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| Brandon | The Three Types of GUIsIn the QBASIC GUI community, we use GUI to cover just about anything with objects that have graphical representations that aren't games. I tend to think that there are really 3 different types of programs that we call GUIs:
Object libraries- The simplest form of the QBASIC GUI, these aren't always compiled into a library, sometimes they are just a collection of SUBs that are designed to be modified to be used to create your own applications. They don't have an application launcher and generally don't have any programs beyond an example showcasing the GUIs objects.
Single Task Desktops- DOS doesn't have any type of multitasking built in, so often the next step in GUI development is to make a launcher and some example programs that use your object library. This is the first "GUI" that resembles a fake OS. Often times the most liked GUIs belong in this group, because they tend to be faster and simpler to expand than the next group.
Scripters/Mutlitaskers- These are the hardest GUIs to develop, especially in QBASIC. You run into the limitations of QBASIC quite quickly, and if you are targeting vintage hardware, you'll run into the limits of that hardware as well. Trying to get around the limitations of DOS itself lead to some creative ways of getting the "multitasking" to work. A few ways that can be done: 1. A scripter, it runs lines from one running script, then breaks and moves to the next. 2. One large kernel, has all the applications built into one program. 3. Multiple EXEs which dump RAM to the hard drive before calling the next EXE.
So I'll end all this with: Which GUIs of each type stand out to you and why?
| 2013-05-17 | 11:57 AM |
| atrocity | Re: The Three Types of GUIsI think most people think of object libraries and single-task desktops as the same thing. I LOVE making scripters/multi-taskers because it makes you think hard about how everything is being developed. One thing that's nice about building with a newer version of BASIC (FreeBASIC in my case) is the fact that with the 32-bit environment even under DOS, you get basically unlimited resources. I've honestly even considered adding a basic 8086 emulator to my GUI I'm building so I can run applications natively and stuff inside it, just a lot of work would be required then. | 2013-05-17 | 6:50 PM |
| Brandon | Re: The Three Types of GUIsI guess I draw the line between the first two, mainly because one is still a development tool where as one is more a fake os, sure you're right in that they are essentially the same, but it's sort of a fake division that I make that often decides wether a GUI from Data Components reviews can make it onto the list of future GUIs of the week ( I don't generally highlight toolkits). It's a risky business when you assuming that you have unlimited resources. Most DOS machines are under 100mhz and if you plan to target them at all, or even to compete with GUIs of the past, you need to be able to run on this hardware. Obviously you can target whatever hardware you want, but to me a GUI loses some authenticity when it won run on real hardware. | 2013-05-17 | 9:37 PM |
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