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jinhao | 27 Jun 2012 07:55
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A GUI Library


Hi, all
   I am developing a GUI library, it takes aim at easy-to-use and portable library for modern C++ methods.
The project at http://stdex.sourceforge.net
A git repository at http://nanapro.codeplex.com
A brief at http://nanaproject.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/preliminary-study-of-nana-c-library

Is there any interest in this library?

Regards
Jinhao
 		 	   		  

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Klaim - Joël Lamotte | 27 Jun 2012 10:24
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Re: A GUI Library

Hi,

On Wed, Jun 27, 2012 at 2:55 PM, jinhao <cnjinhao <at> hotmail.com> wrote:

> Is there any interest in this library?

My current understanding is that both Boost and the Standard C++ commitee
are interested in fully C++ library.

However, the subject is complex and no library until now gathered
enough consensus to even get to the review  stage of the boost process
(from memory).
You have to be ready for tons of feedback pointing problems.

Now, I just read the websites but I have some questions:

 1. can you write somewhere a big comparison between your library and other
popular GUI C++ libraries?
 2. if you want to submit your library to Boost, I think  it would need to
be compatible (or maybe just use) boost.thread instead of your own solution
 3. the STR macro is a big problem, I think it will be a big source of
negative feedback. Now that we have boost.locale, would it be possible to
work with it instead?
 4. I understand how you can build a GUI application in a way that is
mostly a list of statements. Does it means that you'd better organize your
windows/forms "types" as constructor functions? (ok found this that
partially answer my question:
http://nanaproject.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/idioms-and-insights-for-a-good-design/)
 5. It is said that Nana is cross-platform, but I don't see any
demonstration of this (nevermind, I just found this:
(Continue reading)

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Mateusz Loskot | 27 Jun 2012 10:29
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Re: A GUI Library

On 27 June 2012 06:55, jinhao <cnjinhao <at> hotmail.com> wrote:
> I am developing a GUI library, it takes aim at easy-to-use and portable library for modern C++ methods.
> [...]
> Is there any interest in this library?

I believe there is interest. GUI in Boost is frequently discussed:
http://www.crystalclearsoftware.com/cgi-bin/boost_wiki/wiki.pl?BoostDevelGuiThreads
http://lists.boost.org/Archives/boost/2005/10/index.php

There are a few prototypes in the Sandbox and around:
https://svn.boost.org/svn/boost/sandbox/guigl/
http://www.torjo.com/win32gui/

I'd suggest you to search through the list archives and learn
about Boost.GUI concepts, opinions and expectations.

Best regards,
--

-- 
Mateusz Loskot, http://mateusz.loskot.net

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Jinhao | 28 Jun 2012 06:00
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Re: A GUI Library

On 2012/6/27 16:29, Mateusz Loskot wrote:
> I believe there is interest. GUI in Boost is frequently discussed:
> http://www.crystalclearsoftware.com/cgi-bin/boost_wiki/wiki.pl?BoostDevelGuiThreads
> http://lists.boost.org/Archives/boost/2005/10/index.php
>
> There are a few prototypes in the Sandbox and around:
> https://svn.boost.org/svn/boost/sandbox/guigl/
> http://www.torjo.com/win32gui/
>
> I'd suggest you to search through the list archives and learn
> about Boost.GUI concepts, opinions and expectations.

Basically, I think this library is conforming to the concepts, even 
though it is flawed and defective in implementation. Thank you for your 
suggestion, I will study these concepts to refine the library.

Regards
Jinhao

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Philip Bennefall | 27 Jun 2012 12:07

Re: A GUI Library


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "jinhao" <cnjinhao <at> hotmail.com>
To: <boost <at> lists.boost.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 7:55 AM
Subject: [boost] A GUI Library

Hi, all
I am developing a GUI library, it takes aim at easy-to-use and portable 
library for modern C++ methods.
The project at http://stdex.sourceforge.net
A git repository at http://nanapro.codeplex.com
A brief at 
http://nanaproject.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/preliminary-study-of-nana-c-library

Is there any interest in this library?

Regards
Jinhao

I, for one, find this library very interesting. I have thought that there 
should be a GUI library under the Boost banner for a long time. I have only 
looked briefly at the library, but from what I see so far it is very 
promising. Using templates to define event types and then using function 
objects for the handler, is a clever idea.

Kind regards,

Philip Bennefall
(Continue reading)

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Roger Martin | 27 Jun 2012 15:19

Re: A GUI Library

On 06/27/2012 01:55 AM, jinhao wrote:
> Hi, all
>     I am developing a GUI library, it takes aim at easy-to-use and portable library for modern C++ methods.
> The project at http://stdex.sourceforge.net
> A git repository at http://nanapro.codeplex.com
> A brief at http://nanaproject.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/preliminary-study-of-nana-c-library
>
> Is there any interest in this library?
Is it possible to compile/apply the linux port back on windows using 
mingw64 and posix threads?  Since you are free of specialized compilers 
this might be possible?
For example with http://code.google.com/p/mingw-w64-dgn/ which is gcc4.7 
and now works with an updated pthreads-win32.

