Miro Jurisic wrote:
I also believe this community is capable of producing such a framework, but I think that it's telling that the title of this thread is "Java style GUI in C++"; a Java style GUI typically implies making user experience sacrifices on every platform, and therefore I believe that a "Java style GUI in C++" is likely to be driven by misguided goals.
What I meant by "Java style GUI" is not in terms of L&F, but in terms of programming the framework. I understand how important having a native L&F is to the particular OS you are using (implemented using OS components for native feel): this is one of the goals I am aiming for. Thus, in Java Swing-style C++, you can do something like: boost::gui::frame * main = new boost::gui::frame( "My GUI App" ); frame -> set_pane( new boost::gui::button( "PUSH" )); frame -> set_size( 500, 400 ); frame -> show(); boost::gui::message_loop msg; return msg.execute(); And this will work, creating a window with a button in it's "client" area. That is, allow the user to: [1] create components/widgets using constructors instead of Create functions (like MFC); [2] allow "native" components (buttons, etc.) and windowless components (for performance); [3] provide a set of "layout managers" that are windowless components allowing you to specify scrolling panes, splitter panes, grid layouts, flow layouts, fixed/stretchy layouts and so on -- I personally find using layout managers easy to produce interfaces rapidly; [4] avoid message maps if possible -- I personally don't like message maps and feel there is a better way to implement event handling. From the discussions here boost::signal seems to be the way to go, but some effort needs to be taken to produce a flexible, portable way of handling messages that can both write generic handlers and OS-specific handlers; That is what I mean by a Java-style C++ GUI framework. Regards, Reece _________________________________________________________________ Want to block unwanted pop-ups? Download the free MSN Toolbar now! http://toolbar.msn.co.uk/