Can You Create Graphical Windows Applications Without WinAPI Libraries?

[cshum00]

Hello i have been wondering if i can make graphical windows applications without WinAPI libraries?

Thanks.

 

[fargoth]

you can use Gtk and Qt... they are multi-platform GUI libraries.

 

[cshum00]

Then which one is more recommended? Which one has advantages in performance and which one has advantages in UI design?

WinAPI?
GTK+?
Qt?

Thanks again.

 

[haki]

One alternative would be to use Java (Swing is the name of the gui library). You need not use any windows api. Other Java alternative would be SWT but Swing is more programmer friendly.

 

[nithin]

You should realize that almost all windows applications have a gui made by , surprise surprise , win32 apis. Most Gui librarys are simply wrappers for the win32 Api. However systems like Qt are unique cause it uses its own paint engine.

 

[fargoth]

I found for you an interesting page which summarizes a lot of GUI toolkits.
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Vista/7184/guitool.html

 

[cshum00]

Thanks for your replies so far.

I see, so while WinAPI are presets, Qt and others are more customizable. Other than customization, which one would possibly perform faster?

 

[neurocomp2003]

one would hope winAPI/.net forms. would perform best on windows OS.

U can try some game engine GUIs like unreal or CrazyEddys' GUI(CEGUI)