Thank you for starting this discussion

>
> Regards
> Jinhao
>   		 	   		
>
> _______________________________________________
> Unsubscribe&  other changes: http://lists.boost.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/boost
>

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Jinhao | 27 Jun 2012 18:12
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Re: A GUI Library

On 2012/6/27 21:19, Roger Martin wrote:
> Is it possible to compile/apply the linux port back on windows using
> mingw64 and posix threads? Since you are free of specialized compilers
> this might be possible?
> For example with http://code.google.com/p/mingw-w64-dgn/ which is gcc4.7
> and now works with an updated pthreads-win32.

I tested it, it gets a few errors. I will fix it.
This library now is works with VC7.1/8/9/10, MinGW 3.4/4.4 and GCC4.5.

Regards
Jinhao

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jinhao | 27 Jun 2012 16:49
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Re: A GUI Library


On 2012/6/27 16:24, Klaim - Joël Lamotte wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> On Wed, Jun 27, 2012 at 2:55 PM, jinhao<cnjinhao <at> hotmail.com>  wrote:
> 
>> Is there any interest in this library?
> 
> 
> My current understanding is that both Boost and the Standard C++ commitee
> are interested in fully C++ library.
> 
> However, the subject is complex and no library until now gathered
> enough consensus to even get to the review  stage of the boost process
> (from memory).
> You have to be ready for tons of feedback pointing problems.
> 
> Now, I just read the websites but I have some questions:
> 
>   1. can you write somewhere a big comparison between your library and other
> popular GUI C++ libraries?

Nana library is written though standard C++, this is a big difference between other
libraries, as the brief mentioned, C++ idioms should works with a C++ library, and
this is why the other popular GUI C++ libraries are not really C++ style at all.
Secondly, this library can be work with a thread pool, it reduces the difficulty
for threadization.

>   2. if you want to submit your library to Boost, I think  it would need to
> be compatible (or maybe just use) boost.thread instead of your own solution
(Continue reading)

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Phil Endecott | 27 Jun 2012 17:23

Re: A GUI Library

jinhao wrote:
>>> Is there any interest in this library?
> Target platforms should be Windows, Linux and Mac OS X, but now, it only works under
> Windows(GDI) and Linux(X11), the next is ready for Linux(framebuffer). A friend of
> mine asks for the support of framebuffer, so I leave the Mac OS X now.

Have you considered OpenGL (ES) as a platform?

This has some great strengths i.e. performance and portability, but 
also some weaknesses.

Regards,  Phil.

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Jinhao | 27 Jun 2012 18:29
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Re: A GUI Library

On 2012/6/27 23:23, Phil Endecott wrote:
> jinhao wrote:
>>>> Is there any interest in this library?
>> Target platforms should be Windows, Linux and Mac OS X, but now, it
>> only works under
>> Windows(GDI) and Linux(X11), the next is ready for Linux(framebuffer).
>> A friend of
>> mine asks for the support of framebuffer, so I leave the Mac OS X now.
>
> Have you considered OpenGL (ES) as a platform?
>
> This has some great strengths i.e. performance and portability, but also
> some weaknesses.

Yes, the plan is Windows(GDI)->Linux(X11)->Linux(framebuffer)->
Windows(OpenGL)->Linux(OpenGL)->Windows(DX)->Mac OS X.
It is just a plan, it's a long long way to go.

Regards
Jinhao

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Adam Wulkiewicz | 30 Jun 2012 16:34
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Re: A GUI Library

Jinhao wrote:
> On 2012/6/27 23:23, Phil Endecott wrote:
>> jinhao wrote:
>>>>> Is there any interest in this library?
>>> Target platforms should be Windows, Linux and Mac OS X, but now, it
>>> only works under
>>> Windows(GDI) and Linux(X11), the next is ready for Linux(framebuffer).
>>> A friend of
>>> mine asks for the support of framebuffer, so I leave the Mac OS X now.
>>
>> Have you considered OpenGL (ES) as a platform?
>>
>> This has some great strengths i.e. performance and portability, but also
>> some weaknesses.
>
> Yes, the plan is Windows(GDI)->Linux(X11)->Linux(framebuffer)->
> Windows(OpenGL)->Linux(OpenGL)->Windows(DX)->Mac OS X.
> It is just a plan, it's a long long way to go.

Do you want to draw everything by yourself? Will it be possible to use 
system's native mechanisms?

