Software Alternatives & Startups

wxPython VS wxWidgets

Compare wxPython VS wxWidgets and see what are their differences

wxPython

wxPython is a GUI toolkit for the Python programming language.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
wxWidgets

wxWidgets: Cross-Platform GUI Library

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, wxWidgets seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 14 times since March 2021.

social mentions
0 vs 14
Rapid Application Development popularity
31% vs 69%
alternatives listed
52 vs 128

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

wxPython
wxWidgets
Website wxpython.org wxwidgets.org
Pricing
Open source
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

wxPython 5 features
wxWidgets 5 features
  • 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

  • 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.
  • Cross-Platform
    wxWidgets allows developers to create applications that run on different platforms such as Windows, macOS, Linux, and more, without changing the codebase.
  • Native Look and Feel
    It provides a native look and feel on each platform by using the native GUI components, making applications appear more integrated with the host OS.
  • Wide Range of Widgets
    wxWidgets offers a rich set of widgets and controls, supporting complex interfaces and various types of user interactions.
  • Extensive Documentation
    The library is well-documented, with numerous tutorials, guides, and an active community to help developers troubleshoot and expand their understanding.
  • Open Source
    Being open source, wxWidgets provides the flexibility to customize and modify the library to better fit specific needs without licensing costs.

Possible disadvantages

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive features and the complexity of configuring UI components, new users may find it challenging to learn and utilize effectively.
  • Large Binary Size
    Applications built with wxWidgets can become quite large, which might be a drawback for developers focusing on lightweight applications.
  • Platform-Specific Bugs
    Since wxWidgets aims to provide native components for each platform, sometimes this leads to platform-specific bugs that can complicate cross-platform consistency.
  • Limited Modern Features
    While wxWidgets is robust, it might lack some of the modern, cutting-edge features found in newer libraries and frameworks in terms of design and ease of use.
  • Dependency Management
    Managing dependencies for different platforms can be cumbersome, requiring additional effort in the build and deployment processes.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

wxPython
wxWidgets

No analysis of wxPython yet.

Overall verdict

  • wxWidgets is a solid choice for developers who need a reliable, cross-platform GUI library with a native look and behavior. Its open-source nature and mature backing make it especially appealing for projects requiring wide platform compatibility.

Why this product is good

  • Platform Independence: wxWidgets allows you to create applications that can run on multiple platforms, such as Windows, macOS, and Linux, without changing the underlying code.
  • Open Source: As an open-source library, wxWidgets is free to use and has a large community supporting it, providing extensive documentation and forums for assistance.
  • Comprehensive Feature Set: wxWidgets provides a wide range of controls and tools that enable developers to build feature-rich applications.
  • Native Look and Feel: The library utilizes the native API of the host system, which means applications built with wxWidgets often look and behave like native applications.
  • Mature and Well-Tested: Having been around for many years, wxWidgets is a mature framework with well-tested tools and a history of stability and reliability.

Recommended for

  • Developers building cross-platform desktop applications.
  • Projects that require native look and feel on different operating systems.
  • Open-source enthusiasts or developers who prefer using community-supported frameworks.
  • Teams seeking a mature and well-documented GUI solution.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

wxPython 3 videos + Add
wxWidgets 2 videos + Add

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

More videos

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

Cross Platform Graphical User Interfaces in C++

More videos

  • - More Cross Platform Graphical User Interfaces in C++: Custom Controls

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
wxPython
wxWidgets
17% 17%
83% 83%
27% 27%
73% 73%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

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

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

wxPython no reviews yet
wxWidgets no reviews yet

We have no reviews of wxWidgets yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

wxPython 0 mentions
wxWidgets 14 mentions

Tracking wxPython since Mar 2021.

  • Linux Applications Programming by Example: The Fundamental APIs (2nd Edition)
    Linux is rarely a porting issue for C++ or python: https://wxwidgets.org/ Static linking libraries for MacOS or Windows is contaminated by GPL/LGPL code, and this why wxwidgets excludes the disclosure requirement. Also, if you are... - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • PureBasic: The Quiet Survivor
    Some other options. https://github.com/andlabs/libui > Simple and portable (but not inflexible) GUI library in C that uses the native GUI technologies of each platform it supports. Missing a lot of desktop features and abandoned.... - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Bonsai: A 3D Voxel Engine, from scratch
    That is a fact, and why https://wxwidgets.org/ had to have a more open license to cross-port programs from/to other platforms (especially Android and windows often needed Static builds just for practical reasons.) Additionally, a... - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago

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Alternatives to wxPython and wxWidgets

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

  • PyQt

    Riverbank | Software | PyQt | What is PyQt?

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  • GTK

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

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  • 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 .

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  • 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.

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  • Tkinter

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

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