FLTK
FLTK (pronounced 'fulltick') is a lightweight, cross-platform C++ GUI toolkit for developing graphical user interfaces (GUIs). It provides modern GUI functionality without the bloat, supports 3D graphics via OpenGL, and works on Linux, Windows, and macOS.
crossplatform
c
lightweight
3d-graphics
opengl
FLTK: Lightweight Cross-Platform C++ GUI Toolkit for Modern GUIs
FLTK (pronounced 'fulltick') is a lightweight, cross-platform C++ GUI toolkit for developing graphical user interfaces (GUIs). It provides modern GUI functionality without the bloat, supports 3D graphics via OpenGL, and works on Linux, Windows, and macOS.
What is FLTK?
FLTK (pronounced 'fulltick') is a cross-platform C++ GUI toolkit for developing desktop applications and graphical user interfaces (GUIs). It stands for Fast Light Tool Kit.
Some key features of FLTK include:
- Lightweight, small dependency footprint, and fast performance for building responsive UIs
- Written in C++ but provides bindings for other languages like Python and Lua
- Supports all common GUI components like windows, buttons, menus, images, charts, and more
- Platform independence with support for Linux, Windows, macOS, and embedded devices
- OpenGL support for hardware-accelerated 3D graphics
- Liberal license allowing free use in open and closed-source applications
FLTK is designed to provide GUI functionality without a lot of bloat. It aims to be fast, lightweight, and provide good performance for responsive user interfaces. The small dependency footprint makes it suitable for inclusion in small or embedded applications.
While not as full-featured as toolkits like Qt or Gtk+, FLTK provides a simple API and set of common widgets for building desktop GUI apps where performance and small footprint is desired. Its cross-platform nature makes it easy to build UIs that run on multiple operating systems.
FLTK Features
Features
- Written in C++
- Uses OpenGL for hardware-accelerated graphics
- Cross-platform (Linux, Windows, macOS)
- Lightweight and fast
- Provides widgets like buttons, input fields, menus, etc
- Supports themes and styles
- Integrated with code editors like Code::Blocks
Pricing
- Open Source
Pros
Lightweight and fast compared to other GUI toolkits
Cross-platform support
Easy to use API
Actively maintained
Good documentation
Cons
Less flexible than heavier toolkits like Qt
Smaller user community than more popular options
Limited widget set compared to others
Only supports C++ (no language bindings)
Official Links
The Best FLTK Alternatives
Top Development and Gui Toolkits and other similar apps like FLTK
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