[linux-audio-dev] a bit off topic: GUI-lib-programming (how does it usually work?)

Florian Schmidt mista.tapas at gmx.net
Mon Mar 6 10:32:39 UTC 2006


On Sun, 5 Mar 2006 17:15:04 +0100 (CET)
Julien Claassen <julien at c-lab.de> wrote:

> Hi!
>   First of all: Thanks for you prompt responses.
>   Second: the lib is written in c++. Is it ok for my toggle(on/off)-buttons to
> just have a function that returns either 1/0 (true/false)?
>   Third: Chris: This lib will be ncurses-based. But I made some special
> adjustments for cursor-movement, generalised how things look like. I also
> predefined the keys to move/active/etc. It should be useable for blind people
> and perhaps people with other disabilites. First thing in mind was of course
> audio-software. If you're interested in this, or if anyone else is and feels,
> it's not a topic for lad, just post back by private mail.
>   Kindest egards
>        Julien

I always wondered whether it was possible to do something like a
generic/abstract UI thing. You bind yourself to ncurses at the moment,
but wouldn't it be cool, if the same code could sit ontop of either
ncurses or X/Gtk/Qt, or even be communicated via audio interface and user
talking.

I doubt though that all user interface aspects can be generalized in
this way, but it would be cool already to get a subset as huge as
possible. All X gui stuff is basically representable on an ncurses
screen as long as there's no real graphical stuff involved (i.e. the
typical preferences dialog serves as a good example. Just a bunchof
checkboxes, comboboxes and ok and cancel buttons). I even can imagine
how this could be presented to the user via a voice interface, though
this is more difficult to get right.

The most obvious example were this scheme would fail would be i.e.
something like the GIMP. Operating on a per RGB pixel basis is very
difficult to translate to ncurses or voice. Something like ardour would
be almost equally tough as its interface is highly graphical (at least
the editor and mixer windows. All the preferences stuff could be again
dealt with). 

Anyone know if such a thing exists yet? Or any thoughts on the matter?

Flo

-- 
Palimm Palimm!
http://tapas.affenbande.org



More information about the Linux-audio-dev mailing list