In computing, graphical user interface (GUI, sometimes pronounced 'gooey') is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices using images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances, office, and industry equipment. A GUI represents the information and actions available to a user through graphical icons and visual indicators such as secondary notation, as opposed to text-based interfaces, typed command labels or text navigation. The actions are usually performed through direct manipulation of the graphical elements. (
Wikipedia, GUI)
In C++ you can program using Operating System's Native environment underlying widget framework that is GTK for Gnome, QT for KDE, Win32 API for Windows, Carbon/Cocoa for MacOsX et al. Many developers love to program once and compile and run the Code in all platform. There are many Cross Platform (X-Platform in short) which mean you write code once and you can compile in all Operating System. The Famous GUI Toolkits are
wxWidgets, QT, and GTK+. Here are few resources to get you started!
The GTK+ Toolkit
Books
I found not many books for free and available ones are not that impressive. So If you find any please inform me!
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WikiBooks' GTK+ By Example
Tutorials
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Zetcode GTK+ Tutorial (Superb Tut!)
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Official GTK+ Tutorial (In Depth Tut!)
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Building GTK apps for MS Windows on Linux
Reference/Manuals
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Official reference for GTK+ and Associated Libs
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Resources and Papers about GTK+
The QT
Books
Few Free nice books for QT.
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Introduction to Design Patterns in C++ with Qt 4
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C++ GUI Programming with Qt 4 (First Edition)
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C++ GUI Programming with Qt 3 (Note the QT version but still a valuable resource)
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C++ GUI Programming with Qt 4 Second Edition via
dcsoft
Tutorials
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Zetcode QT4 Tutorial
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OfficialQT Tutorial
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All Overviews and HOWTOs
Reference/Manuals
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Official reference for QT
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How to learn QT
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Documentation Page
The wxWidgets
This is my favorite toolkit. I have been using for years now and I find it fascinating!
Books
There is one book that am aware of and that is the official book,
Cross-Platform GUI Programming with wxWidgets
Tutorials
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Zetcode wxWidgets tutorial (Excellent!)
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wxWiki: Collection of articles
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Paul's Compilation of FAQ
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wxBlog
Reference and Manual
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wxWidgets Official Manual
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wxStyledTextCtrl In Depth reference
Have you started programming nice UI with C++? What are you waiting ah!?
