select GUI on windows (wxPy vs pyQt)

Question

Hello! We are plan to create an application for monitoring and configuring our service (which is running on remote server). After long time discuss, we decide for python as pl for our app, because we love and know python (better, than english, really). but we don't know, what GUI toolkit preffered for our aims. We need fast (for development and running) app, which users are admins, mainteners and account managers.

There is two GUI toolkit for python, which we know: wxPython and pyQT. Anybody have arguments pro et contra candidat? And maybe peoples know commercial applications, running in this products (only python version of toolkits)? Links are desirable.

Thanks, and excuse my english.

Answer 1

Well, I am a fan of QT: it has a more modern look and feel. However - your choice should be based on your actual requirements. Simple trade studies are helpful for this. Make a list of what features your toolkit must have and what features would be nice to have and then weight each item appropriately. Then look at all your options (TKinter also) and then score them according to your feature list (using the weights you assigned to each feature requirement). At the end it should be evident which one is right for your project.

Answer 2

A Windows (and Mono) option for a GUI toolkit is provided by IronPython. It provides access to the Winforms and WPF libraries. For examples, see Developing with IronPython & Windows Forms, and many others.

If you want to expand the list of options, consider building a Web App instead of a (local) GUI app. You say your service runs on a remote server, so networking is part of your requirements. Once you start down that road, Python provides a bewildering amount of options.

Answer 3

I've always liked Qt's "signals and slots" conceptual model, though I guess it may take a bit of learning for developers who are more used to other models of event propagation and handling. Personally, given a choice, I'd pick PyQt because of this programming aspect.

Answer 4

You should also check out PyGTK. It is similar to pyQT in programming model but does not have any licensing cost since it is LGPL. I always found it nice to work with as a developer. The main drawback over pyQT is that in some cases they take away functionality in things like file chooser dialogs in favour of simplicity for the user.

Answer 5

I choose wxPython after much research. The reasons were:

• "wxPython in Action" book by Rappin & Dunn
• The voluminous examples that come as part of the wxPython download
• The number of projects that have used wxWidgets
• The fact that wxPython code runs equally well on Linux, Mac OS/X and Win32

I did consider pyQT and other researchers are successfully using it. After writing many examples in all API's that I considered, I found wxPython ticked the most boxes for me.

As for Tkinter (TIX), I think it looks rather dated. Unless you are using IronPython or Jython I would not consider using the associated native windowing APIs. For another project which is to be delivered exclusively on .Net, I plan to use WinForms after lots of great feedback from StackOverflow members.

Answer 6

I want to point out two strengths that wxPython has compared to pyQt:

1. It uses native widgets on every supported platform. So the apps have a native look and feel. I'm aware that PyQt uses native styles, but the behavior ("the feel") is reported to be somewhat non-native especially on the Mac.
2. It provides a wider choice of widgets out of the box.

Answer 7

You wrote "There is two GUI toolkit for python, which we know: wxPython and pyQT." You are forgetting about the most obvious toolkit: tkinter. That's actually part of a core python distribution, no extra downloads required.

Some people don't like Tk but that's often due to ignorance. Tk is a fine choice for a cross platform toolkit. It uses native widgets on windows (and has for many years) and the latest versions of tk use themed widgets on all platforms.

Answer 8

i've been using wxpython for 3 years .. and now we had to switch into pyqt since qt is integrated in maya 2011 .. however , wxpython is more straight forward and you can easily start working on it and learn it from zero fast .it provides and awesome resources and decumentation . but QT provides more powerful features that you cant find in wxpython , for example ( the multi touch detection) , QT also provides good support for drawing devices like pc tablets and so on .

qt also provides a good designer that makes u create interfaces faster.
one of qt disadvantages is it's license since it's not free like wxpython