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SUMMARY: we've starting to reach the limits with the current GUI toolkit of choice. While GTK serves its purpose well, it does not perform well in terms of multiple device support and a modern UI feel. We're investigating the best choice to use for the next Qreator release.

Comparison table

The comparison is based on the following toolkit versions:

• Gtk -- 3.0 via gobject introspection

• Qt + QML -- 4.8.3 via PySide

• Ubuntu toolkit -- pure QML

• HTML5 / CSS3 via webkit

• kivy -- 1.4.2

Notes

• [1] -- Only the C version is fully documented. The python bindings have to be guessed. A very good but also incomplete readthedocs tutorial is available.

• [2] -- Only QtWidgets share the look'n'feel of Ubuntu. QML does not.

• [3] -- Some widgets (forms) like buttons are rendered by most browsers in a conforming way.

• [4] -- https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/DOM/Touch_events

• [5] -- not yet, but is planned

Detailed functionality requirements

Since the toolkit choice has been made: Ubuntu toolkit (QML), there are a couple of details to work out. The following is a list of item we have to tackle in order to recreate the current status in the new toolkit.

Qreator general UI

• Unity integration: notifications

• Unity integration: HUD

• System integration: clipboard

• System integration: drag & drop into different toolkits

• System integration: printing

• System integration: file I/O (save image to file)

• GUI elements: printer dialog

Wifi Datatype

• System integration: network-manager (dbus) interface

GeoLocation

• System integration: location / geoclue (dbus) interface

• GUI elements: map

SMS & Call

• System integration: contacts

Software Center

• System integration: software-center db

• System integration: file I/O (load icons)

• System integration: threading or several processes + IPC

• GUI elements: autocompletion popup

MECARD / VCard

• System integration: contacts

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