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wxPython VS FLTK

Compare wxPython VS FLTK and see what are their differences

wxPython logo wxPython

wxPython is a GUI toolkit for the Python programming language.

FLTK logo FLTK

Fast Light Toolkit - Fast Light Toolkit (FLTK)
  • wxPython Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-18
  • FLTK Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-18

wxPython features and specs

  • Cross-platform Compatibility
    wxPython is built on the wxWidgets C++ library, which supports multiple platforms, allowing developers to create applications that run on Windows, macOS, and Linux with minimal changes to the codebase.
  • Native Look and Feel
    Applications built with wxPython use native UI elements provided by the operating system, resulting in a more consistent and authentic look and feel across different platforms.
  • Rich Set of Widgets
    wxPython offers a wide range of widgets and controls, enabling developers to build complex and feature-rich GUIs with various functionalities and levels of customization.
  • Strong Community Support
    wxPython has been around for a long time and has accumulated a robust community. This support provides ample resources, tutorials, and examples that can assist developers in utilizing the library effectively.
  • Continuing Development
    wxPython continues to be actively developed and maintained, ensuring that it receives regular updates, bug fixes, and improvements to keep it viable for modern applications.

Possible disadvantages of wxPython

  • Steeper Learning Curve
    For beginners, wxPython can be more challenging to learn compared to other Python GUI libraries because of its comprehensive and sometimes complex API.
  • Larger Application Size
    Applications built with wxPython tend to have larger file sizes compared to those made with some other GUI libraries, potentially impacting distribution and storage demands.
  • Limited Mobile Support
    While wxPython excels in desktop application development, it offers limited support for mobile platforms, making it less suitable for developers looking to target mobile devices.
  • Dependency Overhead
    wxPython introduces additional dependencies that need to be managed, which can be cumbersome for developers aiming for lightweight applications or those trying to reduce build complexity.
  • Platform-specific Bugs
    Due to its reliance on native components, wxPython applications might encounter platform-specific bugs or inconsistencies that require platform-specific workarounds or additional testing.

FLTK features and specs

  • Lightweight
    FLTK is designed to be small and simple, making it easy to compile and port across different platforms without consuming significant system resources.
  • Cross-Platform
    FLTK supports major operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a versatile choice for applications that need to operate across these platforms with minimal changes.
  • Fast Performance
    FLTK's lightweight nature ensures rapid execution and responsiveness, which is crucial for graphical applications that require quick updates and fluid interactions.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source toolkit, FLTK allows developers to modify the source code to suit specific needs and contribute to its development, fostering a collaborative community.
  • Easy to Learn
    FLTK's API is considered straightforward and easy to learn for developers familiar with C++, reducing the learning curve for new users.

Possible disadvantages of FLTK

  • Limited Features
    Compared to other modern GUI toolkits, FLTK provides fewer built-in widgets and lacks certain advanced features, which may require additional development effort.
  • Old-Style Look and Feel
    The user interface components of FLTK can appear outdated compared to more modern GUI frameworks, potentially affecting the visual appeal of applications.
  • Less Community Support
    FLTK has a smaller community and less frequently updated documentation compared to more popular frameworks, which can make finding help and resources more challenging.
  • Limited Third-Party Libraries
    There are fewer third-party libraries and extensions available for FLTK, which might limit the ease of extending functionality or integrating with other tools and technologies.
  • Single Thread Limitation
    FLTK predominantly works within a single-threaded context for GUI operations, requiring careful management when incorporating multi-threading in applications.

wxPython videos

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

More videos:

  • Review - Starting on a GUI: WXpython vs Kivy #MP55
  • Tutorial - How To Create Panel In wxPython GUI Programming #2

FLTK videos

P3D Core2 'Frosting' , More FLTK GUI goodies

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to wxPython and FLTK)
Rapid Application Development
Development Tools
43 43%
57% 57
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
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 wxPython and FLTK

wxPython Reviews

Which Python GUI library should you use? Comparing the Python GUI libraries available in 2023
WxPython is under active development and is also currently being reimplemented from scratch under the name 'WxPython Phoenix'. The team behind WxWidgets is also responsible for WxPython, which was initially released in 1998.
10 Best Python Libraries for GUI
Nearing the end of our list is Wax, which is the wrapper for wxPython. Offering the same functionality as wxPython, Wax stands out thanks to it being far more user-friendly. Wax is also implemented as an extension module for Python, and it supports the development of cross-platform applications.
Source: www.unite.ai
Top 10 Python GUI Frameworks for Developers
wxPython is essentially a Python extension module that acts as a wrapper for the wxWidgets API. wxPython allows Python developers to create native user interfaces that add zero additional overhead to the application. The cross-platform capabilities of wxPython allow deployment to platforms like Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and Unix-based systems with little to no modifications.

FLTK Reviews

We have no reviews of FLTK yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FLTK seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 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.

wxPython mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of wxPython yet. Tracking of wxPython recommendations started around Mar 2021.

FLTK mentions (2)

  • declarative GUI libraries
    It’s not declarative, but small, cross platform, old school C++, and has a graphical UI designer that writes the C++ code for you. Since you mentioned Rust, it has Rust bindings too: http://fltk.org . It has different schemes that make it look more modern than the default scheme…. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • not sure about a file i found in my \AppData\Roaming folder (fltk.org)
    Hello, I was recently looking through my \AppData\Roaming and found a folder called fltk.org and I am not sure of why it is there or where it has come from. Does this folder come from any games that can be downloaded or something? Source: about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing wxPython and FLTK, you can also consider the following products

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

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.

Kivy - Open source Python framework for rapid development of applications that make use of innovative user interfaces, such as multi-touch apps. Installation on WindowsInstallation on Windows. Installation; What are wheels .

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

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

wxWidgets - wxWidgets: Cross-Platform GUI Library