How to install xtd on Windows?

xtd can be installed via pre-built packages or from source using CMake. The README links to installation guides, and the xtdc tool helps manage projects and dependencies.

xtd or Qt for cross-platform C++ GUI?

xtd offers a .NET-like API and native GUI with CSS styling, but is in beta with a smaller ecosystem. Qt is more mature with extensive tools and commercial support, but has a different API style and licensing model.

Does xtd support Android apps with a GUI?

No, xtd currently only supports core and unit testing libraries on Android; GUI functionality via xtd.forms is not available, limiting it to console or backend services on mobile.

What compilers are needed for xtd?

xtd requires C++20-compliant compilers like MSVC 2022, Clang, or GCC. The CI status table shows tested configurations, but older compilers may not work due to the modern standard.

How to style a form with CSS in xtd?

Use the xtd.forms library and apply CSS styles via the style_sheets API. The README references a guide on CSS styling overview, and examples demonstrate theming controls.

Is xtd ready for production use?

Not yet; it's in beta with ongoing development and breaking changes planned. The roadmap shows milestones up to 1.0.0, so it's best for experimental or early-adopter projects.

Open-Awesome

xtd

MITC++

A modern C++20 framework for building cross-platform console, GUI (WinForms-like), and unit test applications.

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1.1k stars77 forks0 contributors

What is xtd?

xtd is a modern C++20 framework for creating cross-platform console (CLI), forms (GUI similar to WinForms), and unit test (xUnit) applications and libraries. It solves the problem of platform fragmentation by allowing developers to write code once and deploy it across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and other operating systems.

Target Audience

C++ developers building portable desktop or mobile applications who need a unified API for GUI, console, and testing across multiple platforms.

Value Proposition

Developers choose xtd for its .NET-inspired API, modern C++20 foundation, and extensive cross-platform support, offering a consistent development experience without sacrificing native performance or requiring platform-specific code.

Overview

Free open-source modern C++20 framework to create console (CLI), forms (GUI like WinForms) and unit test (xUnit) applications and libraries on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, FreeBSD, Haiku, and SerenityOS.

Use Cases

Best For

Building cross-platform desktop applications with a WinForms-like GUI
Creating portable console applications for multiple operating systems
Developing unit tests for C++ projects using an xUnit-style framework
Writing C++20 applications that target both desktop and mobile platforms
Extending the C++ standard library with .NET-like APIs for system functionality
Developing applications that require native performance with CSS-stylable GUI components

Not Ideal For

Projects requiring immediate production stability and no breaking changes
Applications demanding full native GUI capabilities on iOS and Android
Teams using older C++ standards or compilers without C++20 support
Developers needing a vast ecosystem of third-party widgets or plugins

Pros & Cons

Pros

Wide Platform Coverage

Supports over 8 operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, enabling true write-once-run-anywhere development for desktop and mobile.

.NET-Inspired API

Offers an API closely resembling .NET Framework with modern C++ integration, easing the transition for developers familiar with C# or .NET ecosystems.

Modern C++20 Foundation

Built on C++20 with RAII idioms for performance and safety, and includes features like coroutines, as shown in the async examples.

CSS GUI Styling

Allows GUI controls to be styled with CSS in addition to native mode, providing flexible theming options without sacrificing native performance.

Cons

Beta Status and Instability

Currently in beta (version 0.1.2) with announced breaking changes like requiring C++20 as a minimum, making it unsuitable for stable production environments.

Limited Mobile GUI Support

On iOS and Android, only xtd.core and xtd.tunit libraries are fully supported; GUI functionality is not available, restricting native mobile app development.

Complex Build Dependency

Requires the custom xtdc command-line tool and CMake for building, adding setup complexity compared to simpler frameworks or IDE-native solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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