Re: [Caml-list] Does LablTk have a future?

[Chris Campbell <cyberdanx@gmail.com>]

[forgot to cc list]

On 30/08/05, Jon Harrop <jon@ffconsultancy.com> wrote:
>
> I had better clarify before continuing. I see two viable approaches here:
>
> 1. Write OCaml bindings to the native GUIs and then an OCaml wrapper that
> abstracts the nativeness away.
>
> 2. Write a new widget toolkit designed to render via OpenGL.
>

...

> If we do (1) then it will handle skinning and the intersection of the sets of
> functionality of the native GUIs.
>
> If we do (2) then customisation and skinning will be ignored but you have the
> advantage of real time 2D and 3D graphics.
>
> Option (2) seems much easier and more useful to me. I've never cared about
> skinning...

Easier???  You'd need to build a complete event/messaging subsystem, a
renderer, ..., a set of widgets and get people to ship it.  Plus it'd
likely only run on Linux and BSD.  What about OSX Mac/Windows?  It's
not easier at all especially if it was to be anything like a modern
day gui - think Quartz Extreme/Aqua or AeroGlass. IIRC the plan for
Gtk+ is to go this route too using Cairo.  Despite hating Gtk, it'd be
better to rely on them for the gui and wrap it with something like
your description of a "functional GUI" or bind to WxWidgets (or both).

There's also enlightenment as an alternative for Linux users.