PyQt VS GTK

Compare PyQt VS GTK and see what are their differences

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PyQt

Riverbank | Software | PyQt | What is PyQt?

GTK

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

Landing page //
2021-10-18

Landing page //
2021-10-17

PyQt

Website: riverbankcomputing.com
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GTK

Website: gtk.org
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PyQt features and specs

Comprehensive UI library
PyQt provides a wide range of UI components, from basic widgets to advanced tools. This allows for the creation of highly sophisticated interfaces.
Cross-platform
Applications built with PyQt can run on different operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux without requiring significant changes in the code.
Integration with Qt Designer
Developers can use Qt Designer to design and implement their UIs visually, which can then be seamlessly integrated with Python code in PyQt.
Powerful event handling
PyQt includes a highly efficient event handling system that makes it easy to manage user interactions and system events.
Good documentation and community support
PyQt is well-documented, and there's a large community of developers who can provide support and share resources.
Python-specific advantages
Leveraging Python's simplicity and readability, PyQt allows for rapid development and easy maintenance of applications.

Possible disadvantages of PyQt

License considerations
PyQt is available under the GPL and a commercial license. If you want to create proprietary software without open-sourcing your code, you need to purchase a commercial license.
Steep learning curve
While PyQt is powerful, it can have a steep learning curve for newcomers, particularly those who are not familiar with Qt and its paradigms.
Performance overhead
Being a binding for Qt, some operations may have extra overhead compared to native Qt applications written in C++.
Dependency on external libraries
PyQt relies on the Qt library, which means that you have to manage and distribute these dependencies along with your application.
Large binary sizes
Applications created with PyQt can result in relatively large binary sizes because of the included Qt binaries.
Fragmentation of tools
There can be fragmentation concerns, as PyQt must stay in sync with Qt, and different versions of Qt may introduce changes that are not immediately reflected in PyQt.

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.

Analysis of PyQt

Overall verdict

PyQt is considered a good choice for developers looking to create robust, high-performance desktop applications with Python. Its ability to leverage the powerful Qt framework makes it a reliable option for both beginners and experienced developers.

Why this product is good

PyQt is a set of Python bindings for the Qt libraries, allowing developers to create cross-platform applications with native look and feel. It provides comprehensive support for building GUI applications and includes an extensive range of modules and functions, making it suitable for both simple and complex projects. Additionally, it benefits from a large and active community, extensive documentation, and commercial support from Riverbank Computing.

Recommended for

Developers looking for cross-platform GUI toolkits
Projects that require a modern, native look and feel
Development teams requiring robust commercial support
Python developers interested in leveraging a well-documented and extensive framework

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

PyQt videos

+ Add

Python Top 3 GUI Frameworks In 2019 (PyQt5, wxPython, TKinter)

GTK videos

+ Add

GTK4 Is Here: Why You Should Even Care

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PyQt and GTK)

GTK

Development Tools

45 45%

Development Tools

55% 55

Rapid Application Development

50 50%

Rapid Application Development

50% 50

Developer Tools

57 57%

Developer Tools

43% 43

Cross-Platform Development

0 0%

Cross-Platform Development

100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using PyQt and GTK. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Reviews

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

PyQt is one of the most popular sets of Python bindings for the Qt cross-platform application framework. This framework perfectly combines the simplicity of Python as a general-purpose language and the powerful Qt application framework built in C++.

Source: kinsta.com

Which Python GUI library should you use? Comparing the Python GUI libraries available in 2023

Before the Qt Company (under Nokia) released the officially supported PySide library in 2009, Riverbank Computing had released PyQt in 1998. The main difference between these two libraries is in licensing. The free-to-use version of PyQt is licensed under GNU General Public License (GPL) v3 but PySide is licensed under GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL). This means...

Source: www.pythonguis.com

10 Best Python Libraries for GUI

Developed by Riverbank Computing, PyQt5 is one of the most popular Python frameworks for GUI. The PyQt package is built around the Qt framework, which is a cross-platform framework used for creating various applications on different platforms.

Source: www.unite.ai

Top 10 Python GUI Frameworks for Developers

When it comes to creating GUIs, the PyQt5 arsenal offers the impressive QtGui and the QtDesigner module, which provide numerous visual elements that the developer can implement with a simple drag and drop. Of course, the option of creating these elements by code also exists, allowing you to create both small-scale as well as large-scale applications with ease. Python’s...

Source: towardsdatascience.com

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....

Source: blog.logrocket.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GTK should be more popular than PyQt. It has been mentiond 6 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.

PyQt mentions (4)

Python vs. JavaScript: Is It a Fair Comparison?
JavaScript is a clear winner in the category of mobile development. There are some niche frameworks to do mobile development with Python—like Kivy and PyQT—but pretty much nobody uses them. - Source: dev.to / about 3 years ago
what would be the best looking GUI framework to develop a desktop python application? (other than Tkinter)
If none of those are to your liking, you can use PyQT (or Pyside) but the learning curve is much steeper. Source: about 3 years ago
Is there a "Windows Forms" GUI designer for Python?
Also, there is the PyQt module which is a comprehensive set of Python bindings for the Qt GUI. It has Qt Designer. Source: almost 4 years ago
Best way to install qutebrowser?
As for PyQt, that's developed entirely independently from Qt (by Riverbank Computing). The major/minor versions usually line up with the respective Qt releases (since the Qt release introduces new APIs, so a new PyQt release is needed to expose those to Python). However, it's versioned independently, and a new patch release of PyQt might be needed before/without Qt releasing a new patch release. For more details,... Source: about 4 years ago

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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing PyQt and GTK, 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.

PySimpleGUI - A simple to use GUI that can create custom GUIs

wxWidgets - wxWidgets: Cross-Platform GUI Library

Tkinter - Tkinter is a Python wrapper for Tcl/Tk that offers classes to create various graphical user interfaces.

Flutter - Build beautiful native apps in record time 🚀

FLTK - Fast Light Toolkit - Fast Light Toolkit (FLTK)