Totally confused between GTK, GTK +, GTK + 3, PyGobject, etc

Question

I'm trying to find out if I can write python-based windows desktop widgets using python 3.2.2 or higher for windows. The above projects are thoroughly confusing. Do any of them support what I'm looking for? (ie can be used with windows and python 3.2.2 and higher?

I did come across this answer ( https://askubuntu.com/questions/97023/why-cant-i-import-pygtk-with-python-3-2-from-pydev ) but it looks like it only works for non-windows platform.

If non of these above python-projects will work with windows and python 3.2.2, is there an easier way to create rainmeter-like desktop widgets in python 3.2.2 or higher for windows?

Answer 1

To start with the confusion: Gtk is the GIMP toolkit , and all the different things you mention in your question title are related, but not quite the same. PyGTK is the legacy binding between Python and GTK, and PyGObject is the preferred binding if you go down that road.

Here a nice short overview of all the different GUI options for Python development, that should explain those terms briefly so that you have an overview. And as gauden suggested in the comments, wxPython is a very common road for cross-platform applications.

Nowadays you should at least consider Kivy as well, it is fun to program in, and it even gives you options to expand the "cross-platform" bit to mobile devices. It supports transparency ( or opacity in Kivy terms )