From: Dave Burt <dave@...>
Date: 2004-11-26T05:47:57+09:00
Subject: Re: Ruby GUIs and installation effort


"Alexander Kellett" <ruby-lists@lypanov.net>:
> On Nov 25, 2004, at 2:03 PM, Dave Burt wrote:
>> I'm happy to leave the AWT/Swing debate to c.l.j; suffice it to say my 
>> view
>> is Swing's API's far better designed (which is more important from 
>> toolkit
>> user's perspective than how easy it is to port)
>
> not awt. swt.

Goes to show I should have left the Java bit alone.

>>> Anyway, I really don't think a real cross platform gui is possible.
>>
>> Why not?
>
> because to target mac os x, windows, gnome, or kde,
> in *every* case you need an *entirely* different look
> and feel. this just isn't possible with the standard
> mechanisms used in gui creation.
>
> let me summarize:
> layouts are *just too low-level*

I disagree that they inherently are.

Consider web applications as an example of how a platform-independent GUI 
spec can be loaded in the platform's look-and-feel. Mozilla's XUL browsers 
extend this idea into the realm of usable interface-building. It's possible.

Cheers,
Dave