Starting on Linux 2

[magnificence7]

Hi,

I've asked a question before, about what I can use to replace the winapi when programming for Linux. Now I want to know what I can use for making the GUI. On windows you can do that with the winapi, but I guess that isn't possible with POSIX right? If I want to write the GUI for Linux, should I use the API of each desktop environment or can I use something that is compatible what practical every desktop environment? I heard something about the X Window system, but I'm not quite sure what that is.

Thanks in advance!

[helios]

Google gui toolkit. The most popular ones are Qt, wxWidgets, and GTK+.

[magnificence7]

I'm already using wxWidgets, but I'm looking to go 'basic'. I could use Qt for everything I need to program, yes, but that's not fun :P.

[helios]

I'm looking to go 'basic'.

Why? Do you enjoy writing code that doesn't work everywhere?

[magnificence7]

I enjoy writing code where I learn useful things from. Maybe one day I can help wxWidgets by contributing. Anyway, I create multiple versions of the code to work on multiple platforms.

[magnificence7]

Also, at the moment I'm still using wxWidgets, and I want to write a very specific Graph control. I can't find such a control in the wxWidgets and need to write my own. I'll use Direct2D on windows and I'll need to explore different options at different systems. Therefor it'll be useful to know such things.

[helios]

Qt provides an interface to draw directly to the window.

[chrisname]

What, you can draw pixel-by-pixel to the backbuffer?

[helios]

I haven't really looked into it, I just know it exists, but it's probably similar to GDI.

[writetonsharma]

Qt has opening these days. why dont you give interview their and enjoy some core c++ work. :)