Creating GUI with Python in Linux

python linux user-interface gtk pygtk
Iceland_jack picture Iceland_jack · Aug 31, 2009 · Viewed 44.9k times · Source

Quick question.

I'm using Linux and I want to try making a GUI with Python. I've heard about something like Qt, GTK+ and PyGTK but I don't know what they are exactly and what the difference between them is.

Is there any difference on how they work with different DEs like GNOME, KDE, XFCE etc.? Is there any IDE that allows you to create GUI like Microsoft Visual Studio does (for C#, C, Visual Basic etc.)?

Or should I maybe use another language other than Python to make GUI applications?

Answer

Chen Levy picture Chen Levy · Aug 31, 2009

Your first step should be http://wiki.python.org/moin/GuiProgramming

Some tool-kits integrate better in one environment over the other. For example PyQt, PyKDE (and the brand new PySide) will play nicer in a KDE environment, while the GTK versions (including the WX-widgets) will blend better into a GNOME/XFCE desktops.

You should look at the environment you want to target. You can go for basic portable GUI kit, or you can to a deeper integration with tour DE, like use of integrated password manager, and configuration file parsers, that are integrated in a specific DE like KDE or GNOME.

You should also consider the dependency that your selection dictates, and what is come by default with a basic DE. For example, PyKDE in the KDE 3.X branch had a non trivial set of dependencies, while at the 4.X branch the plasma binding made the Python GUI programming dependency less of an issue.

There are several IDE tools, in different levels of completeness and maturity. The best thing is to try one ore more, and see what best fit your needs.

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