Re: ada & gui

[Jeff Creem <jcreem@yahoo.com>]

Szymon Guz wrote:
> Hi,
> I've got to create a database application for my client and I've got a 
> problem with choosing the apropriate language and libraries. Program 
> must connect to a database (I chose Postgresql) and must have nice gui. 
> What is more it has to work under windows and linux.
> 
> First of all I want to use Ada, bu what with the gui ? In my opinion, 
> maybe I'm wrong, the GTK-made gui isn't nice for a normal windows user. 
> My application must work under windows, but also there should be the 
> possibility to work under linux. My next chose is C# with mono, but 
> there also is gtk when talking about multiplatform application. Next, I 
> thought about wxWindows (I still like this name), but there is no Ada 
> binding and I want to avoid C and C++ as much as I can.
> 
> Can someone help me with some good advice ?
> 
> regards
> Szymon Guz


GtkAda under windows does fell somewhat clunky at times though it
certainly is better now than it was a few years ago. I would not
recommend this approach (under Windows) though unless you are willing to
pay for support for the compiler/bindings from someone like AdaCore.

One thing that seems to really help the user experience is to use the
native file selection dialog under Windows (which is what GPS does in
some cases). The old Gtk file selector widget was pretty poor and there
is not Ada binding to the newer Gtk selector widget.

How about something like using Eclipse, writing it in Java and using the
eclipse visual editor to do the GUI http://www.eclipse.org/vep

While I find many JAva GUIs provide a less than ideal user experience
(compared to fully native apps), most SWT Java apps (like eclipse) seem
to operate fairly well.