2 replies to this topic

[chris2010]

Hi everyone, I need your advice on something. I was thinking about becoming a Software Engineer. I am currently learning about C++. To make GUI programs, my friend suggested that I do the Client/Server thing, by learning C++ and designing the user interface with C#. But I had something else in mind. I was Just going to learn C++, then just use a GUI library like WxWidgets, or GTK+. So can someone help me choose which one to consider? Thanks very much.

[Alexander]

I would not switch languages to make the job of creating graphical interfaces easier, C++ and Microsoft's extension of it can certainly access the Windows API and in the end provide portable code (save for the graphical part) of which could be ported to another platform.

You say you are trying to get in to software engineering, and there is always the business side of things. A business may tend to stick with familiar and safe choices, and as such could tend towards Microsoft languages such as C# to provide close integration with networking and the .NET framework, including support from Microsoft. A smart business however would try to write it in portable code if they were ever to consider porting the application to different systems (such as a client to the server you will be writing).

You could certainly use a generic graphical interface such as Qt or Wx, you just have to find the demand for it however.

[WingedPanther]

I prefer the library style of Qt and gtkmm (a C++ wrapper for GTK+) over wxWidgets, but any of them will work. gtkmm will require you to install the GTK library on client windows computers, however.