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Ask HN: Cross-platform GUI apps in 2024

14 points by ackatz 3y ago

What would you use to build a small, cross-platform app with a GUI in 2024? Ideally, I want it to be usable on Mac, Windows, and Linux. I usually use Python but my experience has been that it’s really hard to distribute Python GUI apps. I have heard that Electron is good for this situation. Are there any new frameworks or platforms that you would recommend?

bpmedley 3y ago
C# and Avalonia are getting better as time goes on.
ethanwillis 3y ago
I haven't personally used it. However, I did watch a guy build from scratch his desktop client for his VPN using wails (https://wails.io/ https://wails.io/) + Golang. It actually went pretty smoothly and quickly. And he did it for mac, windows, and linux. Here's a link to his project since it's open source: https://github.com/tunnels-is/nicelandvpn-desktop https://github.com/tunnels-is/nicelandvpn-desktop When I did build a production app with Electron (a few years ago granted) I ran into distribution difficulties as well. It's doable, but it was a pain. Specifically what was a pain was auto-update.
- Oras 3y ago
  It looks interesting and similar concept to Tauri in using the system webview. It has to instead of rust for the backend. I’m surprised why Electron hasn’t used the webview approach, wouldn’t that remove the dependency on chromium and reduce the app size?
- ackatz 3y ago
  Thank you. This looks really promising and I’ve been wanting to check out Golang again
fyzix 3y ago
Flutter if you don't need multi-window support. Examples: Ubuntu AppCenter: https://github.com/ubuntu/app-center https://github.com/ubuntu/app-center Android Nearby Share (Windows): https://www.android.com/better-together/nearby-share-app/ https://www.android.com/better-together/nearby-share-app/ Google OneVPN: https://one.google.com/about/vpn https://one.google.com/about/vpn Rows.com (spreadsheets): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdQXBUPYOE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdQXBUPYOE Superlist (project management): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihpcubpQHA0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihpcubpQHA0 Supernova (collab. design): https://flutter.dev/showcase/supernova https://flutter.dev/showcase/supernova Rive studio (animation): https://flutter.dev/showcase/rive https://flutter.dev/showcase/rive APIDash (Postman alt): https://github.com/foss42/apidash https://github.com/foss42/apidash
ackatz 3y ago
I just learned of Flet (https://flet.dev https://flet.dev) which seems interesting for Python. I may try this as well.
colund 3y ago
WxPython & WxWidgets are worth a look. I personally like that it uses the platform's native API rather than emulating the GUI and the license seems ok.
- arromatic 3y ago
  Does Wxpython require python interpreter to be bundled with the installer ?
umen 3y ago
what about Qt and wxWidgets all the c++ fast frameworks ? dead ? Only js rule the world ?
iamflimflam1 3y ago
Take a look at fyne - https://fyne.io/ https://fyne.io/ cross platform using go.
msarwara 3y ago
[dead]
- msarwara 3y ago
  also UNO Platform (C#) which is suitable for simple or complex cross platform business applications : https://platform.uno/ https://platform.uno/
tomcam 3y ago
Livecode

14 points by ackatz 3y ago

bpmedley 3y ago

C# and Avalonia are getting better as time goes on.

ethanwillis 3y ago

I haven't personally used it. However, I did watch a guy build from scratch his desktop client for his VPN using wails (https://wails.io/ https://wails.io/) + Golang. It actually went pretty smoothly and quickly. And he did it for mac, windows, and linux. Here's a link to his project since it's open source: https://github.com/tunnels-is/nicelandvpn-desktop https://github.com/tunnels-is/nicelandvpn-desktop When I did build a production app with Electron (a few years ago granted) I ran into distribution difficulties as well. It's doable, but it was a pain. Specifically what was a pain was auto-update.

Oras 3y ago
It looks interesting and similar concept to Tauri in using the system webview. It has to instead of rust for the backend. I’m surprised why Electron hasn’t used the webview approach, wouldn’t that remove the dependency on chromium and reduce the app size?
ackatz 3y ago
Thank you. This looks really promising and I’ve been wanting to check out Golang again

fyzix 3y ago

Flutter if you don't need multi-window support. Examples: Ubuntu AppCenter: https://github.com/ubuntu/app-center https://github.com/ubuntu/app-center Android Nearby Share (Windows): https://www.android.com/better-together/nearby-share-app/ https://www.android.com/better-together/nearby-share-app/ Google OneVPN: https://one.google.com/about/vpn https://one.google.com/about/vpn Rows.com (spreadsheets): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdQXBUPYOE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdQXBUPYOE Superlist (project management): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihpcubpQHA0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihpcubpQHA0 Supernova (collab. design): https://flutter.dev/showcase/supernova https://flutter.dev/showcase/supernova Rive studio (animation): https://flutter.dev/showcase/rive https://flutter.dev/showcase/rive APIDash (Postman alt): https://github.com/foss42/apidash https://github.com/foss42/apidash

ackatz 3y ago

I just learned of Flet (https://flet.dev https://flet.dev) which seems interesting for Python. I may try this as well.

colund 3y ago

WxPython & WxWidgets are worth a look. I personally like that it uses the platform's native API rather than emulating the GUI and the license seems ok.

arromatic 3y ago
Does Wxpython require python interpreter to be bundled with the installer ?

umen 3y ago

what about Qt and wxWidgets all the c++ fast frameworks ? dead ? Only js rule the world ?

iamflimflam1 3y ago

Take a look at fyne - https://fyne.io/ https://fyne.io/ cross platform using go.

msarwara 3y ago

[dead]

msarwara 3y ago
also UNO Platform (C#) which is suitable for simple or complex cross platform business applications : https://platform.uno/ https://platform.uno/

tomcam 3y ago

Livecode