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GTK VS Framework 7

Compare GTK VS Framework 7 and see what are their differences

GTK logo GTK

GTK+ is a multi-platform toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces.

Framework 7 logo Framework 7

Full Featured HTML Framework For Building iOS Apps
  • GTK Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17
  • Framework 7 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-24

GTK features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    GTK supports multiple platforms including Linux, Windows, and macOS, making it versatile for developing applications across different operating systems.
  • Rich Widget Set
    GTK provides a comprehensive set of widgets for GUIs, allowing developers to create complex and highly functional user interfaces.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source, GTK offers developers the ability to inspect, modify, and distribute their modifications, fostering a community of collaboration and innovation.
  • Language Bindings
    GTK supports multiple programming languages through various bindings, including C, Python, and JavaScript, thereby offering flexibility to developers.
  • Consistent Look and Feel
    GTK strives to maintain a consistent look and feel across applications and platforms, providing a unified user experience.

Possible disadvantages of GTK

  • Steep Learning Curve
    For beginners, GTK can present a steep learning curve due to its comprehensive nature and the depth of its APIs.
  • Performance Overhead
    GTK applications can sometimes exhibit performance issues, especially on less powerful hardware, due to the extensive features and capabilities it includes.
  • Limited Native Support on macOS
    Although GTK is cross-platform, native support and integration on macOS can be limited compared to its support on Linux and Windows.
  • Heavy Dependencies
    GTK applications often require a significant amount of dependencies, which can lead to larger application sizes and more complex installation processes.
  • Documentation Quality
    While GTK has extensive documentation, the quality and depth can sometimes be inconsistent, which may hinder learning and troubleshooting for developers.

Framework 7 features and specs

  • Comprehensive UI Components
    Framework7 provides a complete set of UI components like modals, pop-ups, action sheets, side panels, list views, etc., which help in rapid development.
  • Customizable
    It is highly customizable with both themes and custom styles, enabling developers to tailor the application to their specific needs.
  • Multi-Platform Support
    Framework7 supports iOS and Android design guidelines, allowing for the creation of hybrid apps that look and feel native.
  • Flexibility
    It offers flexibility as it can be used with multiple frontend frameworks like React, Vue.js, and Svelte, or even without any framework.
  • Performance
    Optimized for high performance with features like virtual lists and smart DOM updates.
  • Documentation
    Framework7 has extensive documentation, which provides detailed guides and examples, making it easier for developers to get started.
  • Community Support
    There is a growing community and active forum, which is helpful for troubleshooting and finding best practices.

Possible disadvantages of Framework 7

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Despite extensive documentation, beginners may find it difficult to initially get accustomed to the framework's structure and conventions.
  • Size
    Framework7 is relatively large in size compared to other frameworks, which might affect load times for web apps.
  • Limited Third-Party Plugins
    Although the core library is comprehensive, the ecosystem of third-party plugins and extensions is smaller compared to other frameworks like React or Vue.js.
  • Dependency on HTML Layout
    It relies heavily on HTML structure, which can make the code harder to manage and less flexible in more complex applications.
  • iOS-Centric Design
    While it supports both iOS and Android, the default design leans heavily towards iOS, which might require extra customization for Android-centric apps.
  • Performance Overhead
    The extensive feature set can sometimes introduce performance overhead in less optimized use cases.

Analysis of GTK

Overall verdict

  • Yes, GTK is a good choice for developers looking to create cross-platform desktop applications. It is especially beneficial for those who prioritize open-source software and appreciate a well-documented, community-supported framework.

Why this product is good

  • GTK, which stands for GIMP Toolkit, is a highly versatile and widely-used open-source library for creating graphical user interfaces. It is praised for its ease of use, comprehensive documentation, and ability to produce visually appealing, native-looking interfaces across different operating systems. With a large community and a wealth of resources, GTK is continuously updated, ensuring it remains relevant for modern application development. Developers also appreciate its integration capabilities with various programming languages like C, C++, Python, and more.

