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I've been doing web development for about six years now, and somehow have entirely avoided ever developing a desktop application.

I am considering writing a desktop application (I'm thinking something similar to a Word clone) on Linux but have no idea where to start. I hear of Qt and GTK+, but I'm curious if there are any frameworks that are similar to web development. Language isn't a problem, as long as it isn't Java.

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    A quick note, if you choose to use Qt, and you're going to distribute your program, it needs to be Open-Source and released under LGPL. Commented Feb 19, 2010 at 7:16
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    @Eibx: The LGPL does not require you to release your source the way the GPL does, which makes sense for a UI framework. Otherwise, you essentially prevent people from using it in commercial products unless you offer a commercial license. Qt offers GPL, LGPL and commercial licensing options. See qt.nokia.com/products/licensing Commented Feb 20, 2010 at 18:56
  • Isn't basically the only difference between LGPL and GPL that you're allowed to use 3. party components that isn't under the GPL license? Commented Feb 21, 2010 at 15:56

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You really want to go with Qt these days. Both Nokia and Intel are now pushing it as the main GUI in their new distro Meego. This means, if you are using Qt, you'll be able to target all their platforms (both desktop, embedded and phone domain), including all the platforms already supported by Qt. Qt also comes with a GUI Designer and an IDE which will support you in the whole process, and soon there will be QML, which is a declarative UI language, for even more rapid development of apps.

Take a look here:

  • http://qt.nokia.com/products
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7IgwNrcln8
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoo_Ows1ExU
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr5FuGhTqm8

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    GTK+ and QT are GUI frameworks. They use xlib under the hood and encapsulate the nuances of xlib and provide you with an easier interface.

    For rapid development you can use GLADE and quickly build GUI applications in C/C++.

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    Check out wxWidgets, it's another framework that is usually compared with Qt & GTK+

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    Go for Qt. And, if you are webdev, you will find in QML one of the best instruments EVER.

    It has:

    • A Declarative approach to UI definition and Graphics elements Behavious/Animations
    • It's cool and simple at the same time
    • For now is only available in a couple of (old) binary drops, or by clone-compiling qt.gitorious.com/qt, branch ">4.7"

    If you don't have to release today, but do you have time to develop and test, then QML should be "stable" by end H1 2010. If I got the schedule right ;-)

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