What programming language would be best for creating Windows programs with GUIs?

Question

I've had experience in C++, C# (just a little), and Java. I want to create programs for Windows XP that use GUIs. I'm not sure which language would be best for this and that is why I'm posting this question. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

If you already know some C#, it's a pretty good way to go. The visual tools make it very easy to build your form and then you simply add code behind it (double click on a button and write code that should occur when the button is clicked.)



The down side of C# is its reliance on Windows (although there is a very good clone out there called mono)



If you already know Java, that's also a fine way to go. To make a GUI in Java, just subclass javax.Frame for your main class. Netbeans has some GUI editing tools that allow you to build a GUI like visual studio if you find the layout managers baffling. To deploy your Java app, just put it in an executable .jar file (all the major IDEs have a tool for this) and it will look to the user like an executable.



Creating Windows GUIs in C++ is more painful than it needs to be, as the native windows GUI classes are complicated. Often it's easier to use a third-party widget library like wxWidgets, QT, or GTK. If you're doing this, you might also consider a simpler language like Python and then your program can be multi-platform.

Answer 2

What are the programs going to do?

Do you want to manage memory on your own?

How do you want your classes managed? etc.



Answer those questions and you will be guided to which language to use.



Personally I would choose C#, but that is my language of choice and many would choose different based on what they like. For basic functionality it all depends on which language you prefer. For more specialized functionality you might need to pick one over the other. For instance managing your own memory and the inherited issues with that could be worth it to work with specific things that c++ offers if managed c++ is not an option.

Answer 3

hey



although you do not have experience in using Visual Basic, i do reccomend it... you can create windows and buttons with a click of a button, real simple

your experience in c will help you with visual basic, its easy and alot of websites giving help and examples



i dont know java so cant say anything about that





hope this helps you

Answer 4

Stick with C# or VB for windows.

If you want to port to other platforms, than Java is very useful. Stick to C++ when you want to interact with hardware, or there is intensive background processing.