DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

How to start writing GNOME/KDE application

30 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/how-to-start-writing-gnome-kde-application.95999/

sganesh
sganesh Original post #1
Aug 20, 2008 at 9:17 AM
Hi
I am interested in Developing /writing GNOME/KDE Application thro GNU softwares, ,i found Anjuta IDE found to be more applicable for dveloping GNOME application,but i found its much difficult to start with,PL help me in giving link for some sample programs?Pl share us your LINUX devlopment?How to start?
Any ideas or suggestion?Is there any tutorial for such?
Thanks in advance!
ray|raven
Aug 20, 2008 at 9:22 AM
Choose a language and a toolkit to work with.

KDE uses Qt, while Gnome/Xfce use GTK+.
Both toolkits have a wide range of language bindings.

*www.gtk.org/language-bindings.html
abhinandh
Aug 20, 2008 at 9:24 AM
if you are talking about GUI programming u need to learn GTK or Qt
if u know only C the GTK cos QT got no bindings for C afaik.
if u know some others like python,c++ IMO Qt is better.
MetalheadGautham
Aug 20, 2008 at 9:29 AM
Simple.

Glade Interface Designer for +designing+ gnome apps.+
+QT4 designer a+nd KDevelop for kde apps.
sganesh
sganesh #5
Aug 20, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Simple.

Glade Interface Designer for +designing+ gnome apps.+
+QT4 designer a+nd KDevelop for kde apps.
For Glad wat programming stuffs i need to learn!!!
i know c,c++ and java!!!
ray|raven
Aug 20, 2008 at 11:01 AM
^Glade is an interface designer, it lets you create GTK+ UI's that can then be deployed using C/C++/Java or whatever.
MetalheadGautham
Aug 20, 2008 at 11:14 AM
For Glad wat programming stuffs i need to learn!!!
i know c,c++ and java!!!
Cool. Glade can be programmed with in C++, C and Java too. Choose one and start designing. :)

QT4 is used MAINLY with C++, then with Java (qt4-jambi) and then with Python (PyQt).
sganesh
sganesh #8
Aug 20, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Thanks,But in net i found many Ebooks onGNome GUI programming only at cost!!
But i need free tutorials,resources or ebook which guides me in programming,i am unable to find it!!!
pl Help!
MetalheadGautham
Aug 20, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Thanks,But in net i found many Ebooks onGNome GUI programming only at cost!!
But i need free tutorials,resources or ebook which guides me in programming,i am unable to find it!!!
pl Help!
WTH ? There are LOTS of free ebooks available. Go and check glade's own website.
And see gnome doccumentation.

These interface designers help you place widgets on windows. Then they generate source code.

For a shortcut, with old fashioned text coding, use gtkmm.h headder file in C++. You can use its objects in your program as you like.
nitish_mythology
Aug 20, 2008 at 11:30 AM
If we r familiar with swings in java...do we need to learn gtk fr dev gnome applications?
ray|raven
ray|raven #11
Aug 20, 2008 at 11:32 AM
^Yes, you would have to learn gtk , there is java-gnome project that offers an api for java.

You could also learn swt -Standard Widget Toolkit for java, which draws native widgets , unlike swing which tries to emulate the look-and-feel.
nitish_mythology
Aug 20, 2008 at 11:42 AM
^^but why?? dont u have a platform independent VM ?? Why wont swings work in Linux???

Ps: Coding in java will be independent of kde/gnome ?? wont it be??
ray|raven
ray|raven #13
Aug 20, 2008 at 11:48 AM
SWT is platform independent.

If you code with gtk , you will need gtk installed for the app to run.
Swing will work in linux, But the UI emulates the gtk look.
However , its getting quite close to the real thing.
nitish_mythology
Aug 20, 2008 at 11:52 AM
So we will have the speed advantage if using gtk??
ray|raven
ray|raven #15
Aug 20, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Yes, because the widget drawing is not handled by jvm.
However , the same is the case with SWT.
MetalheadGautham
Aug 20, 2008 at 11:59 AM
So we will have the speed advantage if using gtk??
doubt it. but personally speaking, I think its better to stick to native java instead of a gtk skin for java.
and gtk itself is in C. gtk-java is just a way to use gtk widgets and program with them in java.

And if you need something more professional that blends with gtk, why don't you try wxWidgets ?
nitish_mythology
Aug 20, 2008 at 12:03 PM
How do u practically implement java+gtk code together??
ray|raven
ray|raven #18
Aug 20, 2008 at 12:04 PM
@Metal
SWT is a waay better way of getting a native ui using java than using wxwidgets.

@nitish
Java Gnome provides the api of using gtk widgets through java.
*java-gnome.sourceforge.net/
nitish_mythology
Aug 20, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Anyways m better off wth swings..

@Rayraven
Teacher teaching history of comp n binary system :)
MetalheadGautham
Aug 20, 2008 at 12:21 PM
wx is the best gtk toolkit?
Either your nuts or you're drunk. :p
i used wx and the thing i liked was its ease of use.
never tried py-gtk or gnome-java though.

But TO HELL with gtk. QT pwns 'em all :cool:
ray|raven
ray|raven #23
Aug 20, 2008 at 12:24 PM
^You didnt get the point yet.
i said wx is the best gtk toolkit.+
wxwidgets and gtk are two seperate ui toolkits.
MetalheadGautham
Aug 20, 2008 at 4:04 PM
^You didnt get the point yet.

wxwidgets and gtk are two seperate ui toolkits.
wx is BASED on gtk.
and you can use wx to make native looking apps for gnome and xfce.
vlc is an example.
sganesh
sganesh #25
Aug 20, 2008 at 4:11 PM
How about Anjuta IDE to start with(It comes bundled with OpenSuse11),i saw using that we can Develop KDE/GNOME application?
Have anyone tried?
ray|raven
ray|raven #26
Aug 20, 2008 at 4:14 PM
@MetalHeadGautham.

How abt you backup your extraordinary claims for once?
wxwidgets are NOT based on GTK+.

wxwidgets , like SWT , provide a layer to use the native widgets of the platform.
M
mehulved #27
Aug 20, 2008 at 4:34 PM
How about Anjuta IDE to start with(It comes bundled with OpenSuse11),i saw using that we can Develop KDE/GNOME application?
Have anyone tried?
Yes, you can start but you will have to learn one of the GUI toolkits to get any further.
MetalheadGautham
Aug 21, 2008 at 4:48 PM
@MetalHeadGautham.

How abt you backup your extraordinary claims for once?
wxwidgets are NOT based on GTK+.

wxwidgets , like SWT , provide a layer to use the native widgets of the platform.
maybe my basic concepts are wrong, but...
till today I thought libwx was an extention to libgtk :confused::oops:
gary4gar
gary4gar #29
Aug 23, 2008 at 3:46 PM
Cool. Glade can be programmed with in C++, C and Java too. Choose one and start designing. :)

QT4 is used MAINLY with C++, then with Java (qt4-jambi) and then with Python (PyQt).
I tried glade once, and i was disappointed:|
in my view its still not upto the mark, though it does work pretty well
sganesh
sganesh #30
Aug 24, 2008 at 7:09 AM
ya,GLade IDE is diificult to follow!!,and It's very tedious to see documentation and start programming!!