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Hi I am a windows software developer and i work with Visual C++ 2012. What's the best choice for a GUI component; S.T similar to "Xtreme Toolkit Pro"?

That includes these items:
1- simple to use
2- 3d edge or flat like windows8
3- black interface
Or, how can i design GUI with Photoshop and use with my dialog control?

Picture samples:
pic1
pic2
pic3
pic4
pic5
With Regards,
Mohammad
Posted
Updated 18-Aug-14 18:08pm
v3
Comments
Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 19-Aug-14 1:40am    
Do you mean C++, or C++/CLI (or both)?
—SA
mohammadmot 19-Aug-14 15:00pm    
Visual C++ native code
MFC

1 solution

It looks like you are more concerned with graphics design of the interface rather then interface itself (functional, layout, etc.), and not even the design, but just using one fixed "black" design. Sounds boring, frankly, but doesn't matter; my concern is different: it's possible that you don't clearly realize the difference between this aspect of design and the graphics library. Then my answer may look surprising to you: you can use any UI library, more exactly, any non-nonsense one. They all should allow you to define the look you want. However, that may be not enough to satisfy a demanding developer and even a demanding user, from the standpoint of other aspects of UI. One note: this should be not a component library, but a framework, because one C++ + Windows component library for certain framework may not be compatible with other framework.

But as I don't know your essential requirements, I can only repeat: any. It can be MFC, Qt, GTK+, Ultimate++, or whatever else. You can also review these lists:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_widget_toolkits#On_Microsoft_Windows[^],
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_widget_toolkits#Based_on_C.2B.2B_.28including_bindings_to_other_languages.29[^].

If you want my own opinion (many would probably argue against it), I think that developing UI for Windows using native Windows API with C++ is insane. I would do it using .NET, maybe something else.

[EDIT]

Mohammadmot asked:
And one question, is it simple to write new GUI smooth black or ... with WPF in C#?
I mentioned WPF in my comment below not in vain. With WPF, the features used to change the look in the separation-of-concerns manner are amazingly flexible, but the concepts are very different from many other frameworks. You will have a good idea if you look at these articles:
http://www.codeproject.com/search.aspx?q=%28Skin+OR+theme%29+WPF&doctypeid=1[^].

Note that I referenced the articles not on any specific style, but on the "themes" or "skins" which can be replaced during runtime. Also, these works can give you an idea, how minor is your concern of "blackness" of the UI, compared to the wider context of UI design. Of course, if you use some advanced technologies, unmatched by the old lame stuff. :-)

See also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_concerns[^],
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_content_and_style[^].

Also note that WPF is not very much of Windows. The Windows API is almost not used, only to link the presentation with the top-level window, the only thing which interact with the Windows API. None of the controls and other UIElements have anything to do with Windows API control classes. WPF is based on DirectX, which is implemented on many models of hardware, in a way totally unrelated to Windows. Potentially, WPF can be used on non-Windows system. In particular, Silverlight, very similar to WPF and with overlapping API, has the open-source alternative implementation called "Moonlight".

See also my past answer: Advantages and Disadvantages of WPF[^].

—SA
 
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v7
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mohammadmot 19-Aug-14 14:50pm    
Thank you Sergey.
I am visual c++ developer and i develop my GUI with MFC.
The interface layer look old fashion! i used many extended control classes, like CButtonST or CReportCtrl, ....
But i want use framework or bunch of controls that have good style, and 'black' user interface.
like,
this picture
Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 19-Aug-14 15:02pm    
Again, you are missing the point.

It looks like you idea of "old fashion" and the "new" is related not to the framework or component library, but only to the way you use them.
Don't pay attention for the look of some components. Pay attention for the technical means helping YOU change this look.
You can re-color, re-shape and change the layout of everything, but make sure that the component you use will allow you to do that.

Is it clear now?

—SA
mohammadmot 19-Aug-14 15:40pm    
Yes, i got it some points.
But how can i have a check box control or smooth black group box in MFC?
Did you mean, extend my controls (re-shape or re-color)? it's take many time!
For example, this image
Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 19-Aug-14 15:46pm    
You always show the same very style. It starts going boring...

Yes, it will takes some time, but what do you want then? You want a custom look, it means decent development time.

Maybe you would do something more productive, such as WPF, perhaps using C++/CLI, if you want to work with C++. Please understand: MFC is something of stone age, not under active development, almost forgotten... Who in sober mind would write components for it? You would rather be more lucky with ports from Linux to Windows. At the same time, even bare raw Windows API will allow you to render whatever you need. Yes, it's all the matter of time.

—SA
mohammadmot 19-Aug-14 16:08pm    
:-) Ok, i got it. it's cool "stone age" and your points is very helpful.
My processing classes are developed in c++ (more than 10 years), but i am trying to find way to connect my processing results to new age GUI that will write with WPF.
And one question, is it simple to write new GUI smooth black or ... with WPF in C#?

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