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  1. Stackups
  2. Application & Data
  3. Frameworks
  4. Cross Platform Desktop Development
  5. pygame vs wxWidgets

pygame vs wxWidgets

OverviewComparisonAlternatives

Overview

wxWidgets
wxWidgets
Stacks21
Followers75
Votes19
GitHub Stars6.9K
Forks1.9K
pygame
pygame
Stacks122
Followers173
Votes5
GitHub Stars0
Forks0

pygame vs wxWidgets: What are the differences?

# Introduction
In this comparison, we will explore the key differences between Pygame and wxWidgets, two popular frameworks used for creating graphical user interfaces in Python.

1. **Programming Paradigm**: Pygame is primarily a game development library that is focused on creating multimedia applications and games, while wxWidgets is a GUI toolkit that allows developers to build desktop applications with native look and feel across different platforms.
2. **GUI Components**: wxWidgets offers a wide range of pre-built GUI components such as buttons, text boxes, and menus, making it easier for developers to create traditional desktop applications. Pygame, on the other hand, provides more basic graphics and input handling capabilities, requiring manual implementation of GUI elements.
3. **Platform Support**: wxWidgets is known for its cross-platform compatibility, allowing developers to create applications that run seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Pygame, while also cross-platform, is more tailored towards game development and may require additional configuration for some platforms.
4. **Learning Curve**: Pygame is generally considered easier to learn for beginners, as its focus on multimedia and game development provides a more straightforward approach to programming. wxWidgets, with its more complex GUI components and event handling system, may have a steeper learning curve for newcomers.
5. **Community and Documentation**: Pygame has a robust community of game developers and enthusiasts, providing a wealth of resources, tutorials, and support for users. wxWidgets, as a mature framework, also has a strong community with extensive documentation and a variety of resources available for developers.
6. **Customization and Flexibility**: Pygame offers more flexibility in terms of customization and creative control, making it ideal for developers looking to create unique gaming experiences. wxWidgets, while versatile, may have limitations in terms of customization due to the predefined GUI components and conventions it follows.

In Summary, Pygame is more focused on game development with easier learning curve and greater creativity, while wxWidgets is a versatile GUI toolkit with a wide range of pre-built components for traditional desktop applications.

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Detailed Comparison

wxWidgets
wxWidgets
pygame
pygame

It is a C++ library that lets developers create applications for Windows, macOS, Linux and other platforms with a single code base. It has popular language bindings for Python, Perl, Ruby and many other languages, and unlike other cross-platform toolkits, it gives applications a truly native look and feel because it uses the platform's native API rather than emulating the GUI. It's also extensive, free, open-source and mature.

It is a cross-platform set of Python modules designed for writing video games. It includes computer graphics and sound libraries designed to be used with the Python programming language.

Support for gesture events (GSoC 2017 project); Getting JavaScript code return value from wxWebView (also GSoC 2017 project); New wxSecretStore class for securely storing user passwords; New, available in parallel with the existing one, CMake build system; Support for context-sensitive translations.
Highly portable; Runs on nearly every platform and operating system
Statistics
GitHub Stars
6.9K
GitHub Stars
0
GitHub Forks
1.9K
GitHub Forks
0
Stacks
21
Stacks
122
Followers
75
Followers
173
Votes
19
Votes
5
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 5
    Native looking UI
  • 4
    Learning Curve
  • 3
    Cross platform
  • 2
    Open source
  • 2
    Permissive license. Commercial with static linkage.
Cons
  • 1
    Uses Qt for GUI (wxQt)
Pros
  • 3
    Easy to install
  • 1
    Simple
  • 1
    Lightweigt by only being 12 mb
Cons
  • 2
    Has only 2d
  • 1
    Slow
Integrations
Perl
Perl
C++
C++
Windows
Windows
Linux
Linux
Python
Python
macOS
macOS
Ruby
Ruby
Python
Python
JetBrains Rider
JetBrains Rider
Ninject
Ninject
PlayFab
PlayFab
TestFairy
TestFairy
Vuforia
Vuforia

What are some alternatives to wxWidgets, pygame?

Electron

Electron

With Electron, creating a desktop application for your company or idea is easy. Initially developed for GitHub's Atom editor, Electron has since been used to create applications by companies like Microsoft, Facebook, Slack, and Docker. The Electron framework lets you write cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML and CSS. It is based on io.js and Chromium and is used in the Atom editor.

Unity

Unity

Unity is the ultimate game development platform. Use Unity to build high-quality 3D and 2D games, deploy them across mobile, desktop, VR/AR, consoles or the Web, and connect with loyal and enthusiastic players and customers.

Godot

Godot

It is an advanced, feature-packed, multi-platform 2D and 3D open source game engine. It is developed by hundreds of contributors from all around the world.

Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine

It is a game engine that helps you make games. It is made up of several components that work together to drive the game. Its massive system of tools and editors allows you to organize your assets and manipulate them to create the gameplay for your game.

Gamemaker Studio 2

Gamemaker Studio 2

It has everything you need to take your idea from concept to finished game. With no barriers to entry and powerful functionality.

Sciter

Sciter

It brings a stack of web technologies to desktop UI development. Web designers, and developers, can reuse their experience and expertise in creating modern looking desktop applications.

Qt5

Qt5

It is a full development framework with tools designed to streamline the creation of applications and user interfaces for desktop, embedded, and mobile platforms.

JavaFX

JavaFX

It is a set of graphics and media packages that enables developers to design, create, test, debug, and deploy rich client applications that operate consistently across diverse platforms.

React Native Desktop

React Native Desktop

Build OS X desktop apps using React Native.

JUCE

JUCE

It is a C++ framework for low-latency applications, with cross-platform GUI libraries to get your apps running on Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android.

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