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JUCE vs Qt: What are the differences?
Welcome to the comparison between JUCE and Qt. In this analysis, we will explore the key differences between these two powerful frameworks.
Cross-Platform Support: JUCE is primarily designed to be cross-platform, allowing developers to create applications that run on multiple operating systems seamlessly. On the other hand, Qt also offers cross-platform capabilities, but it goes a step further by providing additional support for embedded systems and mobile platforms, making it a more versatile choice.
GUI Development: JUCE provides a complete toolkit for GUI development, offering a wide range of customizable UI components. While Qt also provides a rich set of UI components, it stands out with its QML (Qt Modeling Language) framework, which enables developers to design expressive and interactive UIs using a declarative syntax.
Audio and DSP Capabilities: JUCE is renowned for its extensive audio and digital signal processing (DSP) functionalities, making it a popular choice for audio-centric applications such as music production software. Qt, on the other hand, offers some audio capabilities but is not as comprehensive as JUCE in this domain.
Licensing Model: JUCE follows a dual licensing model, where it offers both a GPL license (free for open-source projects) and a commercial license (for commercial products). Qt employs a similar model with a selection of licenses, including LGPL (free for open-source projects) and commercial licenses, but it also offers an additional option of a LGPL exception license for proprietary software.
Community Support and Documentation: JUCE has a smaller community compared to Qt, resulting in fewer available resources and examples. Qt, on the other hand, has a vast and active community, which leads to comprehensive documentation, extensive online resources, and vibrant developer forums, making it easier to find support and assistance.
Integration with Existing Tools: JUCE provides a seamless integration with various industry-standard tools commonly used in audio and multimedia development, such as Pro Tools, VST, and AAX. Qt, on the other hand, is well integrated with IDEs like Qt Creator and Visual Studio, providing a streamlined development workflow.
In summary, JUCE excels in cross-platform audio and multimedia development, while Qt offers a broader range of cross-platform capabilities, extensive community support, advanced GUI development with QML, and integration with existing development tools. The choice between the two frameworks depends on the specific requirements and priorities of the project at hand.
Pros of JUCE
- Cross platform4
- Fast2
- Pure C++ code1
- Open Source1
- Performance1
- Nice GUI1
Pros of Qt
- High Performance17
- Declarative, easy and flexible UI13
- Cross platform12
- Performance12
- Fast prototyping9
- Easiest integration with C++8
- Up to date framework8
- Python7
- Multiple license including Open Source and Commercial6
- Safe 2D Renderer6
- Great Community Support5
- HW Accelerated UI4
- Game Engine like UI system4
- No history of broken compatibility with a major version3
- JIT and QML Compiler3
- True cross-platform framework with native code compile3
- Reliable for industrial use3
- Pure C++3
- Been using it since the 90s - runs anywhere does it all3
- Open source2
- Easy Integrating to DX and OpenGL and Vulkan2
- From high to low level coding2
- Learning Curve1
- Great mobile support with Felgo add-on1
- Native looking GUI1
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Cons of JUCE
- Free Edition has Made with Juce2
Cons of Qt
- Paid5
- C++ is not so productive4
- Lack of community support2
- Lack of libraries1
- Not detailed documentation1