[Lazarus] Completely solve the GTK trouble

[jiaxing ruan]

Do you need tester? I can help with testing. But anything needs more knowledge I afraid I can't.

Anyway, did we at any time found it's tired to catch up with GTK? May be we could keep the current GTK3 interface. But my suggestion also deal with GTK4, GTK5... One IUP interface, we could choose the appropriate GTK version. IUP currently supports both GTK2 and GTK3 and the API still the same. What I appreciate IUP is it focuses on a stable API. As I said, programs written for IUP 3.15 still compile and run fine with IUP 3.27. Investing on an IUP interface rather than GTK4, GTK5... interface is the most reasonable way to go.
________________________________
From: Sven Barth <pascaldragon at googlemail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2020 12:58 PM
To: Lazarus mailing list <lazarus at lists.lazarus-ide.org>
Cc: jiaxing ruan <ruanjiaxing1234 at outlook.com>
Subject: Re: [Lazarus] Completely solve the GTK trouble

jiaxing ruan via lazarus <lazarus at lists.lazarus-ide.org<mailto:lazarus at lists.lazarus-ide.org>> schrieb am Di., 14. Apr. 2020, 05:59:
GTK changes too fast and our GTK3 binding is not updated. We don't have to resource to catch up GTK. I suggest we abandon the GTK3 and any later GTK version interface and instead create an IUP interface. IUP uses GTK underlying, so we don't miss anything. Our apps will look just like when they use the GTK widgetset. IUP focuses more on compatibility than GTK. Even software written for IUP 3.15 could easily compiled and run with IUP 3.27. IUP also has a permissive license. As far as I know IUP is as portable as Lazarus is, so we don't have to care about portability, too.

Let me see what's your thoughts.

With my ability I can only leave suggestion. I don't have the skill to do it myself nor the finance to hire someone else to do. But I think this is the most reasonable move for us.

We don't need to run after the latest GTK version. Even other applications like GIMP or desktop environments like XFCE switch to GTK3 only now, because it has become stable. So in fact this is the right point to get GTK3 fully running and there has already been work put into the last months. What's missing is people testing it, reporting bugs and maybe also people who are willing to dig into it to fix those bugs.

Regards,
Sven
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