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wxPython VS PySide

Compare wxPython VS PySide and see what are their differences

wxPython logo wxPython

wxPython is a GUI toolkit for the Python programming language.

PySide logo PySide

Qt for Python - Qt Wiki
  • wxPython Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-18
  • PySide Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-27

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.

PySide features and specs

  • Official Support
    PySide is officially supported by the Qt Company, ensuring regular updates and a reliable source of information for developers.
  • Cross-Platform
    PySide allows developers to create applications that run on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, with little to no code modification.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    PySide is backed by extensive and well-maintained documentation, making it easier for developers to find solutions and learn the framework effectively.
  • Open Source
    PySide is available under the LGPL license, allowing developers to use it in open-source and commercial projects without licensing fees.
  • Bindings for QT Libraries
    Provides Python bindings to the Qt libraries, which are highly reputable for their performance and extensive functionality in GUI development.

Possible disadvantages of PySide

  • Potential Licensing Issues
    While PySide is LGPL licensed, understanding its requirements for dynamic linking and distribution can be complex for some projects.
  • Memory Consumption
    Applications developed using PySide can sometimes consume more memory compared to other lightweight frameworks, impacting performance in resource-constrained environments.
  • Complexity for Beginners
    The vast array of features and options available in PySide might be overwhelming for beginners, requiring a steep learning curve to master.
  • Community Size
    PySide's community is smaller compared to other Python GUI frameworks like Tkinter or PyQt, possibly leading to fewer third-party resources and community support.
  • Size of Deployment
    Qt libraries can be large, resulting in increased application size, which can be problematic for users with limited bandwidth or storage.

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

PySide videos

python tutorials - A More Practical PySide Example

More videos:

  • Review - Pyside2 Introduction & Installation | Qt For Python | Python GUI Development | Pyside2 Vs PyQt5

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to wxPython and PySide)
Rapid Application Development
Development Tools
47 47%
53% 53
Developer Tools
58 58%
42% 42
Development
0 0%
100% 100

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 PySide

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.

PySide Reviews

25 Python Frameworks to Master
Itโ€™s a great option for creating simple and easy-to-use graphical user interfaces in Python and allows you to add a GUI to your already working scripts pretty easily. PySimpleGUI wraps the power of 4 different GUI libraries, PySide, Tkinter, wxPython, and Remi.
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...
Top 10 Python GUI Frameworks for Developers
PySide2 is built by the same company that gave us the widely popular application development framework Qt. Upon looking closely, youโ€™ll come across the term โ€œQt for Python Projectโ€, which is nothing but the task of porting PySide to support Qt5, whereas the framework itself is now being called PySide2.

What are some alternatives?

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

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

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 .

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

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

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