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Qt vs GTK

Developers should learn Qt when building cross-platform desktop applications, embedded systems, or mobile apps that require a consistent UI across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS meets developers should learn gtk when building native desktop applications, especially for linux environments where it is the standard for many distributions like gnome. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

Qt

Developers should learn Qt when building cross-platform desktop applications, embedded systems, or mobile apps that require a consistent UI across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS

Qt

Nice Pick

Developers should learn Qt when building cross-platform desktop applications, embedded systems, or mobile apps that require a consistent UI across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS

Pros

  • +It is particularly valuable for projects needing high performance, native integration, and extensive widget libraries, such as in automotive, medical devices, or industrial automation software
  • +Related to: c-plus-plus, qml

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

GTK

Developers should learn GTK when building native desktop applications, especially for Linux environments where it is the standard for many distributions like GNOME

Pros

  • +It is ideal for creating lightweight, performant GUIs with a consistent look and feel across platforms, and is commonly used in open-source projects such as GIMP, Inkscape, and GNOME applications
  • +Related to: c-programming, glib

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Qt if: You want it is particularly valuable for projects needing high performance, native integration, and extensive widget libraries, such as in automotive, medical devices, or industrial automation software and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use GTK if: You prioritize it is ideal for creating lightweight, performant guis with a consistent look and feel across platforms, and is commonly used in open-source projects such as gimp, inkscape, and gnome applications over what Qt offers.

🧊
The Bottom Line
Qt wins

Developers should learn Qt when building cross-platform desktop applications, embedded systems, or mobile apps that require a consistent UI across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS

Learn about Qt →Learn about GTK →

Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev