How does AUI compare to Qt for C++ desktop apps?

AUI offers a pure C++20 alternative without Qt's meta-object compiler (MOC), but Qt has a larger ecosystem, more stable APIs, and broader third-party support. AUI is better for teams wanting modern C++ syntax and avoiding external toolchains.

Is AUI good for mobile app development?

It supports Android and iOS for basic UI and graphics via OpenGL, but key modules like aui.toolbox and process creation are unsupported on mobile. For full-featured mobile apps, consider more mature cross-platform frameworks like Flutter or React Native.

How to handle assets like images and fonts in AUI?

Use the built-in resource compiler (aui.toolbox) to embed and manage assets directly in the CMake build process. The framework supports image loading via stbimage and font rendering with freetype2, as listed in the dependencies.

What are the licensing terms for commercial projects?

AUI uses MPL 2.0, allowing free use in private projects, but public releases require attribution and sharing changes to AUI itself. Your own source code can remain proprietary, but you must mention AUI in legal notices.

How to test UI components in AUI?

The aui.uitests module provides UI testing based on GTest, enabling unit and integration tests for graphical elements. However, documentation on advanced testing scenarios is limited compared to established testing frameworks.

Can I use AUI with Visual Studio Code or other IDEs?

Yes, AUI offers IDE plugins for setup assistance, but details are sparse in the README. For full IDE integration, you might need to rely on community support or manual configuration, especially for debugging and visualization.

How to deploy AUI apps on multiple platforms?

AUI includes CMake deployment scripts for cross-platform builds, but the feature support table shows gaps on mobile. For desktop, follow the quickstart; for mobile, be prepared to handle unsupported modules or contribute fixes.

Open-Awesome

AUI

MPL-2.0C++v7.1.2

A cross-platform, high-performance UI toolkit for building hardware-accelerated desktop applications with modern C++20.

GitHub

559 stars43 forks0 contributors

What is AUI?

AUI is a declarative UI toolkit for building cross-platform, hardware-accelerated desktop applications using modern C++20. It provides a comprehensive framework for creating efficient graphical interfaces without relying on custom programming languages or external compilers, solving the need for a pure C++ solution that balances performance with developer experience.

Target Audience

C++ developers building graphical desktop applications across Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS who prefer a pure C++ workflow without external toolchains.

Value Proposition

Developers choose AUI for its pure C++20 implementation, declarative UI building, modular architecture, and cross-platform support, offering a modern alternative to frameworks like Qt with a focus on performance and developer ergonomics.

Overview

Declarative UI toolkit for modern C++20

Use Cases

Best For

Building cross-platform desktop applications with a single C++ codebase
Creating hardware-accelerated graphical interfaces using OpenGL
Developing modular applications with independent components for UI, networking, and data handling
Implementing declarative UI layouts in pure C++ without custom languages
Managing internationalization and high-DPI support in desktop apps
Integrating resource compilation and asset management directly into the build process

Not Ideal For

Projects requiring full feature support on Android or iOS, as key modules like aui.toolbox and process creation are unsupported on mobile platforms
Teams using MinGW for Windows development or cross-compilation, since AUI explicitly states it won't compile with MinGW
Enterprises prioritizing long-term API stability over rapid innovation, due to AUI's fast evolution and admitted breaking changes
Applications needing extensive third-party integrations or a mature plugin ecosystem, as AUI's community is smaller compared to frameworks like Qt

Pros & Cons

Pros

Pure C++20 Workflow

AUI eliminates the need for custom languages or external compilers like Qt's MOC, offering a declarative UI syntax directly in modern C++ as shown in the quickstart example with _new<AWindow> and layout helpers.

Comprehensive Module System

The framework provides independent, reusable modules for UI, networking, encryption, and data parsing, allowing developers to cherry-pick components like aui.views or aui.curl without bloat.

Cross-Platform Hardware Acceleration

Leverages OpenGL for graphics across Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS, ensuring high-performance rendering without platform-specific code for basic drawing.

Built-in Internationalization and DPI

Includes tools for localization and high-DPI display handling out-of-the-box, addressing common desktop app challenges without extra libraries.

Streamlined CMake Integration

AUI.Boot automates dependency management and linking via a simple CMake script, reducing setup overhead compared to manual framework configuration.

Cons

Incomplete Mobile Support

Critical features like the resource compiler (aui.toolbox) and process creation are marked unsupported on Android and iOS, limiting full cross-platform utility for mobile-focused apps.

Compiler and Toolchain Limitations

AUI won't compile with MinGW, blocking a common Windows development path, and cross-compilation support is absent, restricting deployment flexibility.

Unstable API with Breaking Changes

The maintainers admit the project evolves 'fast and inconsistently,' with backward compatibility not guaranteed, posing risks for long-term projects without frequent updates.

Sparse Ecosystem and Documentation

While documentation exists, the smaller community and fewer real-world examples compared to Qt mean developers may face gaps in troubleshooting or advanced usage guidance.

Open Source Alternative To

AUI is an open-source alternative to the following products:

Qt is a cross-platform application development framework used for creating graphical user interfaces and applications that run on various software and hardware platforms.

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