Re: [boost] Re: UI++ [was: GUI sublanguage; Re: GUI/GDI template library]

From: Rob & Lori (Rob.Lori_at_[hidden])
Date: 2003-08-08 16:10:10

Brock Peabody wrote:

>  
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: boost-bounces_at_[hidden]
>>    
>>
>[mailto:boost-bounces_at_[hidden]]
>  
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>>On Behalf Of David B. Held
>>Sent: Friday, August 08, 2003 1:18 PM
>>To: boost_at_[hidden]
>>Subject: [boost] Re: UI++ [was: GUI sublanguage; Re: GUI/GDI template
>>library]
>>
>>"Philippe A. Bouchard" <philippe_at_[hidden]> wrote in message
>>news:bh06rm$olm$1_at_main.gmane.org...
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>>>David B. Held wrote:
>>>[...]
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>>>
>>>>To bring a bit of sobering reality to the project, I would suggest
>>>>picking a simple, even trivial target project (like displaying
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>some
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>>>>trivial dialog box).
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>>>This is exactly what I wanted first: a project based on portable
>>>rectangles, windows, stylish frames, menus, fonts & events.
>>>Thanks for confirming.
>>>[...]
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>>I am of the opinion that the library should use native widgets.  It
>>sounds to me like you want to create a custom universal widget
>>set, but of course, this is going to be a hot-button issue for this
>>library.  I think the majority of people who have chimed in have
>>also voted for or assumed native widgets, but I could be wrong.
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>I strongly support native widgets too.  I want the Windows version of my
>program to look like a windows program and the Mac version to look like
>a Mac program.  This also saves us from having to develop our own
>widgets.
>
Supporting native widgets would also mean that XP Styles would be 
automatically supported.

However, this means that porting the GUI library to use, say, DirectX 
would be MUCH tougher.  Basically you'd need to create EVERY single GUI 
control by scratch.  If we instead created the controls by scratch in 
the library just using an abstract draw rectangle, etc, then not only 
would porting to DirectX would be simple, but it would also be much 
easier to port to other platforms as well. 

Also, keep in mind that building our own controls means we'll have 
instant support for certain controls that may not exist in other 
platforms, such as the common tabbed user interface, or dockable control 
bars used in Visual Studio.

Rob Geiman