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Immediate mode GUIs

From http://sol.gfxile.net/imgui/:

In typical GUI applications you create a bunch of widgets, they get displayed somehow, you query the widgets for information, you send messages and data to said widgets, and finally clean things up after you're done. Some parts of the above is usually done using some kind of visual editor, but the result is usually tons and tons of code all over the place.

This is ok for most applications, but not so convenient for games or other frame-by-frame realtime applications. So, instead of having one place for init, another for ui callbacks, and a third for cleanup, IMGUI can be as simple as this:

if (button(GEN_ID, 15, 15)) {
  button_was_pressed();
}

A very interesting point in the design space of UI abstractions. It feels kind of like FRP...without the functions.

By Sean McDirmid at 2012-07-06 00:13 | LtU Forum | 51 comments | other blogs | 50530 reads

Why languages and not systems?

Hi all!

I was pondering a question: why do we try and approach problems by building languages to code our solutions instead of simply engineering systems, libraries, and GUIs to achieve the same result?

The answer I give myself is that a language is:
- more general
- better to abstract descriptions and behaviors
- simpler to capture repetitive actions and automation

What do you think?

By giuseppemag at 2012-07-06 12:20 | LtU Forum | 17 comments | other blogs | 5846 reads

Emerging Languages Camp at Strange Loop

Just a note that while the Strange Conference is sold out, tickets for the colocated 1 day Emerging Languages Camp are available.

Date: Sept 23rd, 9:30 am - 6 pm, St. Louis, MO
Register: $150 (includes lunch)

Schedule:

By puredanger at 2012-07-06 21:46 | LtU Forum | 2 comments | other blogs | 5200 reads