使用哪一个：用于GNOME桌面应用程序的Java Swing或GTK +？

Question

I am considering developing a GNOME desktop application with a graphical user interface. I know GTK+ is the first choice, especially when developing for the GNOME environment. End users also consider GTK+ as the first choice for applications they use. I am, however, considering future improvements: what if my application will need a port to another environments or OS like KDE or Mac or Windows? Which is the best way to go: Java Swing (because it's platform independent) or GTK+?

Answer 1

Use GTK+. It's available for Windows as well if you ever do want to port it, and integrates infinitely much better with gnome.

Answer 2

UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
SwingUtilities.updateComponentTreeUI( this );

On *nix variants, that should produce the GTK PLAF in Swing. On Apple(1) it will probably produce a theme with 'Aqua' in the name, and on Windows(1) it will be something like 'Windows'.

1) I doubt that Windows or Apple users want to see a 'GTK look' app. on their desk-top. ;)

Answer 3

My users generally prefer Swing, but GTK applications are only slightly more difficult to maintain cross-platform.

GTK doesn't run natively on Mac OS X;

GTK and its dependencies can be built using MacPorts , and popular open source tools such as Gimp and Inkscape include the required libraries in the application bundle.

it requires to install an X server.

X11 for Mac is "fully integrated with Mac OS X."

Addendum: As @ptomato notes, the portfile offers both Quartz and X11 variants.

Answer 4

The answer depends on what you actually want.

GTK library is native in the Gnome environment: if you want to develop an application thought for Gnome, use GTK.

If you are not so much interested in giving a native feel to the Gnome users then use whatever you want (GTK, Swing, Qt, wx ...).

---

By the way if you want my personal opinion, I prefer GTK a lot. I personally don't like Swing, especially when it tries to emulate GTK look and feel.