Linking a GUI toolkit to C++ input

Hey there! This is my first time asking here but I've been a reader for ages! A fantastic place to learn!

I was asked to design a simple board game as a programming project this semester (using C++) and to implement GUI for a bonus mark. I was rather lost reading through tens of possible GUI toolkits and not knowing which one to use. I'm rather a beginner and this is my first big project!

My requirements for GUI are very very basic. All I want is to allow the user to pick from between two options at the start of the game. Those options determine which character the user will pick in the game to play with. This is the only input I want from the user. The console program would receive this input, interpret it and do all the logic of the game in the console window.

Currently, the console window displays a numbered list of options for the user who then picks a number and based off that character input, the console knows what to do through some if-statements.

Up till now, I've been told that GTK+ is a good option and I've been advised to check out wxWidgets and QT4. I'm confused on which one to use since I want something fast to learn and simple to implement because the purpose I want it for is also simple. I was also rather reluctant to start learning a GUI toolkit from its basics then realizing it might not have my simple requirement.

Thank you in advance fellas and sorry for the rather long post!

Thanks Brett for such a good reply...I began reading today into the sample applications and so far QProcess seems like it might be what I need to start my console application. Would you think that class might be a good idea based on your Qt experience?

Hamdy Elgammal 2010-06-04 20:21:18

@Hamdy Elgammal - I'm not sure exactly what you're needs are, but I would think that you might be able to get around using QProcess, and the console window, by using some sort of output form in Qt. I'm not sure how complex your output is, but if it is somewhat simple, you might even be able to use a text output in the Qt window?

Brett 2010-06-04 20:38:09

@Brett: My output is not that complex and is, at first view, a display of a two dimensional character array. Of course, to be more specific, I would have to go into details of my project but the gist of it is: it is not 'really' a character array except to the user. Personally, I'd prefer it if my output is in console completely. Currently, all I would want is a small window that appears so that the user may simply choose between two choices on that window then use that to somehow trigger the console into working based on whatever the user selected. Thanks again Brett!

Hamdy Elgammal 2010-06-05 00:38:17

@Hamdy Elgammal - Oh, perfect, that should not be too difficult. Rather than trying to do something as difficult as using QProcess, an easier alternative would be to enable the console window along side the Qt application. Generally its suppressed with Qt applications. Now, when you click buttons in the interface, variables can change or functions can be executed and then your normal console display will be shown. Hope that helps!!

Brett 2010-06-05 03:17:44

@Brett: I think I get what you mean Brett but just to be sure: You're basically saying that I should add whatever QT code I need to start a window in the same code I currently have and then simply run the program, which will always run the QT app first, then handle whatever input I get from the events handled by the window directly to the code?

Hamdy Elgammal 2010-06-05 09:35:15

@Hamdy Elgammal - So, I actually haven't worked with the console window while using Qt, but I know that you can use it. From my understanding though, you should be able to adjust settings in the Qt application, which will have get()/set() calls to your class variables that your console will eventually be referencing. This way, you will be able to have the user choose options via the GUI and then use your standard output that you've been using in the console window. :)

Brett 2010-06-06 04:08:12

@hamdy Elgammal - I guess I'd start by getting a somewhat basic Qt GUI running, see if you can get it to maybe display a few options that you want, and then when its working get it to show a console window. When you've got that working, plug in your code into the application, and see if you can get the Qt application to trigger the correct functions to run your code! Hope that helps

Brett 2010-06-06 04:09:37

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Linking a GUI toolkit to C++ input

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