will it be to learn in comparison with C++? Thanks in advance.

Jul 16th, 2005, 6:43 AM	#2
Ooble I eat cake for breakfast. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In my box. Posts: 4,434 Rep Power: 9	By your reference to the MFC, I'm assuming you're using Windows. You have a few choices: you can either use the Win32 API, the Windows Template Library (which is kinda half-way in between the API and the MFC), or you can use a third-party library. The benefit of using the API is that, assuming you use it right, it's about as fast as you're going to get. The WTL however, is a lot easier to use and a lot less tedious. Finally, a third-party library (such as wxWidgets, Qt or GTK+) will most likely support a myriad of other operating systems such as Linux and Mac OS. In the end, it's up to you. __________________ Me :: You :: Them

Jul 17th, 2005, 1:22 AM	#5
kurifu Expert Programmer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada) Posts: 784 Rep Power: 5	shrugs I hate MFC.... There are also a lot of free / comercial game libraries, such as Destiny3D, Genesis3D and so forth that have windowing capabilities... and are a lot more suited for game design. __________________ Clifford Matthew Roche <geek@cliffordroche.com> Web Hosting: http://www.crd-hosting.com Consulting: http://www.crdev-consulting.com

Jul 18th, 2005, 9:01 AM	#7
Infinite Recursion Programming Guru Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: United States Posts: 3,467 Rep Power: 8	OpenGL? __________________ http://jasonpowers.net "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root."

Jul 18th, 2005, 9:18 AM	#8
Ooble I eat cake for breakfast. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In my box. Posts: 4,434 Rep Power: 9	Does OpenGL do windowing? __________________ Me :: You :: Them

Jul 16th, 2005, 11:22 AM	#3
Clotters Programmer Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 60 Rep Power: 4	WLT? I've never heard of this before. Could you explain a bit more? Also, is there anything around that will offer the ease of making my own GUI with similar ease to Visual Basic? Finally, are there any tutorials you could recommend on the internet. Thanks.

Jul 16th, 2005, 11:57 PM	#4
Clotters Programmer Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 60 Rep Power: 4	Sorry to double post, but I can't edit my last post. I've done some researchand I'll eaither go with the Win32 API or WTL hybrid. I do have one question, though. If/when I decide to spruce this GUI up, how difficult is it to get to grips with skinning? Any articles or tutorials you know of?

Jul 17th, 2005, 10:00 PM	#6
Clotters Programmer Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 60 Rep Power: 4	Sorry, I'm new to GUI's and am confused by the last comment. with Destiny3D or Geneis3D could I make a GUI, or are they tools that I would use with win32 to help me create my graphical user interface?

Jul 18th, 2005, 9:49 AM	#9
Infinite Recursion Programming Guru Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: United States Posts: 3,467 Rep Power: 8	I believe so, with Glut? __________________ http://jasonpowers.net "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root."

Jul 18th, 2005, 11:59 AM	#10
Ooble I eat cake for breakfast. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In my box. Posts: 4,434 Rep Power: 9	There we go - yet another windowing toolkit to check out. I hear GLUT's good too. __________________ Me :: You :: Them

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Programming Forums > Web Development and Design > Other Web Development Languages

Graphical User Interfaces