Re: [gtk-list] Re: Windows NT port of GTK+

[Louis-David Mitterrand <mito aparima com>]

On Fri, May 01, 1998 at 10:00:56AM -0700, Matt Kimball wrote:
> On Fri, May 01, 1998 at 10:50:45AM -0400, Jason M. Felice wrote:
> > I'd like to port GTK+ to Windows 95/NT for a few reasons.
> <snip>
> > libgdk may be almost a rewrite.  I'm prepared for this, though hoping it
> > isn't so.
> > 
> > How much support have I got?
> 
> You've got my support.  I think this would be a very important move
> for the free software community and I've been wanting to do this same
> thing for some time.  I've mentioned it on this list a few times
> before, with mixed reactions.  
> 
> Porting glib was an evening's work.  Porting gdk looks like it will
> require a from-scratch rewrite.  Once that is done, most of gtk can be
> used without changes.  One question though: port to mingw32 or Visual
> C++?  The former is in the spirit of the of the GTK+ community, and
> would let anyone develop without invensting in VC++.  On the other
> hand, VC++ is a much nicer development environment.  (One could get it
> to build under either, but that is a bit more work).

This would be potentially huge:

- cross-platform GUI development from Linux, no need to reboot;
- possible cross-compilation to both targets with the Cygnus tools;
- consistent GUI framework on Win95/NT and Linux;
- third-party (commercial) widget developers getting interested in GTK;
- immediately a huge market for Linux developers of shareware and
  commercial apps that refuse to work in W32;
- de facto standardisation on the GTK L&F;
- legions of talented Windows developers trying out Linux and (at last)
  able to work with Linux _and_ make a living;
- exposure to mainstream computer press;

  etc.., etc...

This is very exciting.

PS: it could be the last nail in Java's coffin.

-- 
Louis-David Mitterrand | Spammers canceled to date: 5  
http://www.aparima.com | 
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