Please consider adding iPhone (Qt, wxWidgets supports it) and Android 
(Qt) implementation. I assume it would work in Windows Mobile/Phone.

What is more, there should be some way to get native window handles to 
use it with some external library e.g. graphics engine like Ogre3d by 
initialization in an existing window. And in the case of using your GUI 
library with external graphic engine, OpenGL/DX version may interfere 
with it.
(Continue reading)

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Jinhao | 30 Jun 2012 19:33
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Re: A GUI Library

On 2012/6/30 22:34, Adam Wulkiewicz wrote:
> Jinhao wrote:
>> On 2012/6/27 23:23, Phil Endecott wrote:
>>> jinhao wrote:
>>>>>> Is there any interest in this library?
>>>> Target platforms should be Windows, Linux and Mac OS X, but now, it
>>>> only works under
>>>> Windows(GDI) and Linux(X11), the next is ready for Linux(framebuffer).
>>>> A friend of
>>>> mine asks for the support of framebuffer, so I leave the Mac OS X now.
>>>
>>> Have you considered OpenGL (ES) as a platform?
>>>
>>> This has some great strengths i.e. performance and portability, but also
>>> some weaknesses.
>>
>> Yes, the plan is Windows(GDI)->Linux(X11)->Linux(framebuffer)->
>> Windows(OpenGL)->Linux(OpenGL)->Windows(DX)->Mac OS X.
>> It is just a plan, it's a long long way to go.
>
> Do you want to draw everything by yourself? Will it be possible to use
> system's native mechanisms?
>
> Please consider adding iPhone (Qt, wxWidgets supports it) and Android
> (Qt) implementation. I assume it would work in Windows Mobile/Phone.

Yes, both are in planning, self-drawing would be firstly implemented, 
and the interface and capacity of a widget is being designed in this 
phase. And then the system's native mechanism will be employed for 
"native feel and look" and if a widget were not supported by the target
(Continue reading)

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Christof Donat | 27 Jun 2012 18:20
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Re: A GUI Library

Hi,

> Nana library is written though standard C++, this is a big difference
> between other libraries, as the brief mentioned, C++ idioms should works
> with a C++ library, and this is why the other popular GUI C++ libraries are
> not really C++ style at all.

Yes, that is the biggest weakness of Qt. Yet a GUI Libary needs many things 
that are not the interface and basic handling of the objects. Since Qt is 
widely used and very popular, especially for platform independent 
applications, I would recommend to look there for any solutions before trying 
to reinvent every wheel around.

Even when looking at the interfaces, wherever there is no conflict with 
Standard C++, I think it is a good idea to make it as similar as possible to 
the stuff people already know and like, and that is mostly Qt.

I can't tell if i would enjoy using nana, because I would have to have written 
an application with it before I know. I mostly do enjoy working with Qt and 
KDE, but I'd prefer to have them more standard C++ like. Sometimes that simply 
sucks.

> Secondly, this library can be work with a
> thread pool, it reduces the difficulty for threadization.

That is a very good Idea. Also I like that you use RAII to manage widget 
lifetime.

> >   2. if you want to submit your library to Boost, I think  it would need
> >to>
(Continue reading)

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Jinhao | 27 Jun 2012 18:56
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Re: A GUI Library

On 2012/6/28 0:20, Christof Donat wrote:
> That as well is a very good aproach. Have you tried to get rid of at least one
> or another of your selfmade solutions and replace it with boost solutions in
> order to see how it could work?

Yes, I replaced the class functor with boost.function, the library works 
as it before.

> Do you plan to make that library available for "old" C++ as well, or just for
> C++11? In the second case you could eventually resort to user defined
> literals.

Now, this library should be available for "old" C++. Additionally, C++11 
should be targeted, there will be two versions of the library, one 
version for C++11, another for "old" C++. As time goes by, someday in 
the future the library for "old" C++ would be dropped.

Regards
Jinhao

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Felipe Magno de Almeida | 27 Jun 2012 18:57
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Re: A GUI Library

On Wed, Jun 27, 2012 at 2:55 AM, jinhao <cnjinhao <at> hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi, all
>    I am developing a GUI library, it takes aim at easy-to-use and portable library for modern C++ methods.
> The project at http://stdex.sourceforge.net
> A git repository at http://nanapro.codeplex.com
> A brief at http://nanaproject.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/preliminary-study-of-nana-c-library
>
> Is there any interest in this library?

I'm interested in a GUI library which takes a more value-based
approach. By your preliminary study document, it seems to be this
direction, is that right? I believe that a deep analysis of salient
properties and copyability might permit a library interface that is
much more comfortable for C++, and more in-tune with boost.

> Regards
> Jinhao

[]'s
--

-- 
Felipe Magno de Almeida

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