govcl

Pros of qt

• Cross-platform support for desktop and mobile (iOS, Android)
• Extensive set of UI components and widgets
• Powerful signal/slot mechanism for event handling

Cons of qt

• Larger binary size due to comprehensive feature set
• Steeper learning curve, especially for Go developers new to Qt
• Requires C++ toolchain for compilation

Code Comparison

govcl:

package main

import "github.com/ying32/govcl/vcl"

func main() {
    vcl.Application.Initialize()
    vcl.Application.CreateForm(&mainForm)
    vcl.Application.Run()
}

qt:

package main

import (
    "os"
    "github.com/therecipe/qt/widgets"
)

func main() {
    app := widgets.NewQApplication(len(os.Args), os.Args)
    window := widgets.NewQMainWindow(nil, 0)
    window.Show()
    app.Exec()
}

Both libraries provide ways to create GUI applications in Go, but qt offers a more comprehensive set of features at the cost of increased complexity. govcl focuses on simplicity and ease of use for Windows development, while qt provides broader platform support and a richer set of UI components. The choice between them depends on project requirements, target platforms, and developer preferences.

Pros of ui

• Pure Go implementation, no CGo dependencies
• Cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Simpler API design for basic UI elements

Cons of ui

• Less mature and actively maintained compared to govcl
• Limited set of UI controls and customization options
• Lacks some advanced features available in govcl

Code Comparison

ui:

window := ui.NewWindow("Hello", 200, 100, false)
button := ui.NewButton("Click Me")
window.SetChild(button)
window.OnClosing(func(*ui.Window) bool {
    ui.Quit()
    return true
})

govcl:

form := vcl.Application.CreateForm()
form.SetCaption("Hello")
form.SetWidth(200)
form.SetHeight(100)
button := vcl.NewButton(form)
button.SetParent(form)
button.SetCaption("Click Me")

Both libraries provide ways to create windows and buttons, but ui has a more concise syntax, while govcl offers more granular control over UI elements. govcl's approach is closer to traditional desktop application development, whereas ui aims for simplicity and ease of use.

Pros of Fyne

• Cross-platform support for desktop and mobile
• Modern, material design-inspired UI
• Active development and community support

Cons of Fyne

• Larger binary sizes due to bundled resources
• Limited native OS integration compared to Govcl

Code Comparison

Fyne:

package main

import (
    "fyne.io/fyne/v2/app"
    "fyne.io/fyne/v2/widget"
)

func main() {
    a := app.New()
    w := a.NewWindow("Hello")
    w.SetContent(widget.NewLabel("Hello Fyne!"))
    w.ShowAndRun()
}

Govcl:

package main

import (
    "github.com/ying32/govcl/vcl"
)

func main() {
    vcl.Application.Initialize()
    mainForm := vcl.Application.CreateForm()
    mainForm.SetCaption("Hello")
    lbl := vcl.NewLabel(mainForm)
    lbl.SetParent(mainForm)
    lbl.SetCaption("Hello Govcl!")
    vcl.Application.Run()
}

Both Fyne and Govcl are GUI frameworks for Go, but they have different approaches. Fyne focuses on cross-platform compatibility and modern design, while Govcl provides deeper integration with native OS components. Fyne's code tends to be more concise, while Govcl offers more fine-grained control over UI elements. The choice between them depends on specific project requirements and target platforms.

Pros of gotk3

• Uses GTK3, providing a native look and feel on Linux systems
• Offers a more comprehensive set of widgets and controls
• Supports cross-platform development (Linux, Windows, macOS)

Cons of gotk3

• Steeper learning curve due to GTK3's complexity
• Larger binary size and dependencies
• Less seamless integration with Windows UI

Code Comparison

gotk3:

import "github.com/gotk3/gotk3/gtk"

win, _ := gtk.WindowNew(gtk.WINDOW_TOPLEVEL)
btn, _ := gtk.ButtonNewWithLabel("Click Me")
win.Add(btn)
win.ShowAll()

govcl:

import "github.com/ying32/govcl/vcl"

form := vcl.Application.CreateForm()
btn := vcl.NewButton(form)
btn.SetParent(form)
btn.SetCaption("Click Me")
form.Show()

Additional Notes

govcl is based on Lazarus LCL, offering better Windows integration and smaller binaries. It's easier to use for Windows development but less suited for Linux. gotk3 provides a more native experience on Linux and offers more advanced widgets, but comes with increased complexity and larger dependencies.

Pros of walk

• Native Windows look and feel
• More mature and established project with a larger community
• Better documentation and examples available

Cons of walk

• Limited to Windows platform only
• Less frequent updates and maintenance compared to govcl

Code Comparison

walk:

MainWindow{
    Title:   "Hello",
    MinSize: Size{Width: 300, Height: 200},
    Layout:  VBox{},
    Children: []Widget{
        PushButton{Text: "Click Me"},
    },
}.Run()

govcl:

form := vcl.Application.CreateForm()
form.SetCaption("Hello")
form.SetWidth(300)
form.SetHeight(200)
btn := vcl.NewButton(form)
btn.SetParent(form)
btn.SetCaption("Click Me")
vcl.Application.Run()

Summary

walk is a mature Windows-only GUI toolkit for Go, offering a native look and feel with better documentation. govcl, on the other hand, provides cross-platform support and more frequent updates but may lack the polish and community support of walk. The code comparison shows that walk uses a more declarative approach, while govcl follows a more imperative style for creating user interfaces.