Gtk to Qt - a strange journey [linux.conf.au 2014]
Why Hacker News recommends it
Go-to reference in GTK versus Qt debates, valued for a candid account from experienced developers who tried both toolkits.
What it is
Dirk Hohndel explains why the Subsurface dive log project migrated from Gtk to Qt, the obstacles encountered, and advice for other applications frustrated with Gtk. It is a linux.conf.au 2014 talk.
Recommended by 5 HN commenters across 6 different months, 2014 to 2024.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec Sammi · 2014-10 · on “KDE makes Qt”
One of the best discussions on the subject, made by old hackers, but new guys to GUI programming, who tried both: [this video]
Strong rec matheusmoreira · 2021-05 · on “Use Alacritty instead of Termite”
> don't make the mistake of thinking their libraries are meant for others to use I agree. This presentation convinced me: [this video] GTK+ is really just a toolkit for GNOME projects. All other users are secondary.
Recommends tdicola · 2015-04 · on “How long since Google said a Google Drive Linux client is coming?”
I think this gets to the core of the problem. The API is out there and open, yet no one (or at least not many people) have decided to try and make a nice GUI client for Linux. Perhaps it's not a problem with Google but more a problem with publishing desktop/GUI software for Linux still being a complete pain in 2015. There's a fantastic talk from Dirk Hohndel last year about how much pain he's gone through creating and publishing a dive logging GUI application for Linux: [this video] If someone like Dirk, who has access to no less than Linus Torvalds himself, has so much trouble creating a modern GUI app on Linux today then how much luck will anyone else have?
Recommends znpy · 2018-11 · on “RHEL is deprecating KDE”
> [this video] Thank you for posting this, it's nice to see that someone already had most of my feelings.
Recommends simion314 · 2020-03 · on “GTK has a new website”
Qt has a company behind so is more professional, better documentation, better cross platform support, less bugs. This video [this video] is about the reasons Subsurface (a diving app started by Linus Torvalds) changed from GTK to Qt. Things might have improved from GTK I can't tell and also for simpler GUIs GTK might be enough.
Recommends simion314 · 2020-11 · on “Trinity Desktop Environment R14.0.9 Release Notes”
Look at GNOME, notice the giant paddings, title bards see look at the checkboxes,scrollbars etc. Also is not a secret that GNOME developers considered at least touch screens if not tablet when designing the GUI. IMo an informative video on GTK and Qt , it explains what issues you can have with GTK, is about the subsurface application(created by Linus Torwalds that moved to Qt because GTK is bad and even Linus could not get good answers from Red Hat guys) [this video]
Cites hornetblack · 2014-06 · on “Brian's Rules for Writing Cross Platform 'C' Code (2008)”
Reminded me of Subsurface maintainer's talk on Qt: [this video] He found it was very good for cross platform work.
Cites skriticos2 · 2014-07 · on “How Does One Create A Gtk+ Application?”
I just watched this [1] video from Dirk Hohndel describing the migration motives and process from Gtk+ to Qt for subsurface (started by Linus). TLDR: * Qt has a community of people developing applications, has good documentation (precise, good coverage) and people who care * Gtk+ has a bunch of Gnome developers, if you want to develop an application, you're out of luck [1]: [this video]