[ruby-talk:7612] Re: GUIs for Rubies

(Changed subject line.)

Lyle Johnson writes,

# Of the libraries you mention, wxWindows is the only other choice I'd
# recommend if you want strong cross-platform support and modern
# widgets and features, etc. I think wxWindows is great but it follows
# a pretty different design approach (under the hood) than FOX. I'm
# thinking specifically about the lightweight-versus-heavyweight
# approach to widget implementation. My understanding (which may be
# wildly incorrect) is that wxWindows ports are built on top of other
# platform-specific GUI toolkits; thus the distinction between wxGTK,
# wxMotif, etc.

I think your correct; IIRC there was mention of this on their web site and 
also in a comparison link some helpful soul posted previously.

# I've already expressed my opinion that the Windows port of GTK lags
# behind the Unix/X port; I think that should be a point of concern if
# it's not likely to change soon. CFDRC is no longer the only entity
# (commercial and otherwise) that is depending on FOX's
# survival/stability and so I think its long-term prospects are much
# better than they once were. That is to say, FOX's user base will not
# stand for the Windows port falling behind the X port (or vice
# versa). But is FOX as widely used as wxWindows or GTK? No,
# definitely not, it's not even close.

I can't speak for others, but my (wild) guess from raising and following 
the issue of another (i.e. in addition toTk) "standard" (in the sense of 
inclusion of interfaces in the main tarball and InstallShield packages) 
GUI for Ruby for almost a year is that the majority of active posters 
would likely find this a satisfactory choice--the main issue being one of 
forthcoming Mac support, for which Tk is an existing fallback. Other 
comments?

What incentive do you need to actually start work on Ruby/Fox? A dozen 
other "I'd like to see this too" posts? Or a unanimous vote from the 
Pragmatic Duo?

Conrad Schneiker
(This note is unofficial and subject to improvement without notice.)