Recommended for

  • Developers creating cross-platform desktop applications
  • Open-source software enthusiasts
  • Projects requiring consistent look and feel across different operating systems
  • Those seeking integration with programming languages like C, C++, and Python

Analysis of Framework 7

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Framework 7 is a robust and reliable choice for developers looking to build feature-rich, mobile-focused applications. Its ability to deliver a native-like experience on web applications makes it particularly appealing for creating cross-platform apps.

Why this product is good

  • Framework 7 is considered a good choice due to its comprehensive set of features designed specifically for building mobile and web applications with a native look and feel. It offers a high degree of customization, a responsive interface, and is highly optimized for performance. Additionally, it provides extensive documentation and a vast array of UI components, making development faster and more efficient.

Recommended for

    Framework 7 is highly recommended for developers and businesses seeking to create hybrid mobile applications, progressive web apps (PWAs), or feature-rich web apps that require a seamless, native-like user experience. It's also suitable for those who are familiar with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS and wish to leverage their skills across both mobile and desktop platforms.

GTK videos

GTK4 Is Here: Why You Should Even Care

Framework 7 videos

Geometry Framework 7 - Review part 1

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GTK and Framework 7)
Development Tools
43 43%
57% 57
Rapid Application Development
JavaScript Framework
0 0%
100% 100
Cross-Platform Development

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare GTK and Framework 7

GTK Reviews

Best GUI frameworks for Go
The go-gtk package is a Go binding for the GTK toolkit. The package enables Go developers to use the GTK library in Go with similar features as the GTK library. The package is performant, well-documented, and actively maintained. The go-gtk package depends on the GTK library to function, and you’ll need to have GTK installed on your machine to build GUI applications in Go....

Framework 7 Reviews

We have no reviews of Framework 7 yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Framework 7 should be more popular than GTK. It has been mentiond 15 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

GTK mentions (6)

  • What GNOME needs to progress faster? (More contributors, money, better docs etc.)
    Wha? An example of a barebones GTK JavaScript app is right there on the front page. One click on the bindings link, will send you to the official GNOME-hosted GitLab repo for gjs, which in-turn, has links to official API documentation. Source: over 2 years ago
  • GTK 4 & JavaScript - how to start?
    I think what is lacking is a kind of introduction similar to what you have written in your post now. Myself, I am totally new to GTK. I come as a user of Gnome. All I knew until today was that to develop applications for Gnome, preferably I should use something called GTK. And I heard so much about the recent version that came out - GTK 4. So I started to look for a Getting Started tutorial for GTK 4, to build... Source: about 3 years ago
  • GTK 4 & JavaScript - how to start?
    BTW, I think the GTK team should really step up their game in terms of how to encourage new people into their ecosystem. Seeing that windows screenshot in the official tutorial makes me think I'm dealing with some old technology. Also, the official gtk.org has two separate tutorials that show very similar applications being built. Source: about 3 years ago
  • CTA: We need Web Developers to Contribute to GNOME!
    Faces of GNOME Faces of GNOME is an initiative to create something similar to People of Mozilla / Mozillians which is a directory of active, current or past GNOME Contributors. Faces of GNOME (Current Demo HERE) aims to give a space for every GNOME Contributor, GNOME Foundation Member and more. It is being designed to showcase the list of current Maintainers, People that spoke at GNOME Conferences/Events, GNOME... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Software Engineering student looking to get started developing apps on the pinephone
    My advice is to basically learn how to write GTK apps using Python. Source: over 3 years ago
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Framework 7 mentions (15)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing GTK and Framework 7, you can also consider the following products

Qt - Powerful, flexible and easy to use, Qt will help you not only meet your tight deadline, but also reduce the maintainable code by an astonishing percentage.

Ionic - Ionic is a cross-platform mobile development stack for building performant apps on all platforms with open web technologies.

wxWidgets - wxWidgets: Cross-Platform GUI Library

PhoneGap - Easily create apps using the web technologies you know and love: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

PyQt - Riverbank | Software | PyQt | What is PyQt?

jQuery Mobile - jQuery Mobile