How to write a cross-platform program?

Question

Greetings,

I want to write a small cross-platform utility program with GUI in it. What language/GUI-library should I stick to? Is it possible whatsoever?

Thi

Answer 1

Flash? It's installed pretty much everywhere.

Answer 2

I agree with Georgi, Java is the way to go. With a bit of work, you can make your desktop application work as a Java applet too (so that users do not need to actively download anything at all). See http://www.geogebra.org as an example of an application with runs smoothly as a cross-platform Java application AND has a simple port to a web applet.

Two other advantages to using Java are:

1. They have extensive libraries for building the UI, including UI component builders.
2. The Java runtime framework is generally updated automatically for the user.

One disadvantage:

1. The version of Java installed on your end users computer may not be totally compatible with your application, requiring you to code to the lowest likely denominator.

Answer 3

Have you looked at Qt?

Answer 4

If you know C or C++ the first cross platform GUI framework I can think of are:

• QT (C++, proprietary but free with the LGPL licensing)
• wxWidgets (C++, the most complete and stable but also huge)
• FLTK (C++)
• FOX (C++)
• IUP (C, simpler and cleaner than the ones above)

If you know Pascal, you can try freepascal+Lazarus. I've never used it, though.

Answer 5

WxWindows? Oh, it's called WxWidgets now: http://www.wxwidgets.org/

Answer 6

Lazarus is great. GTK2 on Linux, win32/64 on Windows, WINCE on euh, Wince. It even uses Carbon on Mac (working on COCOA). Also easy to sell to your boss (the code is Delphi compatible)