[boost] Re: [gui] GUI Taxonomy

From: David Abrahams (dave_at_[hidden])
Date: 2004-12-29 13:47:48

Reece Dunn wrote:

>>     With Carbon, I think you just use native controls.
>>     
>>     With Win32 GDI you roll your own controls.
> 
> I think that this is not the right approach. You should only roll your 
> own controls when that control isn't supported by the target OS. The 
> Win32 GDI and Win32 controls/common controls are different things.

Not different enough, IIUC.  They're both subject to the same (shared)
constraint on maximum number of window handles.  To make a windows GUI
framework scalable it must provide for that.  Not every widget on the
screen can afford to be an OS control or window, even when there are
appropriate built-ins (consider a grid of spreadsheet cells).  One
approach might be to make them "ephemeral," i.e. conjure up the actual
OS thingy only when you need to draw or process clicks there and then
throw it away immediately or soon.

-- 
Dave Abrahams
Boost Consulting
http://www.boost-consulting.com