Building Desktop Apps with Go: A Guide to Native GUIs for Linux

How to create native GUI apps in Go for Linux ? 🔗

Go, while excelling in backend development, offers tools to create feature-rich desktop applications with native looks and feel. This post explores popular options for crafting native GUIs in Go specifically for Linux environments.

1. GTK+ with go-gtk 🔗

• GTK+ (the GIMP Toolkit) is a widely-used, mature toolkit for building native Linux interfaces.
• go-gtk provides a Go binding for GTK+, allowing you to leverage GTK+ widgets and functionalities within your Go code.
• This approach offers granular control and access to the extensive GTK+ library. However, it can involve a steeper learning curve compared to higher-level frameworks.

2. Qt for Go 🔗

• Qt is another powerful cross-platform toolkit known for its rich UI features and performance. While Qt itself is C++, bindings like cgo or Qt for Go: https://github.com/therecipe/qt enable Go development with Qt.
• Qt provides a vast library of widgets and layouts, making it suitable for complex UIs. The trade-off is the added complexity of managing Qt alongside your Go code.

3. Gio 🔗

• Gio is a library for writing cross-platform immediate mode GUI-s in Go. Gio supports all the major platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, FreeBSD, OpenBSD and WebAssembly.
• Gio focuses on defining the UI structure and handling events, potentially simplifying development for some use cases. However, Gio might require more effort for intricate UI interactions.

4. Fyne 🔗

• Fyne is a pure Go GUI framework designed for cross-platform development. While it can generate native-looking interfaces, Fyne’s visual style might differ slightly across platforms.
• Fyne offers a simpler API and faster development cycles compared to lower-level toolkits. It’s a good choice for basic to moderately complex UIs where native look and feel aren’t paramount.

Choosing the Right Tool 🔗

• For granular control and maximum flexibility, go-gtk or Qt with Go bindings are strong options.
• If development speed and a clean API are priorities, Fyne is a compelling choice.
• Gio provides a balance between control and ease of use, but might require a different development mindset.

Additional Tips:

• Consider using a UI designer tool like Glade (GTK+: https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Glade ) to visually design your UI and then generate the corresponding Go code.
• Explore the documentation and tutorials provided by each framework to get started effectively.

By understanding these tools and their strengths, you can leverage Go’s capabilities to create performant and user-friendly desktop applications that seamlessly integrate with the Linux environment.

What I recommend 🔗

I recommend using Flutter framework for your GUI app. The result app will be cross-platform with a single codebase. If you need your Go project, use it as library inside the new Flutter project.